Day 34: Remembering, Remembering

[anarchist_nomad]

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.

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[*] 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.

Comments

[blaisepascal]

Would it be possible for you to get a recording of the half-muffled ringing for Remembrance Sunday? Or do you know of a recording of half-muffled bells online? I'd be interested in hearing it. The closest bell tower to me is over 150 miles away.

Also... Are all the bells muffled on the same side? Using ABCDE for unmuffled bells and abcde for muffled bells, does plain bob doubles begin

ABCDE
badce
BDAEC
dbeac

or like

AbCdE
BaDce
bdAEC
DBeac

Probably the former....

[alextiefling.livejournal.com]

You're right about early November. As well as the dates mentioned:

1 November is All Saints' Day
2 November is All Souls' Day
5 November is the commemoration of the arrival of William III and Mary II (who thereby reinforced the anti-Catholic tenor of the date)
and many places mark both Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.

[winewiskeywomen.livejournal.com]

Here in the states folx used to wear little artificial red poppies starting early in November lasting to Nov. 11. This went on 'til the late '60's.
Church bells were rung at 11:11 AM on the 11th, but i don't recall them being muffled.

On a totally unrelated note...

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

What monarch was on the postbox in your icon? Inquiring minds want to know...

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

Like blaisepascal, I'd like to hear what the half-muffled bells sound like. I have heard recordings of "Echo Taps" - the familiar sunset bugle-call, with a second bugle starting the tune as the first one finishes the first phrase. Here (http://beemp3.com/download.php?file=2757245&song=Echo+Taps) is an MP3 of it, although the effect doesn't come across as well as it might. (I have heard of this being done with a whole line of buglers stretching off into the distance - I'm not sure I could even bear to hear that.)

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 ;-)

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

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.

You've just reminded me of something else I should have mentioned in my earlier post. Shall post about that in a minute, thanks.