Doubles (bells)
Encyclopedia
Doubles is used as a term in English Change Ringing
, describing a ringing method rung on five church bells. Doubles is the most common group of methods rung in the United Kingdom
, since 90% of parish church
es with bell towers in the UK are fitted with only six bells.
Methods and principles are named according to the number or working bells, that is those bells that move place. "Plain Bob Doubles" is a method rung on five bells whereas "Plain Bob Triples" is the same method rung on seven working bells. Commonly the
largest bell (the tenor) does not change place, and so there may be five working bells + the tenor making six bells being rung.
There are two separate ways are used to refer to the number of bells. One way is used for even numbers, the other for an odd number.
The name for 9 bells is pronounced "kate-ers" and comes from the French "quatres". The name for 11 bells also comes from the
French and is pronounced "sinks" c.f. Cinque Ports
.
The names refer to the number of bells which change places in each row. With three bells only one pair can change, and so it is
singles. With seven bells there are clearly three pairs with the odd one not moving this row.
Change ringing
Change ringing is the art of ringing a set of tuned bells in a series of mathematical patterns called "changes". It differs from many other forms of campanology in that no attempt is made to produce a conventional melody....
, describing a ringing method rung on five church bells. Doubles is the most common group of methods rung in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, since 90% of parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
es with bell towers in the UK are fitted with only six bells.
Methods and principles are named according to the number or working bells, that is those bells that move place. "Plain Bob Doubles" is a method rung on five bells whereas "Plain Bob Triples" is the same method rung on seven working bells. Commonly the
largest bell (the tenor) does not change place, and so there may be five working bells + the tenor making six bells being rung.
There are two separate ways are used to refer to the number of bells. One way is used for even numbers, the other for an odd number.
Even numbers of bells
| Number of bells | Name |
|---|---|
| 4 | Minimus |
| 6 | Minor |
| 8 | Major |
| 10 | Royal |
| 12 | Maximus |
Odd
| Number of bells | Name |
|---|---|
| 3 | Singles |
| 5 | Doubles |
| 7 | Triples |
| 9 | Caters |
| 11 | Cinques |
The name for 9 bells is pronounced "kate-ers" and comes from the French "quatres". The name for 11 bells also comes from the
French and is pronounced "sinks" c.f. Cinque Ports
Cinque Ports
The Confederation of Cinque Ports is a historic series of coastal towns in Kent and Sussex. It was originally formed for military and trade purposes, but is now entirely ceremonial. It lies at the eastern end of the English Channel, where the crossing to the continent is narrowest...
.
The names refer to the number of bells which change places in each row. With three bells only one pair can change, and so it is
singles. With seven bells there are clearly three pairs with the odd one not moving this row.