The art of „striking” the bell at the exact moment of its position in the sequence requires great skill. The Science of change-ringing is purely mathematical and contains no musical considerations Whatever. The possible changes are easily calculated, being the permutations, one at a time, fora given number of bells thus:
4 bells 24 changes 5 bells 120 changes 6 bells 720 changes 8 bells 40.320 changes 10 bells 3.628.800 changes 12 bells 479.001.600 changes
The greatest feats of change-ringing are (1) a peal of 21.363 changes rung at Appleton, 1922, in 12 hours 25 minutes; (2) a peal of 18.027 changes rung at Loughborough, 1909, in 12 hours 18 minutes. Both are wonderful instances of endurance. In order to facilitate the balance of the bell when hung for change-ringing, our forefathers, instead of improving the method of suspension, indiscriminately shortened the body of the bell in order that greater ease in ringing might be attained. This impaired the symmetrical shape and completely upset the series of harmonie tones. It is entirely on this account that many of our old bells are poor in tone and out of tune with themselves and with others and also that they differ considerably in contour and dimensions from the bells of Hemony, van den Gheyn or Dumery. All this has been entirely changed. The difficulties have been overcome and splendid bells as to tone and tune are now being produced, many examples of which you have in Holland. During the past 35 years much analytical and experimental Work has been done so that bells can now be tuned with greater accuracy than ever before, the special mechanical appliances devised making perfect harmonie timing a certainty. I hope I shall not be accused of exaggeration in stating that at the present time the best bells in the world are being made in England. The great advancement made in harmonie tuning is more important than any recent development in the manufacture of other musical Instruments,
OF THE BRITISH ISLES.
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