Accoustics and tone

[Richard Offen]

--- In bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com, "Andrew Wilby" <andrew at w...> 
wrote:
> In the same way as if you lie in a bath and hum around a bit you 
can find
> the resonant frequency of the bath tub, I suspect that some bell 
tower will
> have a resonant frequency or several.
> 
> If the ring of bells matches those resonances then you should 
expect to hear
> a resonant and amplified sound.
> 
> Any reason why not? Any probable examples?
> 
> Andrew

Probable examples: probably every excellent ring in the country! 

You're absolutely right about every tower having a resonant 
frequency. 

When I was a member of the congregation at St Alphege, Seasalter, we 
had a lay preacher (DLC will remember Wallace!) who could be heard in 
every corner of the church without ever raising his voice above 
normal speaking volume. His secret: he was able to pitch his voice, 
and maintain it, at bottom Eb. Being a church with no side aisles 
to complicate matters, this was the resonant frequency of the 
building. The organ tuner once told me that the corresponding Eb on 
the one pedal stop of the organ was, in reality, voiced considerably 
quieter than the other pipes of the rank for just the same reason.

R