Double Norwich Court on Handbells

Introduction

About Double Norwich Court Bob Major

Double Norwich Court Bob Major is the classic court places method for 8 bells. It is musical, interesting, and not without challenges.

The Structure

The treble rings plain hunting. In doing so, it passes through a series of 3, 4-bell "cages" until lieing behind, and then performs the same work in reverse until leading. The half lead and lead end are plain hunting.

Diagram: Double Norwich Court Bob Major, plain lead rows and grid.

Approach to ringing Double Norwich Court Bob Major on Handbells

This is a highly structured method sitting nicely between simpler Plain methods and the more demanding structures of Surprise Major.

A ringer who has learned Double Norwich for tower-bells needs to "engage brain" and ask, "How do I ring two bells as ONE pair?". Answer: Put the tower bell single line to one side for the time being. Learn how to ring X14X, and X36X, and X58X.

• Examine the grid structure and its relationship with the treble

• Examine the hunting patterns at half lead and lead end

• Learn the Double Place Bell sequences

• Look at the Double Blue Lines

Then ring some courses and see where the difficulties lie. Overcome the difficulties

Description of the pairs

Because the treble is a hunt bell the work of 1-2 is unique whereas the other three pairs have similarities.

Ringing 1-2 to Double Norwich Court Bob Major

Diagram: Double Norwich Court Bob Major, 1-2.

Place Bell Sequence:

1-2, 1-7, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-3, 1-8, 1-2

The "inside" pairs

Ringing 3-4 to Double Norwich Court Bob Major

Diagram: Double Norwich Court Bob Major, 3-4.

Place Bell Sequence:

3-4, 8-5, 2-6, 7-3, 4-8, 5-2, 6-7, 3-4

Notes:

• The reflection points occur when the pair crosses in 2-3 at the Half Lead and 6-7 at the Lead End.

• The pair dodge simultaneously in 1-2 and 7-8 twice during the course, in both cases the dodges are in parallel.

• The pair never dodge together in the plain course.

• The pair never make simultaneous places.

Ringing 5-6 to Double Norwich Court Bob Major

Diagram: Double Norwich Court Bob Major, 5-6.

Place Bell Sequence:

5-6, 6-3, 3-8, 8-2, 2-7, 7-4, 4-5, 5-6

Notes:

• The reflection points occur when the pair cross in 4-5 at the Half Lead and at the Lead End.

• The pair dodge simultaneously in 1-2 and 7-8 four times during the plain course, in two cases the dodges are in parallel and in two cases the dodges are scissors dodges.

• When the pair never dodge together in the plain course they are either in 3-4 or in 5-6.

• The pair never make simultaneous places.

Ringing 7-8 to Double Norwich Court Bob Major

Diagram: Double Norwich Court Bob Major, 7-8.

Place Bell Sequence:

Written in coursing order (8 before 7): 8-7, 2-4, 7-5, 4-6, 5-3, 6-8, 3-2, 8-7

Notes:

• The reflection points occur when the pair crosses in 6-7 at the Half Lead and 2-3 at the Lead End.

• When the pair dodge together in the plain course they are either in 1-2 or in 7-8.

• The pair make simultaneous places 6 times during the course, always two blows apart, and the treble passes through the "4-bell box" each time.

Learning to ring Double Norwich Court Bob Major

There is great value in ringing two bells using Handbell Manager and Abel Ringing Simulator, or one of the online environments. Time spent with the motion controllers will enable the work of the pairs to be deeply assimilated and hence best prepare a ringer for time with physical bells and other ringers.

The learning process for Double Norwich Court Bob Major is just the same as with all bellringing. Learn enough to get going, ring some and then you will start to add in other pieces of the jigsaw.

Expect to ring 1,000 courses, but never expect to stop learning.

Ringing Double Norwich Court Bob Major

The Hull Handbells Project members experienced most difficulty with ringing 3-4 pair, and some difficulty with accurately ringing in 5ths and 6ths when making places.

The Hull Handbells Project started ringing Duffield Major as a way of practicing X36X elements for Double Norwich, but the structure in Double Norwich is easier as the treble is always involved.

However, serendipity, Duffield Major is an absolute delight to ring irrespective of its relevance to Double Norwich.

Coursing Order in Double Norwich Court Bob Major

Natural Coursing order is preseved throughout Double Norwich.

As well as the assurance that the bells are right, the natural coursing order at half lead and lead end is a huge comfort factor when ringing Double Norwich.

Ringing Touches of Double Norwich Court Bob Major

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