Recordings of Change Ringing on Handbells




Twelve handbells

A Whitechapel twelve, tenor size 15 in C#

Handbell ringing

Handbell ringing at the 2005 Ringing Roadshow, Newbury, UK

The sound of tower bells ringing changes in the English style is well known. Less well known is that change ringing is also practised on handbells. I say practised, because it is only very occasionally that change ringing on handbells is performed in public. This is mainly because, whilst pleasantly mesmerizing to listen to, the lack of variation in rhythm and limitation to a diatonic scale means that the "music" does not hold an audience's attention for more than a few minutes.

For the participants however, it is a different matter. Each person rings two bells and has to maintain a very high level of concentration to strike their bells accurately as they weave an intricate pattern through the changing permutations. No visual aids are allowed while ringing, and the ringers have to commit the pattern, known as a method, to memory. Additionally, the conductor has to learn a composition of bobs and singles, which are called out at pre-determined points in the method to instruct the ringers to switch the positions of two or more bells. This prevents any permutations from being repeated before the performance reaches its conclusion.

The ringers sit in a circle, holding one bell in each hand throughout. The hand-stroke and back-stroke required to control a tower bell with a rope are simulated with an up-stroke and a down-stroke. As on tower bells, all ringing starts and ends with rounds, the bells ringing down the scale from the highest to the lowest note. Normally a band consists of three to six ringers, ringing six to twelve bells; but peals of over 5000 changes have been rung on as many as twenty-two bells. A short video of change ringing on handbells can be seen here.

Some handbell ringers relish the challenge of ringing two bells to the ever increasing complexity of methods rung by only one ringer on tower bells, and most take pleasure in listening out for particularly musical sequences. It is a team effort and there is a considerable sense of achievement when a band succeeds in ringing something new and challenging, or they come close to the holy grail of faultless ringing.

The following recordings are taken from peals, where the bells are rung in continuous performance for at least 5000 changes. Normal length peals typically take between two and three hours to complete, depending upon the number of bells. However, several of the recordings are from record length peals, some of which have been transferred to mp3 from cassette tape.

The mp3 sound clips below are large files which may take some time to download. If they don't start playing soon after you click on the link, check that your media player options are set to play mp3 files.

ANCIENT SOCIETY OF COLLEGE YOUTHS
COVENTRY, West Midlands.
12 Cecily Road
Sat 2 Oct 2004 in 17h6 (size 11G)
50400 Treble Dodging Minor (70 methods)
one extent each Melrose D, Sherborne D, Evesham D, Wooler S, Whitley S, Dover D, Balmoral D, Fotheringay D, Chepstow D, Skipton D, Pennine TB, Peveril D, Leasowe D, Melandra D, Beeston D, Tewkesbury D, Sandiacre S, Carlisle S, Chester S, Munden S, Ely D, Wilmslow D, Bogedone D, Rostherne D, Knutsford D, Lincoln S, Combermere D, Vale Royal D, Crowland D, St Werburgh D, Coventry D, Sandal TB, London Scholars' Pleasure TB, Capel TB, Kingston TB, Killamarsh TB, Wath D, Oswald D, Edinburgh D, Kentish D, London Victory D, Hull S, Primrose S, Berwick S, Hexham S, Norwich S, Neasden D, St Albans D, Charlwood D, Wragby D, Disley D, Duke of Norfolk TB, College Exercise TB, Ockley TB, Norbury TB, Trinity Sunday TB, Pontefract D, Barham D, Pembroke D, Berkeley D, Kirkstall D, Bourne S, Cambridge S, Beverley S, Surfleet S, Westminster S, Old Oxford D, College Bob IV D, Newdigate D, Willesden D.

1-2 Philip J Earis
3-4 Andrew J Tibbetts (Conductor)
5-6 David J Pipe

This peal broke the record for the greatest number of changes ever to be rung in a peal. The previous record, both on towerbells and handbells, was 40320 Plain Bob Major, rung in 1963 (17h58m) and 1977 (15h59m) respectively.

Left HandbellMelrose Delight starts a very long day (5m16s mono mp3, 1083Kb)Right Handbell

Left HandbellThe change to the 31st extent, Coventry Delight (3m46s mono mp3, 1549Kb)Right Handbell

Left HandbellWillesden Delight to finish the 17 hour marathon (3m52s mono mp3, 1734Kb)Right Handbell

OXFORD DIOCESAN GUILD
MAIDENHEAD, Berks.
7 Laburnham Avenue
Wed 25 June 2003 in 2h12 (size 14)
5184 London Surprise Major
Composed by John S Warboys
1-2 Philip A B Saddleton
3-4 Graham A C John
5-6 Bernard F L Groves (Conductor)
7-8 Graham G Firman

100 years ago, on 26 January 1904, the first peal of London Surprise Major on handbells was rung after nine months of practice. Some eminent ringers of the day refused to believe that it was possible to ring two bells to a peal of such a difficult method, and a controversy ensued, only partially resolved by the band repeating the feat in front of further witnesses a few days later. With internal places made both at handstroke and backstroke, it still marks a difficulty threshold today; nevertheless well over 100 peals of it have been rung in the last twenty years.

Left HandbellThe sixth course of the peal (5m48s mono mp3, 2677Kb)Right Handbell

OXFORD DIOCESAN GUILD
MAIDENHEAD, Berks.
7 Laburnham Avenue
Wed 2 Apr 2003 in 2h58 (size 16)
5234 Bristol Surprise Maximus
Composed by David C Brown
1-2 Patricia M Newton
3-4 David C Brown (Conductor)
5-6 Bernard F L Groves
7-8 Graham G Firman
9-10 Graham A C John
11-12 Robert H Newton

Bristol Surprise Maximus is a method with elegant construction and excellent musical qualities.

Left HandbellThe waterfall course (4m07s mono mp3, 2165Kb)Right Handbell

OXFORD DIOCESAN GUILD
ASTON ROWANT, Oxon.
The White House
Sat 28 Dec 2002 in 5h12 (size 14 in D)
12000 Bristol Surprise Major
Composed by Graham A C John
1-2 Patricia M Newton
3-4 Graham A C John
5-6 Bernard F L Groves (Conductor)
7-8 Robert H Newton

The longest peal of Bristol Surprise Major on handbells.

Left HandbellThe first course (7m32s mono mp3, 4074Kb)Right Handbell

Left HandbellThe final, noticeably faster, course (6m50s mono mp3, 3701Kb)Right Handbell

ANCIENT SOCIETY OF COLLEGE YOUTHS
WORCESTER, Worcestershire.
64 London Road
Sat 23 Nov 2002 in 13h16 (size 15 in C#)
25560 London No. 3 Surprise Royal
Composed by James Clatworthy
1-2 John N Hughes-D'Aeth
3-4 David J Pipe
5-6 David C Brown (Conductor)
7-8 Alex F Byrne
9-10 Mark Regan

The longest peal yet rung on more than eight bells.

Left HandbellNot a hint of tiredness in these last few leads! (4m12s mono mp3, 1973Kb)Right Handbell

OXFORD DIOCESAN GUILD
ASTON ROWANT, Oxon.
The White House
Wed 23 Jan 2002 in 2h31 (size 14 in D)
5080 London No. 3 Surprise Royal
Composed by Richard A Pearce
1-2 Patricia M Newton
3-4 Graham A C John
5-6 Bernard F L Groves (Conductor)
7-8 Katharine J Firman
9-10 Robert H Newton

Left HandbellThe waterfall course (1m57 mono mp3, 944Kb)Right Handbell

Left HandbellThe penultimate course - 5-6 roll ups (2m12 mono mp3, 1036Kb)Right Handbell

NORWICH DIOCESAN GUILD
BRANDON PARVA, Norfolk.
Woodstock
Fri 18 Aug 1995 in 3h45 (size 18)
5040 Grandsire Septuples
Composed by David C Brown
1-2 William H Jackson
3-4 Lesley H M Boyle
5-6 David C Brown (Conductor)
7-8 Paul N Mounsey
9-10 Alison K Regan
11-12 Frank C Price
13-14 Barry R M Johnson
15-16 Mark Regan

The first (and only) peal of Grandsire Septuples.

Left HandbellThe tittums position (2m50s mono mp3, 2752Kb)Right Handbell

Left HandbellThe handstroke homes (2m8s mono mp3, 2097Kb)Right Handbell

ELY DIOCESAN ASSOCIATION
NEWMARKET, Suffolk.
14 Paget Place
Fri 12 Apr 1991 in 4h3 (size 20)
5312 Lincolnshire Surprise Sixteen
Composed by David C Brown
1-2 Frank C Price
3-4 Lesley H M Boyle
5-6 David C Brown (Conductor)
7-8 Gareth Davies
9-10 Paul N Mounsey
11-12 John P Loveless
13-14 William H Jackson
15-16 Barry R M Johnson

The first peal of Lincolnshire Surprise Sixteen.

Left HandbellThe start of the plain course from a practice on a lighter ring of bells (2m17s mono mp3, 1075Kb)Right Handbell

Left HandbellThe finish of the peal (1m56s mono mp3, 907Kb)Right Handbell

ANCIENT SOCIETY OF COLLEGE YOUTHS
FARNHAM, Surrey.
17 Marston Road
Tue 27 Dec 1977 in 15h59 (size 13)
40320 Plain Bob Major
Composed by William S Croft
1-2 James S Croft
3-4 John S Croft
5-6 Edward J Futcher
7-8 William S Croft (Conductor)

The longest peal rung on eight handbells.

Left HandbellThe finish, after 16 hours continuous ringing! (1m48s mono mp3, 1064Kb)Right Handbell

ANCIENT SOCIETY OF COLLEGE YOUTHS
LANGLEY, Berkshire.
26 Gilmore Close
Sun 12 Jun 1977 in 6h55 (size 13)
12345 Stedman Cinques
Composed by Robert E J Dennis
1-2 Edward J Futcher
3-4 David F Moore
5-6 Paul N Mounsey
7-8 David C Brown (Conductor)
9-10 Graham G Firman
11-12 John S Croft

The longest length of Stedman rung on handbells.

Left HandbellThe tittums position (2m5s mono mp3, 1230Kb)Right Handbell

Left HandbellThe handstroke homes (3m4s mono mp3, 1805Kb)Right Handbell

Left HandbellThe finish (3m37s mono mp3, 2129Kb)Right Handbell

OXFORD DIOCESAN GUILD
LANGLEY, Berkshire.
26 Gilmore Close
Wed 9 Apr 1975 in 5h50 (size 16)
10560 Cambridge Surprise Maximus
Composed by Roderick W Pipe
1-2 S Clarke Walters
3-4 David F Moore (Conductor)
5-6 Bernard F L Groves
7-8 Graham G Firman
9-10 Katharine J Maundrell
11-12 Robert H Newton

At the time, this was the longest length of Surprise rung on handbells.

Left HandbellThe middle lead of the last course (2m42s mono mp3, 1586Kb)Right Handbell



This page was last updated on 28 May 2009 by