For (what) the bells toll

kenneth Cauchi

Oct 1st 2008, 22:05

@Bertu Cassar you stated that whether a bell is struck by a ringer or by a mechanism it makes no difference - I humbly beg to differ.

First a bell is struck on the inside by a clapper by a ringer whereas its struck on the outside by a hammer when it is struck by a mechanism.

Second when ringers ring bells they do so for at least 10 mins of non stop ringing this at very distant intervals during the day

Third When the mechanism strikes it does so every 15 mins with a maximum of 10 strikes ie 4 for the quarter strike and 6 for the hr strike

Fourth, I am certain you will perhaps understand my explanation since you say you live close to a church.

Fifth, you are more then welcome to play ACDC. Kindly select Hell's bell track which features a 1 ton bell sounding the note E flat struck on stage. the Bell was cast in 1984 by John Taylor Foundry.

Any bell sceptics or would be bell ringing readers who would like to join those that have already emailed may do so on kcauchi@gmail.com - everyone is very welcome.

Mathias Mallia

Oct 1st 2008, 19:07

He seems to be a very clever man who really knows whats he's talking about. I like his use of Maltese, very educated ... good to see there are some people who are seen as simple yet have great minds in Malta.

Paul Vassallo

Oct 1st 2008, 15:16

it is important to make some things clear here. The clock in Senglea was very very high and a resident in Senglea proved scientifically that these high levels were causing us harm...So it is not a question of the noise bothering some...It is a question of health here... for the community that lives round the church. And there was not only one resident in Senglea that lives near the church that wanted the clock to stop causing us harm..there were several...but only one dared voice our concern... alone....and we know that she tried for several years to reach an agreement with the church committee and the curia...... and in a very Christian way...they ignored her...and yes we suffered for 8 years because of these Christian attitude of 'love thy neighbours'. The other thing is yes, the bells are historically old.... and very very out of tune..however we now can again enjoy listening to the Angelus at 8.00am. and at noon, and the call for mass and the other knells that before were completely drowned by the constant banging of the clock. These are the messages that mean something and are our Christian heritage...not excessive noise pollution that make us ill.

ANTHONY ABELA

Oct 1st 2008, 12:44

@ Margarita Megally Cassar

It is true that the bells of ta'Sannat where made in Italy , but the one sold to Tarxien was not one of this set of bells it was the larger bells from the old set. And it is true they are one of the best set of bells in the maltese islands

Lets keep this tradition

Margarita Megally Cassar

Oct 1st 2008, 11:13

The sounds of church bells and church clocks are part of what the Maltese Islands are all about. They accompany us on our life's journey. They empathise with the community spirit, setting the mood for joy and sadness. I can't imagine our home islands without them!

In Luxembourg they ring church bells too and church clocks strike regularly as well - both in the city and in the villages. It is so good to hear 'a familiar voice' - the same rhythms, the same hours.

In a town called Sandweiler there's a bell that has exactly the same tone as the one in my home village of ta' Sannat. I wonder whether they were produced at the same workshop (the ones at ta' Sannat come from Italy - if I remember well - and one of the set was sold to the parish of Tarxien).

Perhaps if more people in Malta could understand the language of the bells there would be greater appreciation.

Joe Camilleri Polidano

Oct 1st 2008, 09:07

Well done Kenneth. It's nice to see that one of our last tradtions are still alive.

Bertu Cassar

Oct 1st 2008, 08:44

@ Mr K Cauchi.

Whether the bell is struck by the clock mechanism or by a bell ringer makes no difference, the fact is that in all households nowadays you will find a clock or possibly a watch or else lock onto your cable tv convertor. Excessive noise pollution by these bells is not to the liking of everyone.

Should I start plasting ACDC music on my radio for the benefit of the people in my surroundings so they know what time it is?

kenneth cauchi

Sep 30th 2008, 18:31

I would like to clarify one point-bells.nowadays ring only for mass that is 33 strokes, angelus that is 9 strokes at 8am, noon and sunset respectively and obviously funeral knells. Some parishes still ring the Tal Hamis mota every Thursday at circa 1900 for not more than 10 mins. Others still toll the death knell of Christ on Fridays at 1500 for not more than 5 mins. Any other ringing is reserved for special festivities only.

Any church which rings out of these times is not normal. The ringing every quarter and not half an hour as implied by one of the readers is the clock striking and although the latter strikes on bells IT IS NOT BELLRINGING so kindly distinguish the difference.

Any readers who are interested in bell ringing or better would like to learn the art of bell ringing are invited to drop me an email on kcauchi@gmail.com regards Kenneth Cauchi.

Bertu Cassar

Sep 30th 2008, 08:01

I happen to live very close to a parish church on one side and on the other side about a 100m there is a small chapel.

I am not going to go through the cultural preservation of things as it would take too long to explain, plus most will not agree with what should be preserved and what shouldn't.

Bell ringing is nice on a sunday morning, during christmas celebrations and possibly easter but when you here the bells ringing every half hour it is too much. Bells had their uses in old days, now we have evolved and as such the use of bells should be restricted top acceptable times. Lets say at noon, and during festivities and funerals and so on and so forth.

Tania Waltersq

Sep 30th 2008, 04:54

Edward Zammit: I'm with you mate. I have been living in Melbourne for 22 years and I still miss the sound of the beautiful bells. All I hear here is the sound of trucks and cars and the techno music coming from someone's earphones on the train, going to and from work. I think a lot of Maltese need to learn to appreciate what they have around them. Look, see, enjoy.

p.grima

Sep 30th 2008, 01:23

Let them toll. Otherwise our traditions will be on the death toll.

Matthew Sultana

Sep 30th 2008, 00:26

Well done Kenneth. Outstanding contribution to Maltese heritage. Keep it up.

Charles DeMicoli

Sep 29th 2008, 23:55

@ Charles Camilleri - you must be referring to the BMC (Blanding Malta Club). These individuals do not realize that if you keep taking away and doing away with the traits of our characters and characteristics, eventually nothing will be left that distinguishes us from some grey, bland city in Europe. Just as what's happening to our language - blending and blanding - all the foreign words thrown into a conversation, such as numbers, etc., that have equivalents in Maltese - what's the motive?

Raymond Grech

Sep 29th 2008, 23:39

The ringing of church bells brings nostalgic memories of tolls that conveyed different messages. I was born and bred in Cathedral Street Sliema in the early 50s and it was captivating as a young boy to hear the nearby bells ring on various occasions. When I grew up I used to make it through the 'Garigor' of the steeple in High Street and ring the bells with my friends. The tone of each bell is unique which becomes ingrained in people’s minds whether they are conscious or not of the message imparted. When heard years after they certainly ring a nostalgic bell.
On Tuesday March 23, 2004 The Office of the Archbishop urged all the Catholic churches in Malta to be in unison at 1000CET for a two-minute tolling of bells in signs of peace. This was also done in most countries around the world as a call for peace. I heard the Stella Maris Church bells ring on that special day and they brought so many happy memories to me. I wrote a poem "Doqqu Qniepen Doqqu" as soon as the bells stopped
ringing.
May there be other meaningful opportunities to make use of such a beautiful Maltese heritage.

Marton Saliba

Sep 29th 2008, 20:14

Some cultural 'preservation' must be prohibited, bells simply add to noise pollution.

And we are not the only country which rings the bells to mourn the dead. It's just there there are so many churches that it's too obvious.

and...@ Edward Zammit :'and go on top of a church to experience tranquility, peace, and (if you go on a right day), the sweet voices of angels transcended from heaven into these magnifiscent instruments'

...what on earth (or heaven apperently) was that?
Yeah right, a deafening level of decibels coming from the bells can be compared to peace tranquility and...the voice of Angels?!

kenneth cauchi

Sep 29th 2008, 18:42

I am amazed at the interest and feedback that this video footage has sparked. Any readers which are interested in bell ringing or better would like to learn the art of bell ringing are invited to drop me an email on kcauchi@gmail.com regards Kenneth Cauchi.

Philip Grech

Sep 29th 2008, 17:54

Interesting to see women bell ringers (if I'm not mistaken).

The court ruling on Isla limited the decibel level which should be attainable based on WHO standards. Maybe confomity to this will not ruin our cultural heritage...

Edward Zammit

Sep 29th 2008, 16:42

attached to them (and even give them nicknames). Maybe I was one of the lucky few who can appreciate when bells, cry ( every Friday at 3.00pm, and the First, and Second of November), when they just talk ( every Thursday at 7.00pm), when they are proud ( during the procession of the patron saint, and in Easter), when they are happy ( During the "Gloria" of the Christmas vigil), and when they just sound to give praise to the Lord (the chimes during the "Sanctus").
I know that for some of you this may seem boring or too romantic, but to those who never had the chance to be under one of the most amazing inventions that man has ever created, I tell you to find some time, and go on top of a church to experience tranquility, peace, and (if you go on a right day), the sweet voices of angels transcended from heaven into these magnifiscent instruments.

F. Mangion

Sep 29th 2008, 16:34

Mr. Kenneth Cauchi,

A very interesting and informative interview. Well done & keep up your good work!

Edward Zammit

Sep 29th 2008, 16:21

1.
To those who do not appreciate bells or have never had the opportunity to ring or stand under one while it's being rung.

I spent much of my early teenage years on the belfry of the St. Helen's Basilica of Birkirkara, (sometimes for the services, other times to remove the layers of linseed oil and pigeon droppings that accumulated through the number of years, and sometimes even to relax in the peace and quiet of the silent height), and I must tell you that nothing feels more exhilarating than to stand under nine tons of bronze and make it sing !
The grandeur and solemnity of these magnificent instruments. If it wasn't for the fact that nowadays I don't have the time that I used to have back then I would be still going up there to hear my friends sing to my ears right from underneath them. I called them my friends because when one spends long hours alone inside a bell greasing the rockers, cleaning and trying not to fall from the outermost bell, and just looking at them (trying to understand how and what makes such mass of metal sing so beatifully), you grow

K. Pullicino

Sep 29th 2008, 16:06

Yes please, stop the bells so that we can hear the rush of cars and the lovely sounds drillers make at construction sites.

And how can you compare slavery and bell tolling? They have nothing to do with each other and slavery lowers a human's dignity, something which bells do not.

Charles Camilleri

Sep 29th 2008, 15:44

It seems to me that there is an unorganised conspiracy to destroy anything that stands for Maltese culture.Those persons who do not like our Maltese way of life should find an other place to live in. They have no right to impose their will on the majority of the Maltese who still want to preserve our old traditions. Ringing of bells, Patrons Feasts and fireworks to mention just a few are still at the heart of the Maltese people and this should be understand by the few who oppose anything Maltese.

Joe Tabone-Adami

Sep 29th 2008, 15:23

May it come about that when Church bells ring to mourn the passing away of someone we knew and loved, others would at least remember to say a prayer for his/her repose. May no thoughts of 'slavery' or 'disturbance' enter their minds at such moments.

oliver Cini

Sep 29th 2008, 14:37

I understand that some might be very very annoyed by the bells of a church. I live just under the church of luqa and can even hear the mass being said so to say less then a stone throw away. but i would not want the bells to stop.

We are alive and somethigns you need a sens of being a live somewhere now the bells are nice maybe and i say maybe they need to lower a bit. But onthe other hand is not fair on the poeple not living in the center. i say if they bug you just move away and stop arguing about it. Never forget that if we loose our culture we loose our identity.

Liz Baker

Sep 29th 2008, 12:54

I think its a bit too late to preserve the past of 'intangible cultural heritage' !

Simon Borg

Sep 29th 2008, 12:09

Traditions are nice to have and they also have added value for tourism. However, bells are noisy and annoying as hell if you live close to a village church. I think this tradition would be nice to have on some occasions, but if it is done too frequently, it will be more of a nuisance than anything else.

philip pace

Sep 29th 2008, 11:13

Dear Mr.Vella.
I know about the ringing of the bells. That happened in Rabat Gozo-1960s. With bells there were the whistles as well and after that pelting with stones and other stuff as a dessert.
Mr.Kenneth Cauchi showed what a superstitious nation we were and still are.
Just as you wrote, Mr.Vella-it is history. That was my point.

l Galea

Sep 29th 2008, 10:54

Let's bring back such nice traditions

Ramon Casha

Sep 29th 2008, 10:48

Slavery also used to be part of our heritage. Doesn't mean we should have retained it. Some people feel that being noisy and disturbing as many people as possible is a Maltese tradition. If it is, it's another tradition that needs to be scrapped.

Carolyn Cini

Sep 29th 2008, 10:41

Is there any chance that this tradition is restarted and continues? I'm only 24 yrs old so i don't remember much bells but I miss them especially after changing town!

Michele Sarlo

Sep 29th 2008, 10:25

This is part of our culture and should be continued.

David Vella

Sep 29th 2008, 10:21

It truly is a refreshing item. However one should also say that in the past they were used to drown out certain political speeches. And Mr. Pace, it's not politics..it's history!!

philip pace

Sep 29th 2008, 09:54

A refreshing item.
Hope that no hardheaded village style person would try to turn this into politics!
A news paper with items like this makes it worth it to read.
Well done!