The ancient art of change ringing is based on the law of mathematics which determines how many changes are possible with any given number of bells. In each peal, the order changes until all possible combinations have been used up. While more than seven bells are seldom used at one time, if all bells in the Darke Memorial Chimes (12) were to be used at one time, this would constitute a "maximus" peal which would permit close to five billion changes and take 137 years to complete.
A much simpler change is the Plain Hunt Change using just four bells.
1
2
3
4
2
1
4
3
2
4
1
3
4
2
3
1
4
3
2
1
Half
way
done
!!!!
3
4
1
2
3
1
4
2
1
3
2
4
1
2
3
4
Back
to
the
Start
The first and last lines of the change are identical. Halfway through the change, you'll find the first line completely reversed. For pitch, the "1" bell is the highest note, the "4" is the lowest.
Return to [ Home | Darke Memorial Chimes ]
Revised: August 18, 2005