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Views from the Choir Loft

More on Angelus Bells

Veronica Brandt · April 9, 2016

Angelus Glocke The Angelus Bell from Cologne Cathedral. From Wikimedia Commons. FEW MONTHS AGO I wrote about Angelus Bells and the Raspberry Pi where I set up a tiny computer to play a sound to remind us to say the Angelus at 6am, 12 noon and 6pm.

A month ago the arrangement was damaged in an electrical storm. Fortunately the computer itself was alright but I needed to reformat the memory and set it all up again.

I had another look for recordings of bells and found some very interesting articles on the internet:

The Bells of Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral is home to the relics of the Three Magi. It also hosts an amazing collection of bells from over the centuries.

In 1418 a huge bell was cast in honor of the Magi. It weighed around 3400kg. In 1448 it was joined by an even larger bell weighing around 10 000kg. The Magi Bell sounded a B and the new bell called the Pretiosa, sounded a G. One year later they were joined by a third bell, this one in A, called the Speciosa.

There is an Angelus bell, but much smaller. Bells for every occasion!

You can read more about them and listen to them here.

A recording from a French countryside

When ringing the bell for the Angelus, it is a custom to ring three sets of three then a set of nine. The way I was shown was to ring three clear notes, then silence for the time it takes to say a “Hail Mary”, then three more strikes, another silent “Hail Mary”, last three strikes, last silent “Hail Mary”, then nine rings to finish.

This recording from the Internet Archive seems to miss out the first set of three rings. You might edit the sound file to copy one of the three rings a suitable length before the rest of the recording. It is in the public domain,

Verdin Bells and Clocks

Lastly, there is a company still making bells in Ohio. As well as real cast bells, they have a range of digital bells. You can listen to samples here.

The Angelus sample gives three clear “dongs” and then a peal of three bells.

So, there you have a whole lot more options for your home Angelus bells.

Of course, in the Easter season the Regina Caeli replaces the Angelus. In case you missed it, watch some young children sing Regina Caeli.

Photo credit: SaintOuen via Wikimedia Commons. There are lots of photos of Cologne Cathedral on Wikimedia Commons. Well worth browsing to get an idea of the scale of the place.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Raspberry Pi Last Updated: October 29, 2020

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About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “For the Season of Pentecost”
    During the season of Pentecost, you might consider using this 2-page Piece “for the season of Pentecost.” Rehearsal videos are available at #40691, but the lyrics are different. Therefore, make sure your choir members understand that one can rehearse songs that have different lyrics (“CONTRAFACT”).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The following question is asked by the Most Reverend Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Chur: May this Diocese’s ancient custom be continued of having the Celebrant in Sung Masses (excepting more solemn Masses) intone the Credo and when he is finished reciting it going on immediately to the offertory and finishing it while the credo is being sung by the choir?” (Dubium of Dec 1909)

— 11 December 1909

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