2006/2007 AllChimes Founders Letter

 The more I learn about chimes, I realize that there is so much more to learn.

 It took over 250 chime tower visits to begin to understand the big picture of chimes. Photographing, listening to your comments and desires, playing, doing some minor repairs, buying and removing a chime, scheming during sleepless nights.  Some conclusions.

1. There are English and American style chimes and chiming methods. 
2. Music used is mnemonic (3x5) card or music notation.
3. Playing might  be: ellacombe, baton, pump handle, drum, electric keyboard, tape player or a home made device.
4. Some change ringing sets can also double as a chime.
5. Any chime might be a mix of  the above characteristics.
6. An unintended standard of bells has often occurred.  The 1^st to 8^th  bells are an octave, the 7b,  9,  4# and 10 of the scale are usually added as expanded to 12 bells.  Each of these expansions allowed the most additional tunes able to be played.
7. No two chimes are exactly alike.  The fact that most founders and chimers, prior to AllChimes, have quietly worked in a vacuum has led to ingenious solutions to tower space and chimer ability.  It isn’t always pretty.  It is love.
8. It doesn’t take a virtuoso to learn.  There is no perfect way to play a chime.
9. When I say that vendors ALWAYS do a good job, I have gained first hand experience in repairing, buying and removing a chime.  I succeeded, but it would have been much easier to let them do it all.
10. 2007 will hopefully see progress in mnemonic and notational music offered to all chimers.

Before AllChmes, it appears there never was an organization for chimers.  Carilloneurs play an expensive item, played by resident and visiting artists world  wide.  Change ringers are many in each tower, sometimes roving to various towers on the same day, and have strong national groups.  They are not usually tied to the institution.

Chimes are more often played for many years by an individual who belongs to the institution hosting the chime. This seriously diminishes the pool and vibrancy of the craft of chiming.  Chime crawls have evolved, which are resulting in visiting chimers, total chime awareness and the vibrancy of good times together.  There used to be little effort to recruit new chimers.

CHIMES are basically an American phenomenon.  Where available outside North America ,  they are being added for completeness.

MUSIC availability from chime to chime is the item most asked for.  It will start to be addressed here in 2007.

MAJOR repairs and restoration – should be done by professionals.  I have found that they always do the job contracted.  However some COMMON SENSE must be used.  In most cases, keep the manual chime capability when electrifying.  Electrification typically has breakdowns, is often not fixed, and the chime is eventually abandoned.  This is crazy, no matter what a salesman tells you.

CHIME visits and crawls, in my estimation, can revive much chiming.  This started quite innocently in Ontario, Canada a few years ago and increased significantly in 2006. 

Speak up about what you see and what you dislike or could use.  AllChimes@aol.com .   

Joe Connors