[r-t] 5042 Cambridge Maximus - avoiding a dodgy wrong finish
Philip Earis
Earisp at rsc.org
Sun Apr 24 21:49:06 UTC 2011
The early peals of Cambridge maximus were a full ten courses (5280 changes), but in recent decades there has been clear tendency to ring 5042s which come round in the 52346 course at the snap after the wrong.
Whilst the use of 8ths place calls to give 5040 changes is increasing common, the staple 5042 with just 14 bobs and 1234 singles still remains dominant. Of the 67 towerbell peals of Cambridge Max rung in 2010 shown on www.peals.co.uk, the breakdown of lengths is:
5040 20
5042 44
5088 2
5136 1
One problem with many rung 5042s is that they tend to finish with a single wrong; sadly there is no real way of having a single wrong finish without a number of "duffer" leads. Thus such peals end with a disappointing, dispiriting musical whimper.
Of course, there is no reason why 5042s must finish with a single wrong. On Friday I rang a new nice composition of Cambridge Maximus by James Holdsworth which reaches the 52346 course with a call at home:
===
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus (no. 2)
J W Holdsworth
23456 M W H
------------------
45362 s s -
53462 3 2
34625 s s 2
32456 2 s -
------------------
Rounds in 6 leads.
92 little bell runs at the back including 28 each 3456, 6543.
Rung at Cambridge, 16 Godesdone Road on 22 April 2011, conducted by Thomas J Hinks.
====
The composition is a very neat and tidy effort. 3 consecutive calls in any one position are often a very bad sign in any surprise maximus - you normally end up with at least one duffer course. However, the 3 wrongs here are on 65432, 54632, 46532, all of which offer something.
It's the finish of the composition that is especially pleasing, though - significantly more rewarding than those ending with a single wrong.
James isn't the first person to explore such a finish: compositions with similar features seem to have appeared increasingly frequently in recent years.
Indeed, like many good ideas, David Hull has something to his name from 10 years ago, including finishing with the same way from the 24653 course:
===
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus
David G Hull (5042 no.2)
23456 M W H
52364 2 S S
24365 - 2
32465 3 -
64523 - -
32456 - S -
First rung at Escrick on 21 June 1998 conducted by Malcolm S Turner
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus
David G Hull (5042 no.3)
234567 9 M W H
63452 S
54326 SS S S S
24365 S S (SS)
53462 - -
45362 (SS) -
64352 -
32456 - S
(32456)
Only call 1 (SS)
First rung at Escrick on 17 May 1999 conducted by Malcolm S Turner
===
James' composition also has similarities to a recent production by Rob Lee:
===
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus
Composed by: Robert W Lee
M W H 23456
--------------------------
- 2 24536
s s 2 45362
3 - 34562
s s 64523
- s - 32456
--------------------------
First Rung: New York (Trinity, Wall Street) on 29 Dec 2009
===
Further notable examples on the theme range from the "rather traditional"...
===
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus
John H Fielden
23456 M W H
54326 s s
62345 - - -
34625 - -
53426 2 s
23465 s s ss
65432 s -
32456 - - s
Also true to Lincolnshire Surprise Maximus, Yorkshire Surprise Maximus, Swindon Surprise Maximus.
Rung at Withycombe Raleigh on 2nd August 2007.
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus
Donald F Morrison (no. 3758a)
23456 M W H
54326 s s
24365 s s ss
64325 s
23546 s - [s
45236 - s
32546 s s
45326 -] s
32456 - -
===
...to the more well-rounded:
===
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus
John Warboys
23456 M W H
53624 -s s
46325 - (ss) -
24365 - (ss)
53462 s ss s
65432 (ss) -
32456 - - s
Call one (ss) only.
Rung at Shepton Beauchamp 11.11.2006.
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus
John Warboys
23456 M W H
53624 -s s
23465 - s
46325 ss s -
24365 -
64352 s s
32456 s ss -
===
One of the features of contemporary peals of surprise maximus is the use of calls at 9ths to add the 7 to the runs. This can of course be dropped into a similar 5042 framework as the previous examples, such as:
===
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus
Peter W J Sheppard (no. 5)
23456 N M W 8 H
54362 s s s
24365 ss s ss
63452 s s ss s
45236 ss s - -
32456 - s
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus
Richard J Angrave
234567 N M W H
53624 2* s
23465 - s ss
54362 s s
64352 ss s
32456 s ss -
N=9ths. 2*=bs. Rounds in 6 leads. Contains 9 56s, 12 65s and 102 little bell runs.
Rung at Coventry on 16th June 2007.
===
However, much more exciting is the use of calls at 9ths to lead to a really rather fabulous finish. I think this was pioneered by a composer I've not come across before, John Cornock. I'm excited by this.
===
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus
John Cornock
234567 N M W H
45362 s s -
64352 -
56342 ss -
32465 - - 2
64523 - -
53426 - s
354762 - -
(324567) -
Also true to Lincolnshire Surprise Maximus, Swindon Surprise Maximus, Yorkshire Surprise Maximus.
===
...the effect has been further used to impressive effect by the hungry northern dogs:
===
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus
Composed by: Robert W Lee no. 3a (after J Cornock)
9 M W H 23456
-----------------------------
s s 64352
2 2 53462
s s 2 34625
2 s 53426
- - 354762
- (32456)
-----------------------------
100 little bell runs.
(For Lincolnshire only, 8 extra little runs can be obtained by calling the first course M, H).
Also true to: Yorkshire Lincolnshire
5042 (no2) Cambridge Surprise Maximus
A G Reading
9 M W H 23456
- - 64352
- 56342
- - - 24365
- - 53462
s s - 46325
- - 32465
- - 64523
- s 53426
- - 354762
- (32456)
5 56's and 12 65's
112 little bell rollups.
First rung at Manchester Town Hall on 26/12/10, conducted by the composer
===
So can a 5042 finishing with a call at wrong ever be justified? Am I missing something here?
DISCLAIMER:
This communication (including any attachments) is intended for the use of the addressee only and may contain confidential, privileged or copyright material. It may not be relied upon or disclosed to any other person without the consent of the RSC. If you have received it in error, please contact us immediately. Any advice given by the RSC has been carefully formulated but is necessarily based on the information available, and the RSC cannot be held responsible for accuracy or completeness. In this respect, the RSC owes no duty of care and shall not be liable for any resulting damage or loss. The RSC acknowledges that a disclaimer cannot restrict liability at law for personal injury or death arising through a finding of negligence. The RSC does not warrant that its emails or attachments are Virus-free: Please rely on your own screening.
More information about the ringing-theory
mailing list