[r-t] Handbell all-the-work compositions

[Alexander Holroyd]

Interesting.  How are these plans for music, though?

On Tue, 26 Jul 2011, Simon Gay wrote:

>
> In a message about variable treble cyclic spliced surprise major, Graham
> John mentioned that the part end 78123456 would be good for a "truly atw
> handbell composition" of spliced, i.e. in which every pair of bells
> rings all of the possible pairs of place bells in every method.
>
> I have been thinking about this problem on and off for a long time, and
> I produced a couple of compositions of spliced surprise major a year or
> so ago. They are not variable treble, but they have the property that
> every pair of bells (not just the standard handbell pairs) rings all 21
> pairs of place bells in every method.
>
> You could also consider compositions in which just 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8 ring
> all the possible pairs of place bells, but I found it easier to produce
> compositions in which *all* pairs ring all the work.
>
> You have to ring 3 courses of each method, so the natural number of
> methods is 8, giving a 5376. I have a composition of that form, as well
> as a 5152 in 7 methods, which has a simpler calling but some repeated leads.
>
> Both compositions are 21-parts, consisting of 7 3-part blocks that then
> have to be joined together. In the 5152, the parts are joined together
> by using a couple of spare leads in each part. In the 5376, the parts
> are joined together by blocks of 3 omits.
>
> In each case, I constructed the callings and then found methods to fit
> them, aiming for as many standardish methods as possible.
>
> The basic form of each composition is shown below; the attachments are
> longer and contain some possible method substitutions.
>
> Neither composition has been rung, although there was an unsuccessful
> attempt for the 5376 last summer.
>
> If anyone is interested I might write more about the construction of the
> compositions later.
>
> Simon Gay
>
>
>
>
> 5152 Spliced Surprise Major (7 methods)
>
> By S.J.Gay
>
> M B 4 W H            12345678
> -----------------------------
> - - -   -  L.K.B.P.  17643258
>  -     -  OF.I.     17632458
> - - -   -  L.K.B.P.  15436728
>  -     -  OF.I.     15467328
> - - -   -  L.K.B.P.  12364578
>  -     s  OF.Is     13245678
>      -s   F.Bs      13527486
> -----------------------------
>
> 7 part
>
> 896 Bristol, Farndish
> 672 Cassiobury (O), Cray (K), Ipswich, London, Preston
>
> 160 changes of method.
>
> All the work for all pairs: every pair of bells
> rings all 21 pairs of place bells in every method.
>
> No backstroke 87s.
>
>
>
>
>
> 5376 Spliced Surprise Major (8 methods)
>
> By S.J.Gay
>
> Obs  Calls     Methods           12345678
> -----------------------------------------
> 8   5WOW4HOH  C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  15467328
> 8   5WOW4HOH  C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  17632458
> 8   5WOW4HO   C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I   13425678
> 7       4HOH          S.Y.A.I.  15824637
> 7   5WOW4HOH  C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  14263857
> 7   5WOW4HOH  C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  13685247
> 7   5WO       C.M.O.K           14235678
> 5    WOW4HOH    M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  12873465
> 5   5WOW4HOH  C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  13746825
> 5   5WOW4HO   C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I   14862735
> 3       4HOH          S.Y.A.I.  12568743
> 3   5WOW4HOH  C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  18674523
> 3   5WOW4HOH  C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  14752683
> 3   5WO       C.M.O.K           18642735
> 2    WOW4HOH    M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  16534872
> 2   5WOW4HOH  C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  14387562
> 2   5WOW4HO   C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I   18576342
> 4       4HOH          S.Y.A.I.  16275384
> 4   5WOW4HOH  C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  15738264
> 4   5WOW4HOH  C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  18326754
> 4   5WO       C.M.O.K           15786342
> 6    WOW4HOH    M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  17248536
> 6   5WOW4HOH  C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  18453276
> 6   5WOW4HOH  C.M.O.K.S.Y.A.I.  13527486
>               C C C             12345678
> -----------------------------------------
>
> 672 Ashtead, Cambridge, Cassiobury (O), Cray (K),
>    Ipswich, Superlative, Wembley (M), Yorkshire
>
> 165 changes of method.
>
> All the work for all pairs: every pair of bells rings
> all 21 pairs of place bells in every method.
>
> 25 backstroke 87s.
>
>
>
>
> The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401
>