Bells

 

Bells

 

Medieval Musicians

Medieval Musicians

 

Step back into history get Medieval facts and information about music, composers and musicians in the Middle Ages

Medieval Music - Bells

  • Read books from a history book club or watch the History Channel DVDs on Medieval Times
  • Music in Medieval Times
  • Musical Instruments
  • Definition of Bells
  • Medival Music and Instruments
  • Type of Instrument
  • History, facts and information

 

 

Bells

History, Facts and interesting information about Medieval music, specifically, Bells

Definition and Description of Bells
Definition and description of Bells: Bells can be described as hollow metallic vessels, usually shaped like a
cup with a flaring mouth, containing a clapper or tongue and produces a ringing sound on being struck. Bells,  have been made in a variety of shapes and sizes. The long narrow bell, the quadrangular bell, the mitre-shaped bell and the full trumpet-mouthed bell. The thickness of the bell's edge is about one-tenth of its diameter, and its height is twelve times its thickness. Bells have been made of various metals, but the best have always been, as now, of an alloy of copper and tin. A Bell ringer is the name given to a person who rings a bell or bells, especially one whose business it is to ring a church bell or chime, or a set of musical bells for public entertainment.

Family of Instruments: The Bells belongs to the family of Percussion instruments.

History of Bells
The use of Bells dates back to antiquity and are first mentioned in Scripture as the small golden bells attached to the hem of the high priest's ephod (Exodus 28:33, 34, 35). The "bells of the horses" are mentioned by Zechariah (14:20)  which were attached to the bridles or belts round the necks of horses trained for war, so as to accustom them to noise and tumult. Early Bells early summoned soldiers to arms as well as Christians to church. The bell is closely associated with the Christian church. The " Passing Bell," was rung for the dying and after death. Bells were also rung to indicate the sex of the deceased - two pulls for a woman and three for a man. The ancient " Sanctus " or " Sance " bell which hung on the rood-screen was sounded three times when the priest said the Tersanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) in the office of mass. Bells also were used to alert people to the time of day and the inscription on some old bells 'Lectum fuge, discute somnum' translates as "Away from bed, shake off sleep". The earliest medieval attempts at bell music, as distinct from mere noise, consisted of striking a row of three, four or even eight small bells by hand with a hammer which is illustrated in the following picture depicting Medieval musical instruments.

Medieval Musicians playing musical instruments

Medieval Musicians playing musical instruments including bells which are featured in Figs. 9 & 10

Medieval Music - Bells
The Medieval Times website provides interesting facts, history and information about the musicians and styles of music which scatter the history books including Bells. The Medieval Life and Times Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts about the fascinating subject of the lives of the people who lived during the historical period of the Middle Ages. The content of this article on Bells provides free educational details, facts and information for reference and research for schools, colleges and homework for history courses and history coursework.
 

 

 

Medieval Music - Bells

  • Read books from a history book club or watch the History Channel DVDs on Medieval Times
  • Music in Medieval Times
  • Musical Instruments
  • Definition of Bells
  • Medival Music and Instruments
  • Type of Instrument
  • History, facts and information

Helpful information for history courses and history coursework - Read History Books - Medieval Music - Musical Instruments - Troubadours - Musicians - Minstrels - Composers - Medieval Society - Realms - Medival - Lives -  Medival Era and Period - Bells - History - Information - Facts - Info - Medieval Period - Medieval - Middle Ages Music - Dark Ages - Information about Bells - Bells Facts - Bells Info - Medieval Times - Bells - Medieval Music - Musical Instruments - Troubadours - Musicians - Minstrels - Composers - Medival Era and Period - History Channel DVDs - Written By Linda Alchin