General Chime Info - specific to chimes.
8-22 bells are considered a chime. Most are between 9 and 12 bells.
On a 'C' scale, the first 8 bells would normally be from middle 'C' to the 'C'
above. Bells 9-12 are usually 'Bb' 'D'
'F#' and 'E'. 13-16 are 'F' 'G'
'F#' 'C#' 17-20 are 'A' 'B+C' 'Eb'
21-22 are 'Bb high' 'G# low' Each bell allows more tunes to be
played.
Most chimes are not keyed in 'C'. The real key is the tenor bell (the
largest bell). A 'C' tenor bell would weigh around 5,000 lbs. So the foundry usually made manual chimes labeled in the
tenor bell key. Electrified chimes are liable to be 'C' or the true key on
the keyboard. Some are labeled by numbers (1-10, 11, 12 etc.) or letters
pasted on the keyboard..
It results in people playing in differing keys and by numbers and
letters. From my experience, it is easier to rubber band lettered 3X5 cards on your handles
and play it as a C chime (unless you have positive pitch). I transposed my D
Christmas music out of town, went to play it and found only a copy of the music
transposed to C. That's the dumb luck which started 3X5 cards. I've used them
ever since. Also, you have it a lot easier for playing a different chime.
Keep a set of 3x5 cards marked up in your chime key to use
elsewhere. Use a different color card for the F,F#,Bb,B keys. Soon, with locations known to you, you might want to
visit and play another chime. It may have more or less bells than yours,
causing visual confusion. You will be welcomed most anywhere.
Meneely of Troy often provided a book of music with their chime. It
had a black cover and was placed behind a door on the lower right side of the chimestand. On electrified chimes,
it was placed in a drawer below the keyboard.
There are
some Whitechapel 11 bell chimes where the F# is for chiming only and the other
10 bells are used for change ringing or chiming .
Looking for chimer(s) with a background in Symphony or other transposing
computer program to take over or contribute heavily to a much needed chime music library.
Looking for someone step forward to run an e-mail newsletter.
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