Why Composers Love Bells

In this video I talk about Bells (a lot) and the influence Bells and Bell music have had on Composers. Why do we love them?

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[lpldl]

I think David should write a cantata based on the bells poem he wrote at the top of this video.

[stmierden]

We're one minute in and the word bells has already lost all meaning for me.

[nicholas_scott]

With pipe organs, we call this “resultant”. It’s a trick to get low notes without actually needed those huge pipes. You just play the corresponding harmonics and your ear thinks it’s the lower note.

[FernieCanto]

A whole video on bells? Tubular! It's amazing how they're such an old field of study.

[jorgemoran]

The thumbnail is an absolute masterpiece. The perfect way to invite you to watch an amazing video. Thank you!

[jurjenbos]

As a mathematician, I like your introduction to the harmonic series: it is a good start for learning Fourier theory.

[TheAngelofThrash]

Why Composers Love Bells?

For em-bell-isments

[sh]

Another classic bells tune: Jeff Mills - The Bells

One thing to add is that there is a physical reason bells sound so specific. Their shape is such that because of the thick metal material there is an outside diameter as well as an inside diameter. These define the lower and upper limits of (fundamental) resonances. Pressure waves actually bounce off of both inside and outside of the material, unlike up and down a string. This complex three dimensional interaction of resonances is why the partials are not harmonic. Ask yourself: how can they be harmonic in a shape that is both concave (at the top) and convex (at the bottom)? A well made physical modelling synthesizer that aims to replicate these interactions is at least one dimension more complex than strings, plates, skins, etc...
Also, some work has been done to create new shapes of bells that have more harmonic partials (at least more than classic bell shapes).

Recommended further reading on Rhythms: The Geometry of Musical Rhythm: What Makes a "Good" Rhythm Good? by Godfried Toussaint
In which he makes a thorough analysis of not only the Clave Son, but various other classic bell patterns too

[burkhardstackelberg]

When I once was in a Russian church and monastery in Estonia near the border to Russia, I could hear them ringing the bells. They use a style of patterned ringing with bells over a lot of pitch range, just as imitated by Moussorgsky. When you once heard the original, it is easily recognised.

[the_number_e]

I feel obligated to mention the influence of bells on my favorite composer Messiaen! He was a devout catholic so church bells must have had a strong effect on him. He imitates bells marking a call to prayer and then finally the death of St Francis in Saint François d'Assise, and imitates the joyous clangor of Christmas bells in Noël from Vingt Regards

[AynenMakino]

That episode on Gamelan music you suggested would DEFINITELY be something I'd watch! Please do make that!

[RCAvhstape]

When I was little I was terrified of the idea of being stuck in a bell tower next to one of those huge bells when it starts ringing. Still unsettling to think about. They are like sleeping giants that crush you with sound when they wake up. Not quite as bad as being too close to the Space Shuttle when the engines light up, but similar in concept.

[elscullens]

Is this what "the Internet"was supposed to be?. A way to get information, history and ideas that were away from us.
This was wonderfull. Thank you.

[HoggerKiller]

"Carillon" from L'Arlesienne suite #1 by Bizet is another great bell piece, you hear the 3-note pattern all the way through, even when it's not there.

[bryankeidel]

Since we’re talking about bells, I’d like to recommend the music of my favorite — and of course, criminally underrated — composer, Federico Mompou. His mother’s family owned a bell foundry, and his grandfather was a bell maker. If you’re unfamiliar with his work, you won’t regret checking it out.

[wilkinx]

mmm ... bells! My favorite classical music bell piece is Rachmaninoff's Piano Suite for two paino No. 1 - Pâques (Easter), pretty close recreation of orthodox church's bells. The other one probably is the ending of Scriabin's Poem of Ecstasy (Symphony no.4). These days you can create bell sounds easily with FM synthesis (e.g. Yamaha - DX7) and Modal synthesis (e.g. Mutable Instruments - Elements / Rings). For FM synthesis, you will need multiple operators in harmonic and in-harmonic relationship with multiple envelopes to capture the transients. For modal synthesis, how you replicate the resonator - elliptic paraboloid-ish shape will be the key. Bell sounds are indeed complex sounds.

[rozzgrey]

Brian Eno's got a thing for bells, and Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells and Pink Floyd's The Division Bell are big influences on me. As The Darkness put it; never let the bells end!

[neymow]

Have not watched the whole video yet, but the thumbnail is amazing. Same goes for the intro! Great job Mr. Bruce!

[subjectline]

It's so nice that you can just make an illustrated half-hour talk about what bells sound like.

[LysSylva]

When I was very youun one sunday I was allowed to ring the church bell of the little village - it was the last millenium and the bell was rung by rope and hand. Awesome experience and I was sooo proud!