[r-t] New Alan Reading Composition

[Alex Tatlow]

I've had a look at this composition and, by my reckoning, Bank does, in fact, contain a run.

Alex W Tatlow.

On 8 Dec 2012, at 20:50, "Philip Earis" <pje24 at cantab.net> wrote:

> Yesterday Alan Reading conducted a new peal of his creation which must
> rank as one of the most musical, best spliced major compositions yet
> devised. See <http://www.bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=195673>
> 
> Alan's composition is a cyclic 8-part containing all 480 possible runs of
> 4 consecutive bells at front or back (ie all 24 each of 1234xxxx,
> 4321xxxx, xxxx1234, xxxx4321 and all cyclic rotations involving 2345s,
> 3456s, 4567s and 5678s).  This is, as far as I'm aware, unprecedented
> (obviously with the exception of the extents of major that have been
> rung). I've been willing such a composition for some time, and am
> delighted to see Alan's great achievement.
> 
> Cyclic music is ideally suited to fully n-part (including the treble)
> compositions, as I extolled when describing the new "quark" spliced
> maximus composition. Indeed, having all the bells involved is arguably a
> critical condition for a cyclic composition's music to be fully effective.
> 
> The net result Alan has achieved in his new composition is a glorious,
> concentrated and varied music box. The music contained is an 8-part
> analogue of Rob Lee's superb cyclic 7-part that I felt was the composition
> of the last decade (see my usual excited ramblings at
> <http://www.bellringers.org/pipermail/ringing-theory_bellringers.net/2009-September/003031.html>)
> 
> I've reproduced Alan's composition below.  Very pleasingly and skillfully,
> the composition employs some extremely attractive key features:
> 
> - There's a very elegant bobs-only calling structure, starting with a
> simple palindromic link method to bring up a wrap of reverse rounds at the
> lead-end (handstroke) row, in the style pioneered in DJP's cyclic maximus
> compositions. Alan then bobs this first, link method lead.  There are then
> simply two more bobs on the same three bells to complete the q-set, and
> then three homes to bring up the partend.
> 
> - Alan has used a palindromic structure for the composition (also in the
> style of DJP's cyclic maximus), to load with music whilst mitigating
> against potential falseness problems.
> 
> - The composition contains 12 methods (though really 11, as Old Fish
> Market and Llandoger Trow are 2nds / 8ths variants). The methods are
> reasonably (though not comprehensively) varied, and not too
> "sledgehammer". Four of the methods are right place. The leadhead
> distribution is slightly 7-pivot heavy: b-1, c-1, e-1, d-2, f-3, l-2, m-1,
> z-1
> 
> Together these factors mean the composition is fluid and dynamic.  Very
> importantly, the music in each part does not just consist of the same
> types of runs affecting the same bells, but is genuinely diverse. This is
> a step-change improvement on some previous compositions, such as
> repeat-lead dominated efforts such as this (also from Alan) a few years
> ago:
> <http://www.simonreading.dsl.pipex.com/5376%285088%29%285024%29%206%20Spliced%20TD%20Major.htm>
> 
> Incidentally, it is also pleasing to see Alan has simply used methods
> which do the job well, many of which happen to be Delight. Indeed, only 4
> of the 12 methods are Surprise. Truly (and happily), the age of "surprise
> at all costs" for treble-dodging major has passed.
> 
> In terms of development, I'm sure there could be some tweaking of methods
> - let's see what emerges in the weeks ahead.  A minor quibble with Alan's
> new composition is with the run distribution: in contrast to Rob Lee's
> 7-part not every lead in Alan's composition contains run music. 
> Principally, the two leads of Bank Delight in each part are run-less.
> 
> In any case, though, it is a marvellous achievement to create such a neat
> and maximally-musical composition, and I offer Alan my heartiest
> congratulations. His application here is stunning. This composition is
> superb, and will set a new benchmark.
> 
> Regarding other avenues - Rob Lee has an alternative and extremely
> attractive "natural" cyclic 8-part framework where each call changes the
> treble, but as far as I'm aware he hasn't yet managed to use this to
> achieve the same 480-run property as Alan.  Perhaps he'd be happy to share
> his progress to date?
> 
> 
> 
> ==
> 
> 5088 Spliced Major (12 Methods)
> Composed by A G Reading
> 
> 5088 Spliced Major (12 Methods)
> A G Reading
> 12345678 Seven Stars DLH
> -28175634 Knights Templar S
> 26748315 Bank D
> 24637581 Commercial Rooms S
> -27815634 Cornubia D
> 26147385 Portwall S
> 24631578 Old Fish Market D
> 23456817 Dunster S
> -21785634 Prairial D
> 28167453 Bridge LTB
> 27513846 Apple D
> 26841375 Apple D
> 25374168 Bridge LTB
> 24638517 Prairial D
> -25346781 Dunster S
> 21784653 Llandoger Trow D
> 26831574 Portwall S
> 23658417 Cornubia D
> -24536781 Commercial Rooms S
> 28167534 Bank D
> 26851473 Knights Templar S
> -23456781
> 
> 8 Part
> 
> 512 each Apple D, Bank D, Commercial Rooms S, Cornubia D,
> Dunster S, Knights Templar S, Portwall S, Prairial D;
> 256 each Bridge LTB, Llandoger Trow D, Old Fish Market D;
> 224 Seven Stars DLH; 159 com, atw for all 8 bells.
> 
> Contains all 480 runs of 4 consecutive bells at the front or
> back.
> 
> Bank D: f -36-6-56-1-4-5-6-3
> Bridge LTB: b 3-36.1-5-34
> Commercial Rooms S: c -36-456-5-6-4-5-34-3
> Cornubia D: l -3-4-2-1-2-5-36-5
> Knights Templar S: e -36-4-2-6.34-34.5.6-36.5
> Llandoger Trow D: l -5-4.5.2-1-4-5-34-5
> Portwall S: m -3-6-256-3-34-5-36-1
> Old Fish Market D: f -5-4.5.2-1-4-5-34-5
> Seven Stars DLH: 2z -5-4.5-5-4-5-36-
> ==
> 
> 
> 
> 
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