[r-t] A caters stimulus package?

[Mark Davies]

Ander writes,

 > Can you point out some of your favourite compositions of G9, Mark?  Are
 > there any that have really good numbers of 4- or 5- runs, for example?
 > I've barely dabbled in composing for it myself, but my impression 
(perhaps
 > mistaken) is that with standard calls it's a bit awkward to mop up 
all of
 > any particular type of music...

Yes, that would be the wrong approach to the method. It is not one to 
appeal to rigid completionists; apart from isolated sets such as all the 
near misses, Grandsire works better when a large proportion of a lot of 
different types of music are included, rather than all of a particular 
type. (In fact, I think this is a good general rule for any composition.)

Here are a couple of examples of Grandsire compositions that have caught 
my eye over the years:

*_5129 Grandsire Caters_*
  David G Hull

  _23456789    1   2   3   4   5   6            Leads_
  25634978        S       S   S   S   (a) |     11
  25634897          4a                    | A   44
  34256789      S2.S4.S5.S6.10            |     10
  43258967    -       S   -
  243         -   -   -
  324         -   -   -
  23498765    S       -   -               |
  423         -   -   -                   | B
  342         -   -   -                   |
  32478569          B
  34258967          B
  32498765          B
  23496587    -       S   -
  423         -   -   -
  34256978    S   S   -
  23456879    -       -   S
  34256879          A                           65
  43256978    -       -   -
  64352       -   -   S
  64253879    -       -       -
  24365       S           -
  32465978    -       -   S
  53264       -   -   S
  35264879    -       -   -
  235         -   -   -
  32465       -   -   S   S                      4
  234         -   -   -   S                      4
  _342                             -              6_


This (or one like it) is the composition that triggered my interesting 
in little-bell Grandsire. David's "A" block is superb at packing in the 
3456/6543 music. (I'm sure I remember seeing another example of his with 
the music from these blocks spread out over the peal a little more, but 
I can't see it now). The only disadvantage (to my eyes, when looking for 
a simpler arrangement) is that the back bells are turned every course, 
which is why I looked for something slightly different when composing my 
little-bell Grandsire peals (which I've already posted, but see also the 
qp below).

This one was rung for the G&B in 2008. I haven't had a chance to study 
it any depth, but it looks interesting, for sure:

5166 Grandsire Caters
By Peter W J Sheppard

  32547698  1 2 3 4 5 6
  54239876    S S S
  2345        - - S
  42389675  S   - S
  32987654      - -
  23789456  -   -   S
  23987654  -   -   -
  98325476    S S S
  89523674  -   -   S
  89325476  -   -   -
  92345678        - -   (6 leads)
  42365897          - - (6 leads)
  34265789  -     -     (6 leads)
  23465     - - -
  42365     - - -
  34265978  -     -     (6 leads)
  23465     - - -
  32465879  -   - -
  43265     - - -       |
  24365     - - -       |
  46523       - -   S   | A
  46523987  -     - -   |
  46523798  -     - -   |
  64325879  -     S S   |
  32465978    S - S
  64325         A
  52463879    S -       (6 leads)
  35264     - - S
  53264987  -     - S
  26354       - - S
  32654     - - -
  43256978  - S S
  43652     - - S -     (4 leads)
  43256987  - S S -     (4 leads)
  35792468      S     S (6 leads)
  5739                - (6 leads)
  23678954      - S     (4 leads)
  34257968    S   - S   (7 leads)
  23497568  S - -
  32457968  S - - S     (4 leads)
  72453968          S   (6 leads)
  32458967      S S
  23754986  - S     S
  23457689  -   -   -
  52364879    -   - -   (6 leads)
  45263     - - S
  34562     - - S
  23465     - - S
  42365     - - -
  42365987  -     - -
  42365798  -     - -
(34265879) -     -

Start at backstroke.
Queens, Kings, Whittingtons, Tittums, Rollercoaster, all the near misses.
Off the back: 20 56789; 16 468; 10 9876.
Little-bell runs, front & back: 57 2345/5432; 48 3456/6543; 72 65432/23456.

Finally, I do love the quarter-peal length for G9. It is just long 
enough to include lots of interesting music, and just short enough to 
challenge the composer packing it all in. This one of mine is a really 
good introduction to the benefits of the age-old Tittums position 
combined with hypermodern 3456/5643 music:

http://ringing.org/main/pages/quarters/caters/grandsire#5334

It thrills me every time I ring it. The first A block is wonderful, but 
the second builds up into longer and longer runs before seguing into the 
finishing rollups. Definitely worth trying!

MBD