Bell

Bell is a hollow, metal vessel in the shape of a cup with a clapper (metal tongue) suspended inside. The bell rings with a clear, musical sound when the clapper strikes it. Bells vary in tone from high to low, according to their thickness and size. Sets of bells may be made, each bell having a different tone to correspond to the tones of the musical scale. Orchestra bells are made this way, except they are metal bars of various lengths that are struck with a small mallet to produce the sound. Bells serve many purposes, and their sound forms a familiar part of daily life. Church bells summon people to worship. Bells ring to announce important events such as 12 o’clock on New Year’s Eve.

How bells are made.

The bells used in churches and carillons are molded in a single piece from molten metal. Bell metal, as it is called, consists of a mixture of copper and tin. The usual proportions are 4 parts of copper to 1 of tin. Bell casting requires two molds. Metal shells form the basic shape of the bell. These shells are covered with clay or a molding mixture to form the finished molds for the exact shape of the bell. The inner mold forms the open space inside the bell. The outer mold shapes the outside of the bell. This mold contains holes that permit the escape of gases, which would otherwise leave bubbles in the bell. The liquid metal is poured between the two molds. After the metal cools and hardens, the bell is then removed from the mold. A large bell may require several weeks to cool thoroughly.

Chimes and carillons.

Chimes are metal tubes of varying lengths that hang from a metal frame. The most familiar chimes are orchestral chimes. There are seldom more than 12 chimes in a set, and each has a different pitch. The player strikes them with a leather-headed mallet to produce sound. Carillons (bells set together to play melodies) may have 70 or more bells. Carillons can be played by hand, but most are operated by electricity. The player sits at a keyboard which resembles that of an organ. As the performer presses a key, an electrical connection strikes a hammer against the proper bell to sound it. This art developed in the Low Countries, now Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

History.

Bells, like many other musical instruments, developed in Asia. They were known in China from about 1500 B.C. Archaeologists have found a richly ornamented Assyrian bronze bell, used for ceremonial purposes, which dates from the 800’s B.C.

In ancient Greece, the ringing of bells announced that freshly caught fish had arrived at the market. In times of war, bells were rung to warn people that enemies were approaching the gates of the city. In Rome, bells called the faithful to worship in the temples. Bell ringing also accompanied the funeral services of the Roman emperors. Later, Celtic tribes, who were famous for their metal-casting techniques, brought bells from Asia into Europe.

Bells were introduced into France in the mid-500’s, and into England about 100 years later. One of the oldest bells in Ireland is the Bell of Saint Patrick’s Will, in Dublin. It is 6 inches (15 centimeters) high and 5 inches (13 centimeters) across. Legend says that it belonged to Saint Patrick.

Bell makers often put the year the bell was cast on the bell. A bell in Drohndorf, Germany, dates from 1098, and one in Pisa, Italy, is marked 1106. Bayeux, France, has a bell dated 1202, and one in Claughton, England, is from 1296.

Uses of bells.

Bells have always been associated with religious services. Since about 400, Christians have used them to summon worshipers. Church bells often toll to announce a death. It became the custom by the 900’s to hang church bells in special towers. A metal rod struck the bell to sound it. Often the bell was swung to make a metal clapper strike it. Most bell towers formed a part of the church building. Others stood apart. Most bell towers in Italy, called campaniles, stand apart. Edward Bok built The Singing Tower, a famous bell tower, at Mountain Lake, Florida.

Bells have served many other purposes. In England during the Middle Ages, a bell rung at evening announced the curfew (see Curfew ). For many years, town criers rang bells to attract attention to their notices. In many countries, people used bells in case of fire, to call city council meetings, and to remind citizens of tax deadlines. In pioneer days in America, bells warned of Indian attacks. At sea, buoys (floating markers) sometimes carry bells to warn ships off dangerous coasts. Bell sounds mark the time on board ship (see Ship (Nautical terms: Ship’s bell) ).

Bells have often been used in musical compositions. In 1791, Nicholas Dalayrac introduced bells in his opera Camille. Three years later, the Italian composer Luigi Cherubini followed his example in the opera Elisa. Many composers, including Richard Wagner, Gustav Mahler, and Richard Strauss, wrote parts for bells tuned to a specific pitch into their works. Real bells are usually too unwieldy and costly for orchestral uses, so they are often replaced by long metal tubes suspended from a frame and hit with a hammer.

Various kinds and pitches of handbells are also used together to produce music. Professional musicians or groups of students from music schools and universities arrange classical and popular music for bells. These bell ringers make tours and present musical programs to audiences. Handbells are common in Europe.

Famous bells.

The most famous bell in America is the Liberty Bell. It proclaimed the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. Another famous bell, Big Ben, hangs in the Elizabeth Tower of the Houses of Parliament in London. China’s most famous bell is in Beijing. It weighs about 60 tons (54 metric tons) and was made about 1415. In Myanmar, there is a 97-ton (73-metric-ton) bell.

The largest and heaviest carillon in the world is in the Riverside Church in New York City. It has 74 bells and weighs 100 tons (91 metric tons). The carillon in the city of Mechelen, Belgium, is considered the world’s finest. It has 45 bells.