Introduction
About the Bells
Ringing the Bells
Recording
Contact Me
Email: penny@penny.id.au
ICQ: 105213130
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Introduction |
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The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra is an internationally-renowned orchestra that performs Classical and Baroque music on period instruments. Since Paul Dyer was inspired to form it in 1990, they have produced a large number of excellent concerts and recordings.
In 1999, the tower bellringers of Christ Church St. Laurence were asked if we would be willing to play some carols on handbells as part of the the orchestra's annual "Noël, Noël" series of Christmas concerts. We eagerly formed a quartet of handbell ringers and practised diligently for our five-minute bracket in the middle of each concert. Although our standard was far from being on a par with the talented orchestra and choir, the audiences accepted us warmly - mainly because none of them had seen handbell ringing before! Paul dubbed us the "Brandenburg Bellringers" and since then we have been accepted as a traditional part of these concerts. |
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About the Bells |
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The handbells that we use come from several different sets - purchased separately and combined to create a more complete set. In total, there are 72 bells in the set, although we rarely use any bells other than our standard 16. The full set contains some duplicates, one or two cracked bells, some bells so large that each would require two hands to ring, and some bells so small that their sound is ear-piercingly high-pitched.
Unlike the depictions of handbells that are commonly seen on Christmas cards, the clappers of our bells are not free to move. The movement of the clapper of each bell is restricted to one plane, and is hindered by a spring. This means that the bell only sounds if you give it a solid flick of the wrist. The fact that the clapper can only move in one plane means that it is possible to hold two bells in one hand with their clappers at right angles, and be able to ring either bell without the other sounding. Of course, this brings the disadvantage that it is difficult to ring both bells in one hand simultaneously, but as the bells' notes are consecutive, this situation does not arise often. |
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Ringing the Bells |
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For the majority of our pieces, the four of us ring fourteen handbells between us. Three ringers ring in a style known as "four-in-hand" - that is, four bells each (two in each hand). These twelve bells form a diatonic scale in C major, extending from a low C to a high G. The fourth ringer rings "two-in-hand" (one bell in each hand), playing the F sharp and high A bells.
One of our pieces (appropriately named "Christchurch Bells") requires all four ringers to ring four-in-hand. For this piece, we ring 16 bells in a diatonic scale of G major, ranging from a low C to a high D. Another style of handbell ringing exists, known as "off-the-table" ringing. Rather than holding a certain set of bells for the duration of a piece (as in two- or four-in-hand ringing), off-the-table ringers are responsible for up to 10 bells each. Their method of ringing involves placing all the bells on a padded table in front of the ringers. When a note is required, the ringer picks up the appropriate bell, strikes it, then replaces it on the table. I have never seen this done, but I'm sure it would be fascinating to watch. |
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Recording |
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