The Mathematics of Bell Ringing
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 29 июл 2024
- This lecture will look at change ringing, which is ringing a series of tuned bells (as you might find in the bell tower of a church) in a particular sequence, and this has exciting mathematical properties.
We will also ask: why are bells bell-shaped? What properties of this shape create the sound of a bell, and by what amount should we scale the size of a bell to produce changes in pitch?
A lecture by Sarah Hart
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and...
Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: gresham.ac.uk/support/
I really enjoyed this. Quite apart from the enthusiasm, the delivery was clear and interesting. Frankly, it had never occurred to me that making such a lot of noise could be so complex! Thank you.
Dr Hart is a total geek and I am all here for it
That was absolutely fascinating! As a composer interested in exhausting permutations of musical objects this was indescribably exciting! Thank you for making it freely available!
I watched a lot of these Gresham lectures. Chris Budd, Vernon Bogdanor and Steve Jones. Love the enthusiasm you bring to your lectures. They are really interesting
What a fantastic explanation, lovely Link between Bell ringing and mathematics.
Bob
Wow. Thank you so much for the clear and engaging presentation! I am a handbell ringer and a math nerd. This has inspired me to try change ringing and explore different extents!
You asked about "interesting problems" from a handbell ringer's perspective. Not sure if it's that interesting, but one problem I encounter when I try to arrange music for handbells is, "How many ringers are needed to play this music?"
The constraints are:
- Each ringer can play up to 4 "high" handbells at a time (2 handbells in each hand, held perpendicular to each other so each can be rung separately).
- Each ringer can play up to 2 "low" handbells at a time (1 in each hand, because it becomes difficult to grasp the larger, bigger handbells).
- There's a minimum amount of time needed for a ringer to switch between handbells (about a second).
My dad was a bell ringer in the 1990s and I remember sitting in the belfry once or twice during rehersals.
I didn't realise there was any maths involved until I studied (and now getting really interested in for post grad) group theory this academic year! One of my tutors suggested this video after I'd asked about interesting podcasts that related to the material we were studying and I'm going to go and watch the others in the series!
Get down your local church, they need you and your maths.
So,so, interesting. I'm a new bell-ringer, and found your speech so helpful in my training. Thank-you. Keith.
Brilliant lecture. Thank you for sharing!
The Bells of St Mary ~ Ingred Bergman & Bing Crosby
Thank Your For This My Beloved^^
looking for info on bell design. I'm slip casting stoneware clay. gotta ask, to produce the various partials, why a curve and not stepped?
Thank you for this lecture. Did you consider discussing the parity property that all rows have? All rows on a given number of bells can be reached by an even number of individual swaps or an odd number of swaps. I.e. No row can be be reached by both an odd and returned to rounds by an even number of swaps. It's another useful way to classify rows when checking rows for truth. In the plain course of Stedman Doubles for example all 60 rows have even parity, all the odd parity rows are missing. With one change we can step into the set, or course in ringing parlance, of odd rows ringing all 60 of those before returning to where we left the even parity course with a corresponding single change.
The old 18th and early 19th century peal boards in my tower don't say odd or even, they say x number of times rung right and y number of times rung wrong. I always wondered what it meant, I'm guessing this.
what's oprah playing tennis have to do with bell ringing? stedman doubles.
What does it say about one’s noggin when there is ringing in one’s ears?
After listening to this lecture, I now better understand why bell-ringing would be considered a gentleman's pastime with some
true appeal.
Interesting, thank you. I had of course heard of "ringing the changes" but didn't realize how it was actually produced. My brain is a little bit bigger now.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
👍
For whom the Bells Toll ~ Ernest Hemingway
John Donne-
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
18:24
18:54 in Newfoundland
Ironically, (or I ringingly) I watched this just after I had watched a documentary about Ernest Hemingway
Boring point …but, as a rower, I sometimes tell newbies that there are 40k different rowing order options in an eight man crew!! If it were not for height and weight or reach differentials of members, it might take a few thousand years to select the most efficient/best crew!!!
Anyone else here cause of Phil? Lol