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Tintinnalogia

by Richard Duckworth

13 of 31 · Contents · Download EPUB

The Changes on Six Bells

On six Bells there are Seven-hundred and twenty Changes to be made; but there are Peals of Six-score and Twelve-score Changes to be Rang on them. The Six-score Changes are to be made, by observing a whole Hunt and half Hunt, which are to be hunted in the same course, as in the Six-score on five Bells, and the Extream Changes to be made by the same Rule as they were on five Bells. The only difference between the Six-score on six Bells, and those on five, are this; whereas on five there are but three Extream Bells, on six there are four Extream Bells. And on five Bells, there are six Extream Changes in every Six-score; but on six, there are but four Extream Changes. And moreover, whereas in every Six-score on five Bells, the Changes were the same in each, although altered in course; but the Changes on six Bells are not the same in each, for several Six-scores has several Changes, one Six-score having many Changes which another has not, as in this Peal, treble and second both up, which is,

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There are other Peals to be Rang on six Bells, as Six-scores on the five smallest, the tenor lying behind all the way. Treble and second, or treble and fifth, with the tenor lying behind, makes very good Musick: Of which Peals I need not give you any Example, these Six-scores being the same with those on five Bells set down before.

The Twelve-score Changes being only part of the Seven-hundred and twenty, and consequently the course of each being one and the same, I will therefore shew the course and method of the Seven-hundred and twenty, wherein the Twelve-score Changes are also included.

In Ringing the Seven-hundred and Twenty, there is a whole Hunt, a half Hunt, a quarter Hunt, and three Extream Bells; the whole Hunt and half Hunt does hunt in the same course and method, as they did in the Six-score on five Bells, and in the last Six-score; and the quarter Hunt removes in the same course under the half Hunt, as the half Hunt does under the whole Hunt: for instance, when the whole Hunt is hunted either before or behind the Bells, then the half Hunt removes over one Bell; and when the half Hunt is removed before or behind the quarter Hunt and Extream Bells (at which time in a Six-score the Extream is made) then the quarter Hunt removes over one Bell, in the same course as the half hunt moves, when the whole Hunt is before or behind. An Example I will set down, which is 1, 2 and 3 all up, that is to say, treble the whole Hunt, and to hunt up, second the half Hunt, and to half hunt up, and third the quarter Hunt, and to quarter hunt up 4, 5 and 6 are Extream Bells; there is alwayes an Extream Change to be made when the quarter Hunt comes before or behind the Extream Bells, there are two wayes to make the Extreams, which are the same here, as in the Six-score on five, and made by the same Rule, I will here make it between the two farthest Extream Bells from the quarter Hunt. Now the treble and second being the whole Hunt and half Hunt, must be hunted in the same course, as in the Six-score on five Bells, after this manner.

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The half Hunt being hunted up, the third is to remove up over one Bell, and then the whole Hunt and half Hunt to remove again thus.

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The whole Hunt and half Hunt being hunted down, the quarter Hunt must remove up over the fifth, and then the whole Hunt and half Hunt must hunt up again, as in the following Changes.

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The whole Hunt and half Hunt being hunted up, the quarter Hunt must be removed quite up over the sixth, as in this Change

4 5 6 3 2 1

the quarter Hunt being hunted up behind the Extream Bells, yet the Extream Change is not to be made, until the whole Hunt and half Hunt have both removed thorough the Bells, as in these Changes.

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It is to be observed for a constant Rule, that when the quarter Hunt removes either quite up behind the Extream Bells, or down before them, the whole Hunt and half Hunt must hunt through the Bells before the Extream Change is to be made, as appears by the last Changes.

The Extream Change is now to be made between the 4 and 5, being the two farthest Extream Bells from the third, which is the quarter Hunt, thus.—

1 2 5 4 6 3

The Extream being made, the whole Hunt, half Hunt, and quarter Hunt must be hunted as before; and first the whole Hunt and half Hunt are to be hunted up, as in these Changes.

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The whole Hunt and half Hunt being hunted up, the quarter Hunt must hunt down under the sixth, which is the next Bell to it, and then the whole Hunt and half Hunt must hunt down again, as in the Changes following.

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The quarter Hunt must be hunted down under the Fourth, and then the whole Hunt and half Hunt are to hunt up again, as appears by these changes.

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Now the quarter hunt is to be hunted down before the Extream Bells, and then the whole Hunt and half Hunt to hunt again before the Extream Change is made.

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The quarter Hunt being before the Extream Bells, the Extream Change is to be made:

Here are just Twelve-score Changes already set down, and the Bells may either be brought round, and so make an end at the Twelve-score, or else proceed forward to the end of the Seven hundred and twenty. If the bells are not brought round here, they cannot come round, until the Seven-hundred and twenty Changes are all made, and then they come round in course. To bring the Bells round at the end of these Twelve-score Changes, the Extream is to be made between the 5 and 4, which were the two Bells that made the last Extream Change, and brings them round in their right places again, as appears by these figures

1 2 3 4 5 6

There are but two Extream Changes in every Twelve-score, wherein ’tis constantly observed, that the last Extream Change is to be made between those two Bells which made the first Extream, otherwise the Bells would not come round at the end of the Twelve-score.

Here I have somewhat deviated from my directions before, in making the Extream Changes; for in the last Change, which is 123456, I made the Extream between the two nearest Extream Bells to the quarter Hunt; but the Twelve-score Changes are an imperfect Peal, being only a third part of the Changes which are to be made on six Bells, and therefore not to be brought round, unless the last Extream Change is made out of course. To have proceeded forward in the 720, the last Extream should have been made between the 4 and 6, which are the two farthest Extream Bells from the quarter Hunt, the Change next before the Extream, is 123546; now the 4 and 6 making an Extream Change, the Bells stand thus, 123564; the Extream being made, the whole hunt, half hunt, and quarter hunt are to be hunted as before, and the Extream Changes to be made between the two farthest Extream Bells from the quarter hunt, which course will bring the Bells round in their right places at the end of the 720. In every 720, there are six Extream Changes, there being Six-score Changes between each. The Twelve-score Changes are to be Rang with any whole hunt, half hunt, and quarter hunt, observing to make the last Extream Change between those two Bells which made the first.

The 720 plain Changes are to be rang or set down One thousand four hundred and forty several wayes, by altering the whole hunt, half hunt, quarter hunt, and Extream Bells (but the course of each is the same with that which is before set down) which I thus demonstrate. On 6 Bells, there are 120 several hunts, (viz.) a whole hunt, half hunt, and quarter hunt Six-score several times, and not one and the same whole hunt, half hunt, and quarter hunt twice, as appears by these Figures.—

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These Figures stand three and three together, each three represents the three Hunts; that is, the first is the whole Hunt, the second Figure the half Hunt, and the third the quarter Hunt; for Example, the first three are 123, the treble is the whole Hunt, the second the half Hunt, and the third the quarter Hunt: The next three Figures are 124, there the treble is the whole Hunt, the second the half Hunt, and the fourth the quarter Hunt; and the last three Figures are 654, where the sixth is the whole Hunt, the fifth the half Hunt, and the fourth the quarter Hunt, and so of all the rest.

With one whole Hunt, half Hunt, and quarter Hunt, the Seven-hundred and twenty Changes are to be Rang, or set down twelve several wayes; for instance, take the first three Hunts in these Figures, which are 123, where the treble is the whole Hunt, the second the half Hunt, and the third the quarter Hunt, which may be hunted six several wayes, as followeth.

Treble, second and third, all up.

Treble and second up, third down.

Treble up, second and third down.

Treble, second and third, all down.

Treble and second down, third up.

Treble down, second and third up.

}

Each of these are to be Rang two wayes, one is to make the Extreams between the two farthest Extream Bells from the quarter Hunt, and the other way is to make the Extream between the two next Bells to the quarter Hunt.

By treble, second and third all up, is meant, that the treble is the whole hunt, and to hunt up the first Change at the beginning of the Peal; the second is the half hunt, and to half hunt up; that is, to move up towards the hindmost Bells the first time it moves at the beginning of the Peal; and the third is the quarter hunt, and to move likewise toward the hindmost Bells the first time it removes. And by treble and second up, and third down, is meant, that the treble and second are to move up towards the hindmost Bell, the first time each removes at the beginning of the Peal; and the third being the quarter hunt, is to move down the first time, which are only directions for moving the hunts at first, because they may be hunted either up or down.

Sometimes it happens, that the hunts cannot be hunted that way which is proposed, as in the 720, treble, second and third all down.—

1 2 3 4 5 6

The whole hunt which is the treble, should now be hunted down; but it being already before the Bells, insomuch that it can be removed no lower; I should therefore remove the half hunt down, but that being also down as low as it can go, I should move the quarter hunt; and that being also down before the Extream Bells, I can move it no lower, unless I should move it down under the second, which is the half hunt, which must not be done; for when the quarter hunt is down next before the Extream Bell, it must be removed no lower; and when it is up next behind Extream Bell, it is to be removed up no higher; therefore it being now before the Extream Bell, the Extream Change is to be made the first of all; and when that is done, the treble, second and third must be hunted up in course. Or if you make treble and second down, and third up, then the first Change is to be made, by moving the quarter Hunt up over one Bell. And again, if you make Treble and Tenor both up, and Third down, first hunt up the Treble, and then the Tenor, which is the half Hunt, should be moved up; but it being already behind, the quarter Hunt, which is the Third, must move under one Bell, and then the whole Hunt and half are to hunt in course after each other: Many Examples of this Nature I could set down, which for brevity sake I omit.

I might demonstrate how the 720 are to be Rang twelve wayes, with each of the Six-score Hunts, as I did that of treble, second and third; but I think that altogether needless, since that Example makes it most plain and easie to be understood: But I will give a general Rule for hunting any whole Hunt, half Hunt, and quarter Hunt, so as to produce six several wayes to Ring the 720 Changes, which is this:

Whole Hunt, half Hunt, and quarter Hunt, all hunted up.

Whole Hunt, and half Hunt hunted up, and quarter Hunt down.

Whole Hunt hunted up, half Hunt and quarter Hunt down.

Whole Hunt, half Hunt, and quarter Hunt hunted down.

Whole Hunt and half Hunt hunted down, and quarter Hunt up.

Whole Hunt hunted down, half Hunt and quarter Hunt hunted up.

Which is a general Rule to Ring the 720 six wayes on any one of the Six-score Hunts; each of which six wayes, may be Rang two wayes more, by altering the Extream Changes, one of which is to make the Extream Changes between the two next Extream Bells to the quarter Hunt, and the other way is to make the Extreams between the two farthest Extream Bells from it.

The 720 Changes are to be Rang 12 wayes with one whole Hunt, half Hunt, and quarter Hunt; so that with the Six-score Hunts, it is to be Rang Six-score times twelve wayes, which makes One thousand four hundred and forty several wayes to Ring this 720 plain Changes.

In the 720, the half Hunt, the quarter Hunt, and the three Extream Bells, makes the Six-score Changes on 5 Bells in a perfect course, the half Hunt and quarter hunt in the 720, being the whole Hunt and half Hunt in the Six-score; for Example, take the 23456, and set down the Six-score Changes on them, making the second the whole hunt, and the third the half hunt; which when you have set down, then take the Treble, and hunt it through every Change of that Six-score, and it will make 720 Changes, the same with those which I have set down before, The Twenty-four Changes on four Bells, and the six changes on three Bells, have also a perfect course in the 720, in the same manner as I told you they had in the Six-scores on five Bells. There is always one change in the Six-score made every time the whole hunt comes before or behind the bells, which is every sixth change; and there’s one change of the Twenty-four made, every time the whole hunt and half hunt comes before or behind the bells, which is once in thirty changes; and one change of the six made every extream, that is once in six-score changes. You may take the six-score changes on five bells, treble the whole, and second the half hunt, before set down; and hunt the sixth bell through every change of that six score, which will make the 720 changes; Tenor the whole hunt, Treble the half hunt, and Second the quarter hunt.

This is not material for a Learner to know, it being only for the instructions of those that know how to Ring it, but yet are ignorant of the true grounds thereof; therefore I have dissected it, and shewed the grounds of each part of it.

In this place, I will add a word or two to those that practise to Ring the Changes.

They that Ring the extream bells in the Twenty-four changes, must mind and observe the motion of the hunt, that they may the better know when to make the extream changes; and likewise in a six-score on five bells, he that Rings the half hunt, must observe the motion of the whole hunt; and they that Ring the extream bells, must observe the motions both of the whole hunt, and half hunt, that they may know when the half hunt is to move, and also when to make the extream changes; or else he that does Ring the half hunt, may give notice of the extream changes (by saying Extream) the change next before the extream is to be made. The same is to be observed in the changes on six bells. The whole hunt is the easiest bell to Ring in any changes, the half hunt is more plain and easie to Ring, than an extream bell. All changes are to be Rang either by walking them (as the term is) or else Whole-pulls, or Half-pulls. By walking them, is meant, that the bells go round, four, six, eight times, or more, in one change, which is commonly used by young Practisers; it may be sometimes on five bells, Ringing the Twenty-four changes on the treble, second, third, and fourth, the fifth bell striking behind every change; and many other changes of the like nature may be practised this way by young Ringers. Whole-pulls, is to Ring two Rounds in one change, that is, Fore-stroke and Back-stroke, and in a change; so that every time you pull down the bells at Sally, you make a new change differing from that at the Back-stroke next before; this Whole-pulls was altogether practised in former time, but of late there is a more quick and ready way practised, called Half-pulls, which is—only one round in a change, that is, one change made at the Fore-stroke, and another at the Back-stroke, which way is now altogether in use (unless it be at some great bells, which are too weighty to be managed up so high a Compass at the Back-stroke, as Half-pulls requires) it being now a common thing in London to Ring the 720 Changes, Trebles and Doubles, and Grandsire Bob, Half-pulls, (which is commonly Rang with so round and quick a Compass, that in the space of half an hour, or little more, the 720 Changes are Rang out from the beginning to the end.) And also the Six-scores Doubles and Singles, Old Doubles, Grandsire, and many other cross Peals on five bells, are commonly Rang Half-pulls.

In Ringing Half-pulls some Peals do cut Compass, that is—the whole hunt comes to lead at the Back-stroke, to remedy which, make the first change of the Peal at the Back-stroke.

By these following Rules, you shall know what Peals do cut Compass, and what not (i.e.) of plain and single changes. On six Bells,

In hunting either the treble, the third, or the fifth bells down, cuts Compass; hunting them up, does not cut Compass.

In hunting the second, fourth, or sixth bells up, cuts Compass; but hunting them down, does not cut Compass.

These Rules (leaving out the Tenor) serves for five bells; and leaving out the fifth and Tenor, they serve for four bells.

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