A documentary made in 2006 by George Perrin about the English art of campanology. More videos and bellringing tutorials at our website: www.bellringingfilm.co.uk
It really is nice watching this as I usually get picked on at school for my abnormal interest in ringing and this is a well made film that really does show how brilliant bellringing is and should make people think twice about making negative comments.
Sorry to hear you get picked on! I too were picked on but I can assure you it gets so much better outside of school, for “different” and “unique” hobby’s will make you lots of friends and will draw in people who will and you will get on with very well. But please remember you’ll always get those who don’t understand or are even jealous will say negatives, they aren’t worth your time of day. Hope all the best for you ❤️
Sorry to hear you get bullied for it, I can assure you it gets better. I'm a fairly new bell ringer and am in my 4th year at uni and most people find it interesting that I have a different hobby and I highly doubt anyone would ever mock me for it here at uni
Some of the most beautiful music in the world comes from the ringing of harmonious bells. Ever hear the bells of the Archbasilica of St Lambertus in Düsseldorf before? Don’t ever let anyone shame you in one of the most beautiful arts AND sciences in the world.
It's a very cool thing to do, to be honest: a great tradition to keep up, and an activity that is good for your brain (all that counting), body (I bet you get strong arms, shoulders and back), and soul (human connection and the joy of music). I'd love to try it, but I don't think I'd be able to manage it.
Interesting views on bell ringing and religion here. I’m an atheist bell-ringer. For me personally it’s about keeping an old tradition alive, making a lovely sound while doing so and keeping in touch with a lovely group of people. Obviously the point of Sunday ringing is to call people to Church, but even then it’s nice to provide some sort of a service that others appreciate.
Hi Sean, I'm a freelance writer doing a piece on bell ringers. I would love to talk to you. Please could you reply to my last Tweet or DM me on twitter? I'm @JayBurgessUK. Thanks (or email jayburgess10 at gmail dot com)
Am I only who not only thinks how unbelievably cool it would be to be a bellringer, but how sacred of an opportunity it is? I would trade being in the choir to the bell-ringer assembly in a heartbeat. Unfortunately we do not have many churches here in the states with "REAL" bell's let alone a whole melodic armada of 10 or 20. Respect for every one of you whom is a bell ringer. Peace be with all of you🙏🕊& you're spirit's.
I've been ringing for over 5 years now and I've completely lost count of how many times I have watched this film! Absolutely amazing. I wish to congratulate all the team behind this film for making such a masterpiece. Everything is well explained and the scenes about the Cathedral bells really give a feeling of excitement, a feeling of being proud of this art that we have dedicated our lives to. Thank you so much.
I was introduced to bell ringing after speaking to our local bishop (in Gawsworth) about having back pain. When I starte, I started to notice that the pain in my back had gone. I moved abroad several years ago, and the back pain has returned. If there is one thing I miss about the UK it is bell ringing, the people are always lovely (no matter your religion) and it is phenomenally beneficial to health.
As a new bellringer, I very much enjoyed watching this video and would like to thank all those involved in making it. Most of the comments here are quite rightly very positive however, the likes of that Deermemeyer1 character will probably always miss one important thing about bell ringers. When anyone shows an interest in ringing, other ringers always make them feel welcome, like part of the bell ringing family. Even he would be welcome to learn, although I'm sure many tower captains hope doesn't, particularly as he seems unable to comment without resorting to foul language, either here or on other videos. Good luck to all other learners and thank you to all those bellringers who welcome us and patiently help us to improve.
Man what a wonderful film! I had never once in my life thought about bell ringing. Now I appreciate the art. Man Earth is wild. EVERYTHING IS INTERESTING on this planet.
Excellent film. Learned to ring at Kelvedon, Essex. Heavy six, tenor 21cwt (the Festival of Britain bell cast at Whitechapel) long draught; later augmented to eight. I left England just as I was getting useful learning Cambridge surprise. Thirty years ago I was back in England for three years and went ringing every night at towers around the Cambs, Norfolk and Suffolk borders . . . I do miss The Exercise.
What a wonderful documentary. As someone who has stumbled across this hobby purely out of curiosity, it really gives you an insight into the world of ringing and that there is much more to this than simply yanking on a rope and making the bells clang. Everything is clearly explained, despite all the jargon and numbers that make it seem like a daunting hobby to start. The interviewees all seem very genuine and their plea for younger members makes me want to jump right in there and start ringing at my local church- if only I had the time!
@@vickychen3097 Following my original comment, you may be pleased to know I have now been ringing bells for almost 2 years! See my channel for some of my bellringing videos!
I'm a carilloneur and am just starting to learn about change ringing. They are sister traditions in a sense, yet historically developed in very different ways. I don't know that I will ever have the opportunity to learn change ringing for real, but I am interested in applying these techniques to carillon.
I am going to my first meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) night I am so looking forward to it but after watching this film just a little daunted. Danilo Peterson. How short sighted and narrow minded of San Francisco to have taken the decision to make bells illegal. I feel for you.
I have recently started ringing but am still confused and daunted about the whole method of change ringing. How are you getting on after 5 years? Still keen, I hope?
I hate to say this, but it doesn't surprise me. Bells, when hung, were blessed. When they rang, they dispelled spirits of the power of the air. Don't forget Satan is call Prince of the power of the air. Thus, it doesn't surprise me that he wouldn't want bells ringing and interfering with his activities. I mean, it's well known that anything goes in San Francisco; not a place concerned with sin, and not looking for anything to curtail it's activities. IMHO.
If you liked that one, you should read Dorothy Sayer, The Nine Tailors. It's about a peal of nine bells, a murder, and a missing emerald necklace, and a cipher made using a ring of Grandsire triples I think. If you like mysteries, it's one of the best. Plus it has Lord Peter Wimsey, who is like Poirot. You'll love it. I read she spent two years researching bell ringing before writing it.
I ring at St Andrews Cathedral Sydney My earliest memories are bells Dad Ernie Rowe was a bell hanger at Whitechapel. He hung bow bells with Bill Theobald. I joined the ASCY in 1967 I loved ringing tours and used to go all over the country with dad during school holidays helping dad at work.
@@davros_adl8155 no in not doing much ringing as I'm out of Sydney now. Wish they would put a decent 10 or 12 in Newcastle Cathedral, but then without ringers it's a waste
@@davros_adl8155 you have to start somewhere and I'm no genius ringer. I have managed 8 spliced 9nce, rung a p3a p 9f four sliced, rang London Royal and Cambridge Royal plus Stedman Cinques but again we could do much better if I put the time in.
I am a ringer (or rather a 'new' ringer). I was introduced to the exercise a number of years ago. In Washington DC whilst ironically visiting America. I currently live in a dreadful place called san Francisco, expensive, not-so-friendly as it once was, and most of all the only place on Earth that I am aware of where it is actually ILLEGAL to have any ring of (tower) bells for this exercise, let alone even small arc swinging bells -- especially in multiple. Voters passed an ordinance prohibiting such as complaints and concern about 'noise' to neighbourhoods. I have never heard of anything so stupid and outrageous in my entire life! Thus the nearest rings are at Gerberding Tower at University of Washington (8 bell ring) and another ring at St. Andrews in Honolulu, Hawai'i (10 bell ring). NOTHING in California (let alone San Francisco) whatsoever! Thus I am an out-of-shape ringer yearning to go to place like Liverpool as that is my prize! One day I want to ring that four tonne tenor at Liverpool Cathedral as well as Great George there as well. I also would like to ring largest bell in UK Great Peter at if I am correct at York Cathedral as well. Shame on San Francisco for outlawing bellringing (except hand bells which to me are not the same as tower bells)! I MUST go to Europe or UK so I can be in or at least near towers that have active bells to ring as to get back in shape. I would like to join FODS (Friends of Dorothy Society) the only LGBT ringing guild on the planet. I do know Dicken Love who is quite prominent in this exercise. I had privilege of ringing at St Boltophs without-Aldgate and Magnus the Martyr near Thames back in March of 2010 on a trip to UK and my home country of Switzerland.
A city passing an ordinance against bell-ringing is what you get when you let liberals run amok. They are firmly entrenched in the notion that their truth is the only truth, and that all other opinions should be banned. This is why you have "liberals" attacking anyone who disagrees with them: opposition is evil and must be wiped out. I would know, I used to belong to the liberal camp, but its narrow-minded smugness made me stop hanging around with them, even though I'm still a liberal.
So there are no bells on the trolleys, huh? You're full of shit and have no idea what you're talking about or you're just another douchebag limey talking shit about the U.S. and what a horrible place it is. If you're actually here and feel that way, you can go ahead and leave any time. If you're not here and you're just a limey propagandist talking shit, you can go ahead and exercise your right to free speech. Oh wait. If you're a limey your "government" doesn't "grant" you that right, does it?
These? I don't think you're going to get many notes out of a set of identical bells. By the "specifications" they're far different in diameter and weight. Clearly that's not the case with the bells in the picture. And I'm not sure where exactly a set of bells for "change ringing" would fit in that chapel.
I was as a young boy living in a village not far from a place called Gt.Clacton, very close to the sea side town of Clacton -On-sea. My father played the organ for the church at Gt.Clacton which was a very old Norman church. We could hear the bells from our village and they have i believe at least eight bells. They practiced or maybe player for weddings on saterday and from memory had very good set of bell ringers who could change ring very well indeed. Sadly the church became subject to death watch beatle which effected the bell tower and indeed the whole church. It was oncecstruch by a thunderbolt straight at the bell tower which left a huge hole in the steeple. The churh was in the end shut for many years until an organization decided the the church should be rebuilt which took many years to complete. I would be very interested to know if the bells are still able to be rung but do not know anyone from the area as I now live in Western Australia. I often think of this church as it was the first churh i ever went to, i was baptisted there and went every Sunday with my father. The church also had a very big organ for its size and i recall my father use to play using everything the organ had to offer. The church was called St.Johns Church and i understand that is now something of an atraction, it would be nice to know if it still stands and if the bells are still there, if they are they must be historical by now as i believe they were installed when the church was built.
John, thank you for sharing your wonderful story. Apologies for the late reply, I haven't been checking the comments section here for a while. The website of St. John's Church in Great Clacton is: www.gtclactonparish.co.uk/ so you could write to them to find out if they have any bells. Dove's Guide has a catalogue of churches that have bells, but unfortunately it doesn't list any rings of bells in Gt. Clacton, only Little Clacton. dove.cccbr.org.uk/dove.php?text=Clacton Based on this, I would assume St. John's Church doesn't have any bells at the moment.
I began ringing 5.5 years ago. At my first session, unsure of the protocol, I told my teacher that I was an atheist and didn't want to cause offence if that was an issue. One of the band members close by laughed and said, "So is the Vicar, you'll fit right in!". So began a wonderful journey with people who quickly became good friends. I've rung for services of all sorts including weddings and funerals. My belief system, or lack of one, has never been an issue. I would encourage anyone whose interest is piqued, to go along and give it a go. I was fortunate to have superb teachers - and I'm very much, still learning - we've moved from my home tower (which I visit) but have found a wonderful new one as well. This is a terrific, and beautifully made, video. Thank you so much.
@@lindseymurrayevje1534 yes, I was raised in C of E. We called ourselves Catholic Lite, Catholic without the guilt,lol. There was no belief in sin, repentance or really anything. It was strictly a beautiful ritual. Once I started to experience death and tragedy, I realized I needed more than ritual to keep going, I needed a priest with real faith. Now I'm a Catholic. Not knocking C of E, I have many fine memories. But it is perfectly possible to be a vicar with no belief leading a parish with no belief. I have attended many church and met many priests, and even a Bishop with no belief who I won't name.
One Easter I attended Grace Cathedral Church in San Francisco. At the service conclusion, I spoke to the Dean outside the church. I asked, “Why aren’t the bells ringing?” Said he, “We’re trying to be good neighbors to the Huntington Hotel across the street.” I replied, “Oh, that’s right. Christ is risen. Sshhh!
Well, I think they know Christ has risen but they don't want to be reminded of it. It's best not to think about him if your fornicating or committing adultery in the hotel. It might remind you that you're accountable, and you wouldn't want to think about that. What a pity. The bells ringing blesses the air, and counteracts the spirits of the air.
ONE DAY MAMA BELL WAS WATCHING OVER HER BABY BELLS AS THEY SLEPT THE BELL RINGERS SHOW UP THE WAKE THEM UP THE FIRST ONE WAS MAMA BELL SHE SAID WAKE UP MY LITTLE BELLS TIME TO SHOUT TO THE WORLD LET'S MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY TODAY SO WITH THAT MAMA BELL AND HER BABY BELLS HAVE MADE MANY PEOPLE VERY HAPPY
😁 not at all, but you would find that they keep a closer eye on you to make sure that you didn't look like you were about to pull on any of the ropes! It has happened: hello, are you a ringer? Yes! What can you ring? I'll show you! Non-ringing visitors are more than welcome in almost every tower - you'll get a quick safety talk (please don't pull anything, keep your feet flat on the floor, no flash photography while we're ringing) and probably a bit of history of the tower and of ringing, and some friendly conversation about what brought you up the tower. Try it, especially if you hear them ringing on a weeknight, and they stop and start every few minutes - that means it's practice night.
Tbf it is a lot to take in at once lol. it's taken me 8 months to get to properly ringing out loud, and even then i struggle with a lot of theory concepts 😂 don't worry tho, you'll get there in time :)
Many churches have open days, where the tower will be open, new ringers are always welcome. The church warden will be able to tell you who to contact. I did just that about two months ago.
Because this is the first thing that you have to learn. Controlling several hundredweight of metal on the end of a rope is not easy and, before learning to chang positions, you need to learn the control necessary to keep the bell in its right place. Learning to ring in "rounds" is, possibly, the hardest thing you'll ever learn. Everything else is an extension - a progression from this.
@@MartynCole That's true. Each new level of skill - from lerning to handle a bell - to ringing in time - to leeading at the right moment - to moving your bell up and down the order - is a level of difficulty up from what you could do before. But probably the steepest step that you have to make is that from simply ringing your bell in your own time to controlling it enough to ring with others (in rounds). Leading is harder than rounds. Plain hunting is harder than leading. Calling a peal of "London" is harder than any of that! I've been teaching this (not the London!) for some 40 years or more. Good rounds is a very early and essential step - and it is probably the hardest one to achieve. Once you've got that - then it's time to move on...
Can any of you camp people (campanologists, I mean) help me out? At 02:02 in the wonderful recording of the "spoof" version of Ave Maria by Vavilov/Caccini, as sung by Sumi Jo, (th-cam.com/video/fjZ8fBGtMaI/w-d-xo.html) the orchestration sounds [to me] like a glorious peel of bells. And I told an email correspondent so. And I further asserted that they must be English bells, because no other country rings its bells in this way. Only later did I realise that I had no idea what I was talking about. Can anybody rescue my credibility?
Alister, this is not quite right. an "extent" on 3 is 6 and on 4 is 24 - that is 3! and 4!. In the 17th century the practice of peals had been established - that is a continuous performance of at least 5000 changes. So on 7 bells that would be all possible changes on 7 bells - or 7! - 5040. So on 6 bells they would have to ring 7 extents on 6 bells, that is 7x720 (or 6!x7) and 42 extant on 5 bells (42x120)
I haven't studied bell ringing seriously, but with 3 bells and assuming all permutations are to be changed thru gives 3!=6 changes, but a sequence of changes is only one permutation from an ocean of possible sequences, on 3 bells this gives (3!)! = 720
this combinatorial state space perspective is interesting, to find musical peals is an art form, the Project Gutenberg book is amazing to read with Grandsire Bob and all the other inventions
You're wrong. 3 bells can ring in 6 orders "consecutively" - 1/2/3 1/3/2, 2/1/3 2/3/1 3/2/1 3/1/2 You can't "change through" a set of three bells with 1 starting and 1 finishing and only 1 in the between. Pay attention to the video. "Changes" are in PAIRS. The means you have to have at least a pair in the middle.
@@johnb6723 why would you be so rude and insensitive? Look at the name of the person you're criticising - it's quite likely that English isn't their first language. How many languages can you use to write comments on TH-cam?
Bismillah al rahmaan al raheem as salaam aliekum. The azan is beautiful. I am a ringer but something you need to understand is ringing is really nothing to do with the church. Most ringers certainly are not religious. Ringing is a hobby an interest. It is about different musical patterns or permutations. Sounds strange I know, but many things or hobbies are indeed strange . The Azan,which starts with the Shahada was first performed in Medina by Bilal Bilal was born in Mecca to an Arab father and his mother was a slave from Ethiopia He was a disciple of the prophet pbuh. I dont know where you live but if you can you should go and have a look and keep an open mind. For what its worth I have attended Jumah on Friday more than once. I encourage you to go. Bell ringing is an amazing thing to watch and do. As I said ringers are not necessarily Christian or even religious. Some are athiests
Well muffin, when I first started to ring, I said to our bell captain, "...I'm afraid I don't know the protocol and I don't want to offend anyone; I'm an atheist". His reply? "So is the vicar, you'll fit right in!" So, calm down.
I understand what this video is trying to do, but the average age of ringers needs to come down. There are a lot of elderly retired people in the video and I can't see a lot of young people wanting to learn to ring after watching this, sadly.
Everyone is getting older, so the only one way the average age of ringers can come down is to replace older ringers with new recruits. If you would like to ring but are deterred by the fact that most ringers are elderly, then you are part of the problem you describe.
I'm twelve and have been learning to ring bells! I love it so much, it's a little challenging setting the bell at hand stroke for me as it always goes off the balance!!
Well blame that on video games, cell phones and social media. Ringing is no longer the cool thing to do so of course fewer young people are learning how to ring. At age 29 I'm probably the youngest ringer I know myself. Granted I'm in the US and ringing is sparse here but still. Whenever I go to ringing weekends it's a bunch of older folks and then me. I just wish I could get more of my generation away from their video games, cell phones and social media and into the tower. I haven't a clue how to do that though. :-(
I live very close to a church. The bell-ringers practise on Wednesday evenings and nearly always ring the bells from 9.30 - 10am in the morning on Sundays, also for weddings. I can't think of many other hobbies that are so anti-social as campanology.
Bell-ringing was originally done 1/ to let people know when there was a church service before the time that everyone had clocks and watches and 2/ to mark a special occasion. We live in an age where only a small percentage of the population go regularly to church, so WHY does everyone living anywhere near the church in a town have to listen to regular bell-ringing? As I wrote, it is anti-social. A little more consideration from campanologists would be appreciated!
People who dislike the roar of a football crowd wouldn't choose to live near a football ground. Those who hate aircraft or traffic noise wouldn't move to live next to an airport or a motorway. Those unwilling to accept the smell of pig manure wouldn't move close to a pig farm. It's the same with church bells. Many people welcome the sound. Why should a long tradition die out just because campanophobes choose to live nearby?
The point I was making is that people practising their hobby should show more consideration. I don't object to hearing the bells on special occasions, such as a weddings, special days, etc. The noise from traffic and aircraft isn't exactly caused by people pursuing their hobby, is it?
Excuse Me! The Narrator Say Bell Ringing For This Type Of Music. First & Foremost Ringing This Type Of Bells IS NOT MUSIC! Music Consists Of A Main Melody Line & A Bass Line. What You Folks Are Doing Is Just Ringing Bells & Making JUST A BELL SOUND! Sound Yes. MUSIC DEFINITELY NOT! You Call What They Are Doing Practicing Their Art? NOT. REAL BELL Ringing Is Handbell Ringing. That Is A Trained Art Form & True Music. So your Better Just Calling It Ringing Bells Or Tower Ringing. Nothing Impressive At All. Hand Bell Ringing Is Far Way More Impressive.
I'm afraid you are totally wrong as the bells have musical sequences. Quite often compositions of peals are chosen for their "music" i.e the way some sequences of bells come together (eg "tittums position") and change ringing is far more "impressive" (as you call it) than handbell ringing. Try picking up a 20cwt tenor bell. This is CHANGE ringing and it is MUSIC. Thank you. The video has its faults..and the image of older people ringing is not accidental; it gives the impression of history and how we are following it. There aren't as many younger ringers around as when I started , but we are correcting this. Some people just want to find fault with everything!
Playing eight taiko drums is music. A drum line is music. Plucking or bowing the single string on a drone instrument is music. This kind of bell ringing comes under the same definition of music. Your definition of "music" seems to be limited to your own personal world where you never have to think beyond your tiny little horizon. You should sue your local school board for not exposing you to anything outside that limited little box you're in.
My ass its "music". Music is melody and harmony and individual instrumentalists or singers changing notes and rhythms and keys and chords stringing notes together SEQUENTIALLY. Not intentionally AVOIDING melodic music as much as possible. And even with 8 bells, they're not pitched and tuned properly to be a "perfect" octave and you can't get anything but "quarter-notes" out of a bell. HAND BELLS can and do make music and very good music in the right hands. These church bells make NOISE.
I don't know where in the hell you live that a school board would be responsible for "exposing" any kid to "church music" or where 8 drums or a one-string "drone" is some huge step up and into the wonderful world of music that makes somebody who legitimately doesn't find these clanging bells "musical" look foolish/uncultured/ignorant/deprived by comparison. But it must be somewhere government/schools/churches go together and that makes your "taste in music" understandable. Because this is ONLY "music" to someone who has no other options because his or her "local school board" is stuck in the dark ages and there are no school bands, orchestras, choirs or APPARENTLY even youth choirs at the church or other "secular" opportunities for musical education and participation. Must suck to live there.
It really is nice watching this as I usually get picked on at school for my abnormal interest in ringing and this is a well made film that really does show how brilliant bellringing is and should make people think twice about making negative comments.
Sorry to hear you get picked on! I too were picked on but I can assure you it gets so much better outside of school, for “different” and “unique” hobby’s will make you lots of friends and will draw in people who will and you will get on with very well. But please remember you’ll always get those who don’t understand or are even jealous will say negatives, they aren’t worth your time of day.
Hope all the best for you ❤️
Sorry to hear you get bullied for it, I can assure you it gets better. I'm a fairly new bell ringer and am in my 4th year at uni and most people find it interesting that I have a different hobby and I highly doubt anyone would ever mock me for it here at uni
Tell them that you get paid for it if you do weddings
Some of the most beautiful music in the world comes from the ringing of harmonious bells. Ever hear the bells of the Archbasilica of St Lambertus in Düsseldorf before? Don’t ever let anyone shame you in one of the most beautiful arts AND sciences in the world.
It's a very cool thing to do, to be honest: a great tradition to keep up, and an activity that is good for your brain (all that counting), body (I bet you get strong arms, shoulders and back), and soul (human connection and the joy of music). I'd love to try it, but I don't think I'd be able to manage it.
I am American from New England living in England and I learned to bring the bells down in Northamptonshire. I love it.
Interesting views on bell ringing and religion here.
I’m an atheist bell-ringer. For me personally it’s about keeping an old tradition alive, making a lovely sound while doing so and keeping in touch with a lovely group of people. Obviously the point of Sunday ringing is to call people to Church, but even then it’s nice to provide some sort of a service that others appreciate.
Hi Sean, I'm a freelance writer doing a piece on bell ringers. I would love to talk to you. Please could you reply to my last Tweet or DM me on twitter? I'm @JayBurgessUK. Thanks (or email jayburgess10 at gmail dot com)
Am I only who not only thinks how unbelievably cool it would be to be a bellringer, but how sacred of an opportunity it is? I would trade being in the choir to the bell-ringer assembly in a heartbeat. Unfortunately we do not have many churches here in the states with "REAL" bell's let alone a whole melodic armada of 10 or 20. Respect for every one of you whom is a bell ringer. Peace be with all of you🙏🕊& you're spirit's.
THAT HAS CROSSED MY MIND FROM TIME TO TIME
hello, i’m 10 and i do bell ringing a lot. we go up the tower and watch the bells every friday!
I've been ringing for over 5 years now and I've completely lost count of how many times I have watched this film! Absolutely amazing. I wish to congratulate all the team behind this film for making such a masterpiece. Everything is well explained and the scenes about the Cathedral bells really give a feeling of excitement, a feeling of being proud of this art that we have dedicated our lives to. Thank you so much.
Fantastically presented cinematography!!!
I'm a personal film-maker and bell ringer myself and they are fantastic hobbies.
Thanks for sharing it
I was introduced to bell ringing after speaking to our local bishop (in Gawsworth) about having back pain. When I starte, I started to notice that the pain in my back had gone. I moved abroad several years ago, and the back pain has returned.
If there is one thing I miss about the UK it is bell ringing, the people are always lovely (no matter your religion) and it is phenomenally beneficial to health.
As a new bellringer, I very much enjoyed watching this video and would like to thank all those involved in making it. Most of the comments here are quite rightly very positive however, the likes of that Deermemeyer1 character will probably always miss one important thing about bell ringers. When anyone shows an interest in ringing, other ringers always make them feel welcome, like part of the bell ringing family. Even he would be welcome to learn, although I'm sure many tower captains hope doesn't, particularly as he seems unable to comment without resorting to foul language, either here or on other videos. Good luck to all other learners and thank you to all those bellringers who welcome us and patiently help us to improve.
Could you Len me a Hand for a minute mate?
@@turbo682 hey Google what is the bell ringer called
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Man what a wonderful film! I had never once in my life thought about bell ringing. Now I appreciate the art. Man Earth is wild. EVERYTHING IS INTERESTING on this planet.
Excellent film. Learned to ring at Kelvedon, Essex. Heavy six, tenor 21cwt (the Festival of Britain bell cast at Whitechapel) long draught; later augmented to eight. I left England just as I was getting useful learning Cambridge surprise. Thirty years ago I was back in England for three years and went ringing every night at towers around the Cambs, Norfolk and Suffolk borders . . . I do miss The Exercise.
What a wonderful documentary. As someone who has stumbled across this hobby purely out of curiosity, it really gives you an insight into the world of ringing and that there is much more to this than simply yanking on a rope and making the bells clang. Everything is clearly explained, despite all the jargon and numbers that make it seem like a daunting hobby to start. The interviewees all seem very genuine and their plea for younger members makes me want to jump right in there and start ringing at my local church- if only I had the time!
Chris Richmond I
@@vickychen3097 Following my original comment, you may be pleased to know I have now been ringing bells for almost 2 years! See my channel for some of my bellringing videos!
@@ChrisRichmond You should get a quarter peal lined up too. They’re great for further progress
I'm a carilloneur and am just starting to learn about change ringing. They are sister traditions in a sense, yet historically developed in very different ways. I don't know that I will ever have the opportunity to learn change ringing for real, but I am interested in applying these techniques to carillon.
Ahhhh spider! I started ringing in match and I have just started call changes and I've had many brilliant teachers! Thank you!
I'm not sure what I love about this vid...but I LOVE it!
What a lovely life! To call to the living! Bell Ringers!
Very helpful to a learner, thanks for uploading! :)
I am going to my first meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) night I am so looking forward to it but after watching this film just a little daunted. Danilo Peterson. How short sighted and narrow minded of San Francisco to have taken the decision to make bells illegal. I feel for you.
I have recently started ringing but am still confused and daunted about the whole method of change ringing. How are you getting on after 5 years? Still keen, I hope?
I hate to say this, but it doesn't surprise me. Bells, when hung, were blessed. When they rang, they dispelled spirits of the power of the air. Don't forget Satan is call Prince of the power of the air. Thus, it doesn't surprise me that he wouldn't want bells ringing and interfering with his activities. I mean, it's well known that anything goes in San Francisco; not a place concerned with sin, and not looking for anything to curtail it's activities. IMHO.
San Francisco is the sinful place? I thought it was more L.A. 🤔
Really? Why? Silly sods!
Great little film for would be bell ringers , very interesting & informativ, thank you .
A Wonderful Video...Spot On 🙂😇
I LOVE IT. SO WONDERFOL!!!
Just wish there was a few more Carillons in the UK too!! Wouldnt fancy that Basildon tower in summer...ringing in a greenhouse!!!
Nice doc
I’m here because of the novel by MC BEATON ‘Agatha Rasin Investigates - Tge Dead Ringer’ great novel and great to learn about campanology!
If you liked that one, you should read Dorothy Sayer, The Nine Tailors. It's about a peal of nine bells, a murder, and a missing emerald necklace, and a cipher made using a ring of Grandsire triples I think. If you like mysteries, it's one of the best. Plus it has Lord Peter Wimsey, who is like Poirot. You'll love it. I read she spent two years researching bell ringing before writing it.
Could you name the churches in the beginning of the video such as the one with the Sanctus bell and the clock chime?
I ring at St Andrews Cathedral Sydney
My earliest memories are bells
Dad Ernie Rowe was a bell hanger at Whitechapel.
He hung bow bells with Bill Theobald.
I joined the ASCY in 1967
I loved ringing tours and used to go all over the country with dad during school holidays helping dad at work.
I hope that you are still a bell ringer for your community. Thank you for doing that service.
Were you there for ANZAB this year?
@@davros_adl8155 no in not doing much ringing as I'm out of Sydney now.
Wish they would put a decent 10 or 12 in Newcastle Cathedral, but then without ringers it's a waste
@@Steven_Rowe That's a shame, I was there briefly, though mind you my scope at the time was plain hunt on 5 at most so you wouldn't have missed much.
@@davros_adl8155 you have to start somewhere and I'm no genius ringer.
I have managed 8 spliced 9nce, rung a p3a p 9f four sliced, rang London Royal and Cambridge Royal plus Stedman Cinques but again we could do much better if I put the time in.
very good :)
Does "sermon" have a different meaning in the united kingdom? The Sanctus usually doesn't take place in the middle of the sermon
R.I.P. Michael Moreton
13:07 thes sound just like feckenham even the treble sounds muffeled or they sound like kinver
Hi Bellringingfilm, just a question about the Stay section. Was the break accidental, and what church was it at? Great film by the way.
Cool
21:34 RIP Michael Moreton
I am a ringer (or rather a 'new' ringer). I was introduced to the exercise a number of years ago. In Washington DC whilst ironically visiting America. I currently live in a dreadful place called san Francisco, expensive, not-so-friendly as it once was, and most of all the only place on Earth that I am aware of where it is actually ILLEGAL to have any ring of (tower) bells for this exercise, let alone even small arc swinging bells -- especially in multiple. Voters passed an ordinance prohibiting such as complaints and concern about 'noise' to neighbourhoods. I have never heard of anything so stupid and outrageous in my entire life!
Thus the nearest rings are at Gerberding Tower at University of Washington (8 bell ring) and another ring at St. Andrews in Honolulu, Hawai'i (10 bell ring). NOTHING in California (let alone San Francisco) whatsoever! Thus I am an out-of-shape ringer yearning to go to place like Liverpool as that is my prize! One day I want to ring that four tonne tenor at Liverpool Cathedral as well as Great George there as well. I also would like to ring largest bell in UK Great Peter at if I am correct at York Cathedral as well. Shame on San Francisco for outlawing bellringing (except hand bells which to me are not the same as tower bells)!
I MUST go to Europe or UK so I can be in or at least near towers that have active bells to ring as to get back in shape. I would like to join FODS (Friends of Dorothy Society) the only LGBT ringing guild on the planet. I do know Dicken Love who is quite prominent in this exercise. I had privilege of ringing at St Boltophs without-Aldgate and Magnus the Martyr near Thames back in March of 2010 on a trip to UK and my home country of Switzerland.
Come back to DC! The new chapel at Virginia Seminary in Alexandria has a set of bells for change ringing. I can walk to the Seminary.
A city passing an ordinance against bell-ringing is what you get when you let liberals run amok. They are firmly entrenched in the notion that their truth is the only truth, and that all other opinions should be banned. This is why you have "liberals" attacking anyone who disagrees with them: opposition is evil and must be wiped out. I would know, I used to belong to the liberal camp, but its narrow-minded smugness made me stop hanging around with them, even though I'm still a liberal.
So there are no bells on the trolleys, huh? You're full of shit and have no idea what you're talking about or you're just another douchebag limey talking shit about the U.S. and what a horrible place it is. If you're actually here and feel that way, you can go ahead and leave any time. If you're not here and you're just a limey propagandist talking shit, you can go ahead and exercise your right to free speech. Oh wait. If you're a limey your "government" doesn't "grant" you that right, does it?
These? I don't think you're going to get many notes out of a set of identical bells. By the "specifications" they're far different in diameter and weight. Clearly that's not the case with the bells in the picture. And I'm not sure where exactly a set of bells for "change ringing" would fit in that chapel.
There is a church in every village
I was as a young boy living in a village not far from a place called Gt.Clacton, very close to the sea side town of Clacton -On-sea.
My father played the organ for the church at Gt.Clacton which was a very old Norman church.
We could hear the bells from our village and they have i believe at least eight bells.
They practiced or maybe player for weddings on saterday and from memory had very good set of bell ringers who could change ring very well indeed.
Sadly the church became subject to death watch beatle which effected the bell tower and indeed the whole church.
It was oncecstruch by a thunderbolt straight at the bell tower which left a huge hole in the steeple.
The churh was in the end shut for many years until an organization decided the the church should be rebuilt which took many years to complete.
I would be very interested to know if the bells are still able to be rung but do not know anyone from the area as I now live in Western Australia.
I often think of this church as it was the first churh i ever went to, i was baptisted there and went every Sunday with my father.
The church also had a very big organ for its size and i recall my father use to play using everything the organ had to offer.
The church was called St.Johns Church and i understand that is now something of an atraction, it would be nice to know if it still stands and if the bells are still there, if they are they must be historical by now as i believe they were installed when the church was built.
John, thank you for sharing your wonderful story. Apologies for the late reply, I haven't been checking the comments section here for a while.
The website of St. John's Church in Great Clacton is:
www.gtclactonparish.co.uk/
so you could write to them to find out if they have any bells.
Dove's Guide has a catalogue of churches that have bells, but unfortunately it doesn't list any rings of bells in Gt. Clacton, only Little Clacton.
dove.cccbr.org.uk/dove.php?text=Clacton
Based on this, I would assume St. John's Church doesn't have any bells at the moment.
The Bell ringer it six?
I began ringing 5.5 years ago. At my first session, unsure of the protocol, I told my teacher that I was an atheist and didn't want to cause offence if that was an issue. One of the band members close by laughed and said, "So is the Vicar, you'll fit right in!". So began a wonderful journey with people who quickly became good friends. I've rung for services of all sorts including weddings and funerals. My belief system, or lack of one, has never been an issue. I would encourage anyone whose interest is piqued, to go along and give it a go. I was fortunate to have superb teachers - and I'm very much, still learning - we've moved from my home tower (which I visit) but have found a wonderful new one as well. This is a terrific, and beautifully made, video. Thank you so much.
You must be Church of England if your priest is an atheist. XD
I cannot imagine a priest would or could be atheist. Surely the bishop would have something to say about it if he found out who it was.
@@johnb6723 It was a joke, John.
@@lindseymurrayevje1534 yes, I was raised in C of E. We called ourselves Catholic Lite, Catholic without the guilt,lol. There was no belief in sin, repentance or really anything. It was strictly a beautiful ritual. Once I started to experience death and tragedy, I realized I needed more than ritual to keep going, I needed a priest with real faith. Now I'm a Catholic. Not knocking C of E, I have many fine memories. But it is perfectly possible to be a vicar with no belief leading a parish with no belief. I have attended many church and met many priests, and even a Bishop with no belief who I won't name.
One Easter I attended Grace Cathedral Church in San Francisco. At the service conclusion, I spoke to the Dean outside the church. I asked, “Why aren’t the bells ringing?” Said he, “We’re trying to be good neighbors to the Huntington Hotel across the street.” I replied, “Oh, that’s right. Christ is risen. Sshhh!
Well, I think they know Christ has risen but they don't want to be reminded of it. It's best not to think about him if your fornicating or committing adultery in the hotel. It might remind you that you're accountable, and you wouldn't want to think about that. What a pity. The bells ringing blesses the air, and counteracts the spirits of the air.
ONE DAY MAMA BELL WAS WATCHING OVER HER BABY BELLS AS THEY SLEPT THE BELL RINGERS SHOW UP THE WAKE THEM UP THE FIRST ONE WAS MAMA BELL SHE SAID WAKE UP MY LITTLE BELLS TIME TO SHOUT TO THE WORLD LET'S MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY TODAY SO WITH THAT MAMA BELL AND HER BABY BELLS HAVE MADE MANY PEOPLE VERY HAPPY
31:19 So if you say no to that question do you instantly have enemies?
No, it isn't that bad. Lol.
😁 not at all, but you would find that they keep a closer eye on you to make sure that you didn't look like you were about to pull on any of the ropes! It has happened: hello, are you a ringer? Yes! What can you ring? I'll show you!
Non-ringing visitors are more than welcome in almost every tower - you'll get a quick safety talk (please don't pull anything, keep your feet flat on the floor, no flash photography while we're ringing) and probably a bit of history of the tower and of ringing, and some friendly conversation about what brought you up the tower. Try it, especially if you hear them ringing on a weeknight, and they stop and start every few minutes - that means it's practice night.
28:37 what tower is that?
44:29 what church is that?
I'm looking at the wiki for "change ringing" and it's bonkers.
Tbf it is a lot to take in at once lol. it's taken me 8 months to get to properly ringing out loud, and even then i struggle with a lot of theory concepts 😂 don't worry tho, you'll get there in time :)
How does one get in to bell ringing?
Most of the towers you can just walk up and join in (or start)! Always good courtesy to call ahead, though.
Many churches have open days, where the tower will be open, new ringers are always welcome. The church warden will be able to tell you who to contact. I did just that about two months ago.
I understand the principle of change ringing, but why at the beginning of this video all you hear is a straight scale over and over?
Because this is the first thing that you have to learn. Controlling several hundredweight of metal on the end of a rope is not easy and, before learning to chang positions, you need to learn the control necessary to keep the bell in its right place. Learning to ring in "rounds" is, possibly, the hardest thing you'll ever learn. Everything else is an extension - a progression from this.
@@kildwickminiringers2116 I found leading much harder than keeping my bell in place when I was ringing rounds.
@@MartynCole That's true. Each new level of skill - from lerning to handle a bell - to ringing in time - to leeading at the right moment - to moving your bell up and down the order - is a level of difficulty up from what you could do before. But probably the steepest step that you have to make is that from simply ringing your bell in your own time to controlling it enough to ring with others (in rounds). Leading is harder than rounds. Plain hunting is harder than leading. Calling a peal of "London" is harder than any of that! I've been teaching this (not the London!) for some 40 years or more. Good rounds is a very early and essential step - and it is probably the hardest one to achieve. Once you've got that - then it's time to move on...
Can any of you camp people (campanologists, I mean) help me out?
At 02:02 in the wonderful recording of the "spoof" version of Ave Maria by Vavilov/Caccini, as sung by Sumi Jo,
(th-cam.com/video/fjZ8fBGtMaI/w-d-xo.html)
the orchestration sounds [to me] like a glorious peel of bells.
And I told an email correspondent so.
And I further asserted that they must be English bells, because no other country rings its bells in this way.
Only later did I realise that I had no idea what I was talking about.
Can anybody rescue my credibility?
had a read of the 1641 classic text on bell ringing ~ interesting ~ there are 720 perfect peals on 3 bells and 24 factorial perfect peals on 4 bells
Alister, this is not quite right. an "extent" on 3 is 6 and on 4 is 24 - that is 3! and 4!. In the 17th century the practice of peals had been established - that is a continuous performance of at least 5000 changes. So on 7 bells that would be all possible changes on 7 bells - or 7! - 5040. So on 6 bells they would have to ring 7 extents on 6 bells, that is 7x720 (or 6!x7) and 42 extant on 5 bells (42x120)
I haven't studied bell ringing seriously, but with 3 bells and assuming all permutations are to be changed thru gives 3!=6 changes, but a sequence of changes is only one permutation from an ocean of possible sequences, on 3 bells this gives (3!)! = 720
this combinatorial state space perspective is interesting, to find musical peals is an art form, the Project Gutenberg book is amazing to read with Grandsire Bob and all the other inventions
You're wrong. 3 bells can ring in 6 orders "consecutively" - 1/2/3 1/3/2, 2/1/3 2/3/1 3/2/1 3/1/2
You can't "change through" a set of three bells with 1 starting and 1 finishing and only 1 in the between. Pay attention to the video. "Changes" are in PAIRS. The means you have to have at least a pair in the middle.
11:52
Why is the 2 bell was muffled
Idk?
Why is your grammar so awful?
@@johnb6723 why would you be so rude and insensitive? Look at the name of the person you're criticising - it's quite likely that English isn't their first language. How many languages can you use to write comments on TH-cam?
Either due to thorough soundproofing in the belfry or for a special occasion
And like the church where there are the 6 bells in F# and the 8 in F#
West wickham is the 6 in F#
@@fredmills368 yes I got that! Silly me 4 years ago
The 8 in F# was Brasted in Kent. Other towers featured are Addington and Bromley Common
What church is this at 1:05 and 8:04
1:05 is St Mary's, Addington, 8:04 is St John's Church, West Wickham. The two churches are close to each other.
34:52
Sheeesh
11:20 stay breaks
They actually broke a stay for the film 😂
Woah! Sickkkk!! We have an adhan in my religion
Bismillah al rahmaan al raheem as salaam aliekum.
The azan is beautiful.
I am a ringer but something you need to understand is ringing is really nothing to do with the church.
Most ringers certainly are not religious.
Ringing is a hobby an interest.
It is about different musical patterns or permutations.
Sounds strange I know, but many things or hobbies are indeed strange .
The Azan,which starts with the Shahada was first performed in Medina by Bilal
Bilal was born in Mecca to an Arab father and his mother was a slave from Ethiopia
He was a disciple of the prophet pbuh.
I dont know where you live but if you can you should go and have a look and keep an open mind.
For what its worth I have attended Jumah on Friday more than once.
I encourage you to go.
Bell ringing is an amazing thing to watch and do.
As I said ringers are not necessarily Christian or even religious.
Some are athiests
Well muffin, when I first started to ring, I said to our bell captain, "...I'm afraid I don't know the protocol and I don't want to offend anyone; I'm an atheist". His reply? "So is the vicar, you'll fit right in!" So, calm down.
@@lindseymurrayevje1534 my Pointe exactly.
Ringing should be multicultural and simply a hobby which it is.
I understand what this video is trying to do, but the average age of ringers needs to come down. There are a lot of elderly retired people in the video and I can't see a lot of young people wanting to learn to ring after watching this, sadly.
Plus the narrator sounds bored stiff
Everyone is getting older, so the only one way the average age of ringers can come down is to replace older ringers with new recruits. If you would like to ring but are deterred by the fact that most ringers are elderly, then you are part of the problem you describe.
totally agree, starting with a shot of a spider, then to a sepia-tone shot of a bell with eerie music is not going to help one bit...
I'm twelve and have been learning to ring bells! I love it so much, it's a little challenging setting the bell at hand stroke for me as it always goes off the balance!!
Well blame that on video games, cell phones and social media. Ringing is no longer the cool thing to do so of course fewer young people are learning how to ring. At age 29 I'm probably the youngest ringer I know myself. Granted I'm in the US and ringing is sparse here but still. Whenever I go to ringing weekends it's a bunch of older folks and then me.
I just wish I could get more of my generation away from their video games, cell phones and social media and into the tower. I haven't a clue how to do that though. :-(
Trust me its not fun to break a bell rope
Almost Veronese style ringing 20 minutes 50 seconds in to the video. I didn't like it on just bells 6 to 9.
I live very close to a church. The bell-ringers practise on Wednesday evenings and nearly always ring the bells from 9.30 - 10am in the morning on Sundays, also for weddings. I can't think of many other hobbies that are so anti-social as campanology.
The bells were there long before you arrived. If you don't like bells, then don't move to a house near a church where they are rung.
Bournethorpe agreed!
Bell-ringing was originally done 1/ to let people know when there was a church service before the time that everyone had clocks and watches and 2/ to mark a special occasion. We live in an age where only a small percentage of the population go regularly to church, so WHY does everyone living anywhere near the church in a town have to listen to regular bell-ringing? As I wrote, it is anti-social. A little more consideration from campanologists would be appreciated!
People who dislike the roar of a football crowd wouldn't choose to live near a football ground. Those who hate aircraft or traffic noise wouldn't move to live next to an airport or a motorway. Those unwilling to accept the smell of pig manure wouldn't move close to a pig farm. It's the same with church bells. Many people welcome the sound. Why should a long tradition die out just because campanophobes choose to live nearby?
The point I was making is that people practising their hobby should show more consideration. I don't object to hearing the bells on special occasions, such as a weddings, special days, etc. The noise from traffic and aircraft isn't exactly caused by people pursuing their hobby, is it?
It put me off actually.
Ok...
No one asked
Excuse Me! The Narrator Say Bell Ringing For This Type Of Music. First & Foremost Ringing This Type Of Bells IS NOT MUSIC! Music Consists Of A Main Melody Line & A Bass Line. What You Folks Are Doing Is Just Ringing Bells & Making JUST A BELL SOUND! Sound Yes. MUSIC DEFINITELY NOT! You Call What They Are Doing Practicing Their Art? NOT. REAL BELL Ringing Is Handbell Ringing. That Is A Trained Art Form & True Music. So your Better Just Calling It Ringing Bells Or Tower Ringing. Nothing Impressive At All. Hand Bell Ringing Is Far Way More Impressive.
I'm afraid you are totally wrong as the bells have musical sequences. Quite often compositions of peals are chosen for their "music" i.e the way some sequences of bells come together (eg "tittums position") and change ringing is far more "impressive" (as you call it) than handbell ringing. Try picking up a 20cwt tenor bell. This is CHANGE ringing and it is MUSIC. Thank you.
The video has its faults..and the image of older people ringing is not accidental; it gives the impression of history and how we are following it. There aren't as many younger ringers around as when I started , but we are correcting this.
Some people just want to find fault with everything!
Paul Wanders A sean-nós singer would argue
Playing eight taiko drums is music. A drum line is music. Plucking or bowing the single string on a drone instrument is music. This kind of bell ringing comes under the same definition of music. Your definition of "music" seems to be limited to your own personal world where you never have to think beyond your tiny little horizon. You should sue your local school board for not exposing you to anything outside that limited little box you're in.
My ass its "music". Music is melody and harmony and individual instrumentalists or singers changing notes and rhythms and keys and chords stringing notes together SEQUENTIALLY. Not intentionally AVOIDING melodic music as much as possible. And even with 8 bells, they're not pitched and tuned properly to be a "perfect" octave and you can't get anything but "quarter-notes" out of a bell. HAND BELLS can and do make music and very good music in the right hands. These church bells make NOISE.
I don't know where in the hell you live that a school board would be responsible for "exposing" any kid to "church music" or where 8 drums or a one-string "drone" is some huge step up and into the wonderful world of music that makes somebody who legitimately doesn't find these clanging bells "musical" look foolish/uncultured/ignorant/deprived by comparison. But it must be somewhere government/schools/churches go together and that makes your "taste in music" understandable. Because this is ONLY "music" to someone who has no other options because his or her "local school board" is stuck in the dark ages and there are no school bands, orchestras, choirs or APPARENTLY even youth choirs at the church or other "secular" opportunities for musical education and participation. Must suck to live there.
34:56
40:58