The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-02
CHIMES.


dence among the countries of Europe in be-
! fry music. There are more chimes, or CARL.
Ions, in that country than IL any other. A
great number of bells are required for this
strange kind of music, which is sometimes OF
very elaborate and intricate character.
The cdrhlOns claUier are played like piano
forte The keys are handles connected with
the bells by rods or cords. The carilonne,u
employs both hands and feet in executing the
airs which charm the inhabitants Of the Low
Countries. The pedals communicate with the
larger bvlls for the bass The keys on which
the treble notes depend are struck with the
hand, which is cased in thick leathern STALL
1t is recorded that cdrillonne,r of Bruges
was so expert he even executed fuglues on
those famous bells that hang in the cathedral
Of that ancient city. The rapidly developing
aesthetic taste Of our people is gradually
bringing the use OF chimes and peals into
our American churches in the plat of single
bells. In New York there are three sets Of
chime bells-those of St Thomas's Church,
on Fifth Avenue and Fifty third street; the
chimes Of Grace, on Broadway, above Tenth
street; and of Trinity, on Broadway, oppo-
site Wall street. Tne bells Of s.. Thomass,
ten in number, were cast at Meneelys, in
West Troy, and put up in the beautiful tower
two years ago. They are the finest in tone
and tune. Their music is wondrously beau
tifrl. The bells of Grace, also ten in num-
Der, have united weight of 10, 800 pounds.
The largest bell. called the Rector's Bell,
or the tolllng bell, weighs 1885 pounds. This
splendid chime cost $4,000. If you wish to
enjoy a new sensation. 60 up into the bell
tower of Grace Church when Mr.. Senis the
cariLlonnea.r, is practicing He does notdance
about amid forest of ropes, pulling one and
then another and another, as the old-time
bell-ringers of England did, but he plays on
his carlton a clauier, as they DO in Holland.
There are ten chime-ringing levers ranged in
a row like the keys Of q plano-forte. Those
huge keys require the whole strength of his
arm and hand to move them. To each of the
levers is attached rope, passing through the
ceiling to the tower above, where it connects
with its particular bell.
Up in the light, airy, latticed tower. far
above the roofs Of the tallest houses, hang
the ten huge wide-mouthed messengers OF
sound, that only await the masters touch to
fill the air with melody. Trinity chimes are
perhaps, next to those of Christ Church,
Philadelphia, the Oldest in this country
But. strange to say almost nothing is known
of Their history. Even Mr.. A,lffe, tbs &C
complished cariuom,eur, who has RUG the
changes on them for nearly twenty years, can
tell but little about them. The church war
denS ana rector or trinity parlsn confess TO
almost total ignorance'on the subject. From
various sources, added to the inscriptions on
the bells, have learned that five of the bells
were cast in London by Mears prior to 1915.
As the second Trinity Church was built
with handsome steeple in 1888, it is more
than probable that at least one OF the bells
came over from England about that time. At
any rate, when, in 1916, the church edifice
was taken down to make way for the present
beautiful structure, there were six old bells in
the steeple. The largest Of these were
cracked, and so it was sent to Meneely, in
Troy, to be recast, and at the same time four
more were ordered to complete the chime.
The largest bell weighs 3OS1 pounds, the
smallest 700. The ten bells have an aggre-
gate weight Of about fifteen thousand pounds.
They are hung in framework of wood SO
heavy as to deaden the sound to great ex-
tent; and the vestry are now celebrating as
to the necessity If having them remounted
and rehung. As they are some what out OF
tune. owing to the constant striking OF the
clappers in one place, il will be found neces-
sary likewise, to repair the parts worn away,
If that be possible. The bell-chamber is not.
as many suppose, near the top of the steeple.
II is rather nearer the bottom. The bells
hang very near the rough floor and all the
machinery for ringing is rude and primitive
compared with that OF Grace or st. Thomas
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