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anarchist_nomad) wrote2009-11-06 06:19 pm
anarchist_nomad) wrote2009-11-06 06:19 pm
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Day 34: Remembering, Remembering
After evening visiting hours at the hospital yesterday, I went to the usual Thursday evening bell ringing practice at St. Giles last night. Rang handbells for an hour first, then we switched to tower bells.
What set last night apart from every other practice of the year is that we rung with the tower bells half-muffled. Each of the eight bell clappers had something resembling a leather kneepad tied to one side. The muffles let each handstroke sound normally, but caused each backstroke to be muted. The result? Our ringing sounded like it was accompanied by an erie spectral echo.
Why was this done? Because in two days, it will be Remembrance Sunday[*,**]. On Sunday morning, rather than ringing to begin the usual Communion service inside of St. Giles Church, we will ring to call people to the [much larger] Remembrance Sunday services -- complete with a multi-faith assortment of speeches and a parade -- that will take place at the war memorial just outside of the church.
This will be the third year that I ring for the Remembrance Sunday services. It is, by far, the largest audience that I ring for all year long. Indeed, even Radio Oxford will be counted amongst those listening. It is also a somber way to transition into Winter, with that sad slow pealing of the bells.
I would not at all be pleased if we always rang with the bells half-muffled. However, as a once-a-year[***] tradition, I would not miss it. It offers both an interesting variation on the sound of our ringing, as well as a tone that fits nicely with the season.
[*] I was rather surprised to see that there were two or three people, out of the sixteen that showed up for last night's practice, who did not know why we were ringing half muffled bells. Apparently, they had not remembered Remembrance Sunday.
[**] Apparently, early November is all about remembering in England. You start with the [much more famous] fifth of November that everyone is supposed to remember... then quickly move into Remembrance Sunday and the related Remembrance Day.
[***] Or twice, depending on how one counts. As we practice with the bells half-muffled on the preceding Thursday, then ring them again that way on Remembrance Sunday. Also, bells are rung muffled or half-muffled at funerals... though I have not yet rung at one of these.
What set last night apart from every other practice of the year is that we rung with the tower bells half-muffled. Each of the eight bell clappers had something resembling a leather kneepad tied to one side. The muffles let each handstroke sound normally, but caused each backstroke to be muted. The result? Our ringing sounded like it was accompanied by an erie spectral echo.
Why was this done? Because in two days, it will be Remembrance Sunday[*,**]. On Sunday morning, rather than ringing to begin the usual Communion service inside of St. Giles Church, we will ring to call people to the [much larger] Remembrance Sunday services -- complete with a multi-faith assortment of speeches and a parade -- that will take place at the war memorial just outside of the church.
This will be the third year that I ring for the Remembrance Sunday services. It is, by far, the largest audience that I ring for all year long. Indeed, even Radio Oxford will be counted amongst those listening. It is also a somber way to transition into Winter, with that sad slow pealing of the bells.
I would not at all be pleased if we always rang with the bells half-muffled. However, as a once-a-year[***] tradition, I would not miss it. It offers both an interesting variation on the sound of our ringing, as well as a tone that fits nicely with the season.
[*] I was rather surprised to see that there were two or three people, out of the sixteen that showed up for last night's practice, who did not know why we were ringing half muffled bells. Apparently, they had not remembered Remembrance Sunday.
[**] Apparently, early November is all about remembering in England. You start with the [much more famous] fifth of November that everyone is supposed to remember... then quickly move into Remembrance Sunday and the related Remembrance Day.
[***] Or twice, depending on how one counts. As we practice with the bells half-muffled on the preceding Thursday, then ring them again that way on Remembrance Sunday. Also, bells are rung muffled or half-muffled at funerals... though I have not yet rung at one of these.
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And, while your "current music" (which version of the song, BTW?) is very appropriate, here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYlrrAWCTRg) is one that is even more so.
And as long as I seem to be in a link-posting mode... here's (http://www.designtoscano.com/product/garden+statues/extraordinary+statues/british-style+foundry+cast+iron+post+box+-+sp8976.do) something you might consider, should you ever live elsewhere but in the UK ;-)
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Also, thank you for the linkage! I did like the song. Comments on the actual Remembrance Sunday service may be coming up in a future post.
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I had to smile, though, at the thought of "rubber knee pads" on the clappers... ;-)
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[*] Not rubber...
no subject