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The Method Ringer's Companion
From the author’s “A Word Before We Start”
“Just in case you’re not sure, this is a book about method ringing. It’s a book of information, advice, diagrams and tips on all the commonly rung methods from Bob Doubles upwards, and it contains the replies to the many and varied method ringing questions that I have been asked about over the years.
The sections in bold type are readers’ letters, and the sections in italics are updates from me. The bits in between are my replies. I’m sure you would have worked that out anyway, but I thought I’d just mention it.
And now that everything’s clear, you can either browse through the index for your favourite subjects, or you can turn straight to Chapter 1.
Either way, we’ll have a quiet chat about this and that together.”
“Just in case you’re not sure, this is a book about method ringing. It’s a book of information, advice, diagrams and tips on all the commonly rung methods from Bob Doubles upwards, and it contains the replies to the many and varied method ringing questions that I have been asked about over the years.
The sections in bold type are readers’ letters, and the sections in italics are updates from me. The bits in between are my replies. I’m sure you would have worked that out anyway, but I thought I’d just mention it.
And now that everything’s clear, you can either browse through the index for your favourite subjects, or you can turn straight to Chapter 1.
Either way, we’ll have a quiet chat about this and that together.”
- GenresReference
437 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
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January 27, 2015
This is the second of three books written by Steve Coleman following the notable success of, and devoted following he achieved for, his weekly newspaper column in “The Ringing World” (www.ringingworld.co.uk). There are two other companion volumes: “The Bellringer’s Bedside Companion” and “The Bob Caller’s Companion.”
Here we have, as it were, a program from beginning: (Plain) Bob Doubles (‘doubles’ means rung on five bells, often, but not always, with a sixth bell, the tenor, rung behind) from scratch to touches; also Grandsire Doubles, Plain Bob Minor (on six bells) … through to other Minor methods, other Doubles methods, Variations, Treble Bob, Stedman …up to Spliced Surprise Major & more. At this point I’ve probably lost you, Dear Reader (unless you are already a change-ringer), because like any specialised subject, change-ringing has a lexicon all of its own. This book will teach you that lingo.
Coleman doesn’t hesitate to emphasise to the learner that ringing is about creating an pleasant experience for those using the church: whether arriving for Sunday service, or to be married, or for those living within earshot of the sound of the bells when a peal length (commonly 3 ½ - 4 hours) is rung. It’s no use to man nor beast if the most difficult and complicated method or principle is being rung badly; bells slow/quick/crashing simultaneously; all can be cruelly painful to the unwilling listening ear.
What I particularly like about this book is Coleman’s absolutely infectious enthusiasm for showing the keen learner a huge gamut of opportunities, what leads onto what, all in all a plethora of mental challenges. Like most activities requiring knowledge & skill, change-ringing does become progressively easier (and more fun) the more you know and can accurately strike (ring) really well.
This is an excellent book for the learner who wants to progress fast; even if that means committing to regular ringing at a number of different churches where there are bands of ringers of different levels of ability. What Coleman doesn’t mention is that the knowledge acquired from change-ringing methods, principles, etc learnt on tower-bells can be transferred to the ringing of hand-bells: ideal if the learner lives outside of the UK, and has little (primarily Australia, Canada, USA) or no opportunity for tower-bell ringing.
Here we have, as it were, a program from beginning: (Plain) Bob Doubles (‘doubles’ means rung on five bells, often, but not always, with a sixth bell, the tenor, rung behind) from scratch to touches; also Grandsire Doubles, Plain Bob Minor (on six bells) … through to other Minor methods, other Doubles methods, Variations, Treble Bob, Stedman …up to Spliced Surprise Major & more. At this point I’ve probably lost you, Dear Reader (unless you are already a change-ringer), because like any specialised subject, change-ringing has a lexicon all of its own. This book will teach you that lingo.
Coleman doesn’t hesitate to emphasise to the learner that ringing is about creating an pleasant experience for those using the church: whether arriving for Sunday service, or to be married, or for those living within earshot of the sound of the bells when a peal length (commonly 3 ½ - 4 hours) is rung. It’s no use to man nor beast if the most difficult and complicated method or principle is being rung badly; bells slow/quick/crashing simultaneously; all can be cruelly painful to the unwilling listening ear.
What I particularly like about this book is Coleman’s absolutely infectious enthusiasm for showing the keen learner a huge gamut of opportunities, what leads onto what, all in all a plethora of mental challenges. Like most activities requiring knowledge & skill, change-ringing does become progressively easier (and more fun) the more you know and can accurately strike (ring) really well.
This is an excellent book for the learner who wants to progress fast; even if that means committing to regular ringing at a number of different churches where there are bands of ringers of different levels of ability. What Coleman doesn’t mention is that the knowledge acquired from change-ringing methods, principles, etc learnt on tower-bells can be transferred to the ringing of hand-bells: ideal if the learner lives outside of the UK, and has little (primarily Australia, Canada, USA) or no opportunity for tower-bell ringing.
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