Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
5 Oct 2012
On a late spring morning after attending Mass at St Mary's Cathedral, postgraduate student Murray-Luke Peard was walking along College Street when he heard a loud resonant peal of bells.
"I looked up and realised the sound was coming from the belltower. The bells weren't being rung particularly well. It was probably a beginner practicing. But if they'd have been rung well, as they normally are, I would not have realised the bells I heard each Sunday were not operated by a machine but were actually being rung by humans."
Fascinated, Murray-Luke climbed the 111 steps to St Mary's belltower and introduced himself to Cathedral's small team of volunteer ringers.
"They were very welcoming and agreed to take me on," he says.
Five years later, Murray-Luke's fascination with bellringing is unabated. Each Thursday he attends the Cathedral ringers' practice sessions and rehearsals under the direction of Bell Captain, Katherine Downs. He is also part of the regular group who ring the bells at St Mary's before Mass each Sunday as well as several times each week. In addition he also volunteers to ring the bells at special events such as weddings.
"I'm like the other ringers and do this for the love of it," he says.
A maths and computer science graduate and currently employed as an IT specialist and analyst-programmer at the University of Sydney, Murray-Luke is currently studying for a second degree with music as one of his electives and Celtic Studies as his major.
Despite his commitments at university, the 34-year-old's crowded schedule also includes singing Capella Sublima at St John's College where he is an Honorary Fellow. He is also a member of the Chapel Choir at St John's College as well as being a member of Paddington's St Francis of Assisi Parish Choir and singing with the Sydney Chamber Choir.
In addition, this music-loving young man takes regular singing lessons at the Cathedral from one of St Mary's lay clerks, Koen Van Strade, who is vocal tutor at the Conservatorium of Music and academic tutor at St John's College.
Music, particularly Renaissance and Medieval Church music have long been one of Murray-Luke's passions. But when it comes to bellringing, he says while musicianship can be a plus, it is not essential. According to Murray-Luke what is far more important is physical co-ordination and the skill to ring the massive bells of St Mary's without becoming physically exhausted.
With its 14 bells the largest of which weighs a hefty 1741 kgs, St Mary's Cathedral has the most famous and comprehensive set of bells in Australia. But although the "ring," as a set of bells is known, contains 14 bells only 12 are ever played at any one time in a series of variations known as "methods."
"Methods" can vary from simple to advanced and extremely complex. Unlike "methods," a peal uses just seven bells. But as Murray-Luke points out even with just seven bells there are 5040 different permutations that can be rung without ever repeating a peal.
"To ring the bells you need to have fairly good physical co-ordination and then it's like riding a bike. Basically anyone can do it!" he says.
While beginners unsure of the art of bell ringing often use brute strength to ring the bells this is not necessary. The art of bell ringing is all about balance and co-ordination, Murray-Luke explains.
Before the introduction of technological advances such as steel frames and ball bearings, church bells were framed in wood and rung by pulling on leather straps. These frequently dried out making it difficult to gain leverage and just to get the clapper to strike the bell needed plenty of muscle power. But not anymore.
For those wishing to learn the art of bellringing and join the Cathedral's dedicated band of bellringers go to www.stmaryscathedral.org.au or contact Katherine Downs, the Cathedral's Bell Tower Captain by calling her on 0438 697 809.
Photographs by K Downs
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
5 Oct 2012
Volunteer Ringer Murray-Luke Peard in St Mary's Cathedral belltower
"I looked up and realised the sound was coming from the belltower. The bells weren't being rung particularly well. It was probably a beginner practicing. But if they'd have been rung well, as they normally are, I would not have realised the bells I heard each Sunday were not operated by a machine but were actually being rung by humans."
Fascinated, Murray-Luke climbed the 111 steps to St Mary's belltower and introduced himself to Cathedral's small team of volunteer ringers.
"They were very welcoming and agreed to take me on," he says.
Five years later, Murray-Luke's fascination with bellringing is unabated. Each Thursday he attends the Cathedral ringers' practice sessions and rehearsals under the direction of Bell Captain, Katherine Downs. He is also part of the regular group who ring the bells at St Mary's before Mass each Sunday as well as several times each week. In addition he also volunteers to ring the bells at special events such as weddings.
"I'm like the other ringers and do this for the love of it," he says.
A maths and computer science graduate and currently employed as an IT specialist and analyst-programmer at the University of Sydney, Murray-Luke is currently studying for a second degree with music as one of his electives and Celtic Studies as his major.
Despite his commitments at university, the 34-year-old's crowded schedule also includes singing Capella Sublima at St John's College where he is an Honorary Fellow. He is also a member of the Chapel Choir at St John's College as well as being a member of Paddington's St Francis of Assisi Parish Choir and singing with the Sydney Chamber Choir.
In addition, this music-loving young man takes regular singing lessons at the Cathedral from one of St Mary's lay clerks, Koen Van Strade, who is vocal tutor at the Conservatorium of Music and academic tutor at St John's College.
Three of St Mary's Cathedral's dedicated bellringers
With its 14 bells the largest of which weighs a hefty 1741 kgs, St Mary's Cathedral has the most famous and comprehensive set of bells in Australia. But although the "ring," as a set of bells is known, contains 14 bells only 12 are ever played at any one time in a series of variations known as "methods."
"Methods" can vary from simple to advanced and extremely complex. Unlike "methods," a peal uses just seven bells. But as Murray-Luke points out even with just seven bells there are 5040 different permutations that can be rung without ever repeating a peal.
"To ring the bells you need to have fairly good physical co-ordination and then it's like riding a bike. Basically anyone can do it!" he says.
While beginners unsure of the art of bell ringing often use brute strength to ring the bells this is not necessary. The art of bell ringing is all about balance and co-ordination, Murray-Luke explains.
Before the introduction of technological advances such as steel frames and ball bearings, church bells were framed in wood and rung by pulling on leather straps. These frequently dried out making it difficult to gain leverage and just to get the clapper to strike the bell needed plenty of muscle power. But not anymore.
For those wishing to learn the art of bellringing and join the Cathedral's dedicated band of bellringers go to www.stmaryscathedral.org.au or contact Katherine Downs, the Cathedral's Bell Tower Captain by calling her on 0438 697 809.
Photographs by K Downs
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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