[r-t] Definition of a call

[Graham John]

James wrote:

> One hesitates to query Eddie Martin, but I don't see how this is
> a necessary implication. For some methods there exist sets of
> courses that do make up the extent, for others there don't.
> Or am I missing something?

No. I agree with you, James. The vast majority of rung methods cannot produce extents with standard calls (or full courses) but this doesn't matter, as on 8 bells and above it is unlikely that you would want to ring an extent.

The purpose of a "Method" is to provide an easy way (i.e. method with a small "m")  for ringers to know how to ring a sequence of changes, without each change having to be called. As such a method is just a building block for a touch. A touch can be produced using a combination of methods and calls. That is the "composition". There can be more than one way of creating the same touch, using different methods and calls. I don't see that there is any problem with this, and like Leigh, Phil and others, I agree that the decisions should (as far as possible) support defining the methods and calls in a composition in the way they were learnt, called and rung.

It might have been simpler and more flexible to define "new start" as a change of method rather than a call, explicitly acknowledging that you can change to a different point in the the same or a different method.

I am a little surprised that this list is not used by the Methods Committee to explore proposed changes to decisions, before putting the motion to Council. The list is not a good way of gaining consensus, but it can at least help by highighlighting any potential issues with the change, and suggest alternative wordings. Following that, the committee would need to review, balance opposing views, and decide the motion to be put to council. The council members should then, as a rule, accept the recommendation of their committee, knowing that it has had a technical review, and having had the opportunity themselves to have contribute to the debate well before the motion is put to council.   

Graham