Those Evening Bells
Those evening bells! Those evening bells!
How many stories their song tells,
Of youth, home, and those dear times,
When I last heard their soothing chime.
Those happy hours are now past;
And many hearts, once joyful and fast,
Now rest in the dark grave,
And no longer hear those evening bells.
And so it will be when I am gone;
That harmonious bell will still ring on,
While other poets will walk these valleys,
And sing in your honor, dear evening bells!
Thomas Moore
The simple sound of bells has always touched the deepest depths of the human soul in every corner of the world. Bells have enriched literature, colored romances, and inspired architecture.
Especially dear to us are the bells whose sound has imprinted on us since childhood and warms the soul for a lifetime. The same bell rings with joyful chimes for holidays and weddings, and tolls mournfully for funerals. Its sound also depends on atmospheric conditions; when it’s humid, it is quieter, but penetrates the air on a clear day.
In cold and gloomy weather, when it is hushed while snowing…
It has been recorded that Napoleon was fascinated by the sound of bells and that he would sometimes stop in the middle of an important conversation and say: They remind me of the first years I spent in Brienne. Bells have even softened the heart of the steel-willed William the Conqueror, who said that they spoke to him “in a thousand tongues”. Our Antun Gustav Matoš wrote about them: Bells ring, ring and ring. When bells ring, they carry me far away… Bells ring, monotonously, and then sing more beautifully than singers, they sound more resonant than music… When bells ring, twilight aches like a soul. Flowers sigh, birds hide their heads under their wings, and earthly eyes close, while the soul opens its magical pupils like night flowers dreaming during the day… (Autumn Idyll, 1903)
A bell hangs in the bell tower between heaven and earth, and its thundering sound inspires awe and elevates our thoughts from the mundane to the transcendent, the eternal. The sound of a bell mystically connects the earthly with the divine. The voice of the bell is a voice of divine protection and is therefore considered the bearer of sacred power. That is why bells are an integral part of religious rituals and ceremonies in almost all ancient religions. They are only not used in Judaism and Islam, although even among Jews in biblical times they had a ceremonial role: in the Old Testament we read that bells were attached to the edges of the priestly garments, which rang when he entered the temple and performed the liturgy.
The invention of bells cannot be attributed to a specific people, but it seems that the first bells appeared in China – Asia in general were in use long before the Christian era. We can find them among the ancient American civilizations, among Assyrian archaeological remains, as well as in Egypt where they were placed in tombs for the protection of the dead and as instruments for awakening into new life. Bells were also used by the Etruscans, Greeks, and Romans. However, although small-sized bells existed in the Mediterranean cultural and civilization circle since ancient times, they will experience their renaissance in the West. in god worship.
Christians inherited from the Hebrew tradition the loud call to prayer and worship, but unlike the Jews who called the faithful by blowing on ram’s horns and silver trumpets, Christians introduced the bell as part of the Greco-Roman heritage.
Initially, the bell in the Christian community called for worship, and later it began to accompany rituals, and over time to announce holidays, mark the passing of time, the end of the work week, celebrate weddings, mourn deaths, warn of dangers such as fires, storms or military attacks, etc., so that from the XIV century, bells in Belgium and the Netherlands also became a musical instrument – carillon, whose melody transforms into sound ornaments and pictures.
In her extensive study, Satis N. Coleman writes about bells: Amazing, powerful music of vibrating metal! It is so fitting that this magical symbol has always been a messenger and reminder to people around the world, alarming them, summoning them, or frightening them, but also bringing them joy. Ava comforts and inspires! The bells are always with us, ringing in all the important events we go through from the cradle to the grave.
The first Christian bells
During the first three centuries, before Rome accepted Christianity, there were special messengers within the Christian community who secretly informed about the place and time of prayer. For this reason, bells began to be used in Christianity in the fifth century, after Emperor Constantine officially embraced the new faith.
It is recorded in history that at the beginning of the fifth century, Bishop Paulinus (355 – 431) from the city of Nola in southern Italy placed a bell on the house where Christians gathered for prayer, which could be heard far and wide. Thus, the first church bells were born in southern Italy, and the present-day region of Campania owes its name precisely to bells (Italian: campana). The details are not known, but it seems that Pope Sabinian was the first to start using bells in church service in the early 7th century. Bells spread throughout Europe. The time of Karl the Great (747-814) and the bell towers appeared in the 10th century.
The art of bell casting was developed by the Benedictines, and for a long time, bells were made within their monasteries. In the 12th century, when European cathedrals were emerging, bell-making passed into the hands of skilled bellfounders. Bellfounders used to travel from place to place, setting up temporary foundries wherever there was a need for a bell because transporting large bells at that time was a huge and expensive undertaking.
In the Middle Ages, bells were considered holy and were kept with the utmost care, along with the Bible. It was believed that they had miraculous powers, including the power of healing. Many legends and stories about bells, as well as superstitions, originated during this time. It also became customary to donate bells to churches and monasteries. Kings would gift bells to deserving cities, and taking away bells from a city was the worst punishment and disgrace. It is recorded that English King Henry V took away the bells from the city of Calais and gifted In the town of Monmouth.
The Art of Bell Ringing
The Western bells more or less took on their current appearance about a thousand years ago. However, since the sound of the bell heavily depends on its shape or profile, the shape of the bell has constantly been improved. As the shape of the bell developed, so did the bell metal, the alloy used to make bells, as well as the tuning of the bell in order to obtain the purest sound. Some of the oldest bells on record were made of a mixture of copper and tin, just like they are made today, although in different proportions.
Blessing Prayer from the 1047 Catholic Rite:
God! Your voice in the dawn of the world/echoed in the ears of man/to invite him to divine communion/and teach him about the unspeakable mysteries/and guide him on the path of salvation… Grant that all your faithful/direct their hearts towards you at the sound of this bell.
As the art of bell ringing developed, it was discovered that the pitch of the sound is determined by the diameter of the bell, its shape, color, and tone, as well as the thickness of its individual parts. and the type of alloy, and the volume depends primarily on the size and weight of the bell. Although it may seem that these few parameters can be controlled, no two bells have ever rung the same, each having its unique sound. That’s why it is said: every bell has a soul. Namely, it is very difficult to obtain a bell that produces a crystal clear sound from the mold. When this does happen, it is said to have a “virgin ring”; such a bell is considered inherently holy and blessed. Today’s technology allows for any irregularities in shape to be removed with a special lathe after the bell cools down, thus perfecting its sound. However, imperfections cause each bell to have its own distinctive tone, which is why bellmakers used to give them names based on that.
The sound of the bell is produced either by swinging the clapper against a stationary bell (as is the case with Russian bells) or by using a clapper installed inside the bell that strikes the bell’s body when it swings. The iron clapper must be adjusted according to the size of the bell. If it is too light, it will not produce a proper ring, and if it is too heavy, It can damage the bell’s casing and eventually cause it to crack. Otherwise, the bell must be thickest where the clapper hits the casing of the bell.
The casting of the bell, that is, the bell metal into the mold, takes only a few minutes, but the preparation is very demanding. If the mold is damp, or if the metal has not reached the necessary temperature during casting, or if gas accumulates that cannot be released, the bell will be porous and prone to cracking. If the bell cracks, it is dismantled and recast. Hundreds of old bells that hang in the belfries are cast multiple times.
The birth of a new bell used to be a very important event accompanied by prayers, blessings, and incense. Even today, the installation of bells is marked with some kind of ceremony everywhere, and in Christianity, the bells are blessed before being raised into the bell tower. It is believed that through this act the bells acquire their divine power, that “they act as protection against lightning and thunder, hail and wind, and all kinds of storms, and that they drive away evil spirits.”
Inscriptions on bells
The oldest preserved bells bear only the name of the saint to whom they are dedicated. The inscriptions were originally in Latin because Latin was the official language of Christian Europe for a long time. Even today, these inscriptions can be found in old churches whose bells have withstood the test of time.
The oldest bell in Croatia was found in the sea between Silba and Premuda, and it was made by the bellmakers Jacopo and Andreotto Pisano in 1266. It was installed next to the church of St. Krševan, the oldest preserved sacral object in the city of Šibenik, which was once used as the Museum of the City of Šibenik and is now the St. Krševan Gallery.
The inscriptions were usually in the first person, giving the impression that the bell itself is speaking about its purpose: “Cantabo laudes tuas Domini” (I will sing your praises, Lord). The translation of a Latin inscription on an old Belgian bell reads: “I was cast in the year of our Lord 1523.”
I am the voice of life, I invite you: come and pray. The bell from Lincoln in England from 1604, when translated from English, says: I fervently call upon the hard workers to taste the food that nourishes the soul. Many bells in England bear the inscription: God save the King.
Later, longer inscriptions appear that provide us with an interesting insight into the intellectual world of people from past times. For example, the inscription on a bell in the Cathedral in Glasgow tells its own history: In the year of our Lord 1583, Marcus Knox, a merchant in Glasgow, ardently devoted to the reformed religion, had me made in Holland, for the use of his fellow citizens in Glasgow, and solemnly placed me in the tower of their cathedral. My service was announced with an imprint on my chest: ME AUDITO, VENIAS, DOCTRINAM SANCTAM UT DISCAS (Come, hear the holy teachings), and I was taught to announce the neglected hours. For one hundred and ninety-five years, I rang those awe-inspiring announcements, until I broke at the hands of a careless and inexperienced man. In the year 1790, I was thrown into the foundry, Cast again in London and returned to its sacred calling. Reader! You will also experience resurrection; may it be into eternal life! Thomas Mears made it, London, 1790.
Over time, bells started to bear the names of donors, as well as those of bellfounders. As they were often gifted, the bells began to acquire beautiful ornaments: from intricately decorated letters, vine leaves, and stylized flowers to biblical scenes and royal coats of arms.
The Angelus in the Catholic church rings in memory of the Angel who announced to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus. The former tradition of stopping work, taking off one’s hat, and reciting a greeting to Mary is beautifully depicted in the painting ANGELUS by Jean-François Millet (1814-1875).
The Bell Kolokol. Inside the Kremlin is the largest and perhaps one of the most famous bells in the world – Tsar Kolokol, or the Tsar Bell, commonly known as the “Great Moscow Bell.” It weighs 198,400 kg, is 6.13 meters tall, and has a diameter of 6.4 meters. It is still located where it was cast. In 1735, it was never put into operation due to a crack. It was built by the bell maker Ivan Motorin.
Bell Societies
Bells arrived in England with the first missionaries around the year 680. Initially, ringing bells was a sacred duty of priests, later taken on by bell ringers. A thousand years later, bell ringing in England lost its sacred character and transformed into a noble pastime! Nobles, merchants, artisans entertained themselves by ringing bells in various variations; usually consisting of six or eight, sometimes even ten or twelve tuned bells. At first, multiple bells were rung simultaneously in a specific order, and later ringing was introduced in altered sequences, with different variations, under the guidance of a conductor. The rules could be very complex and required great mental concentration from bell ringers, as well as control of the ropes when pulling them.
The golden age of bell ringing lasted a century and a half, from the beginning of the 18th century until the middle of the 19th century. During that time, new innovations emerged. There have been numerous bell-ringing societies, some of which have survived to this day, such as the Ancient Society of College Youths, founded in London in 1637. Each society had its own membership regulations and separate rules regarding bell-ringing. Examples of these ancient rules can still be found on the walls of many bell towers.
Although there were no formal bell-ringing societies in our country, the tradition of ringing bells in a special rhythm on the day of or before a holiday, as a way of announcing it, existed in coastal Croatia, where it was referred to as “kampananje,” “slavljenje,” and “luncijanje,” as well as in the Croatian Zagorje region, where it was called “trnačenje.” Unfortunately, these customs have been mostly forgotten in our country.
Bells in Russia
Small bells and handbells have been present in Russia since ancient times; in the graves of the Scythians who once inhabited the Russian steppes, we find bronze bells that are very similar to those that later adorned Russian troikas. They were used in Old Slavic rituals and shamanism. The bell flower bloomed in Siberia almost until the 20th century. In pre-Christian times, the bell, kolokol, was a means of communication between the world of humans and the gods, believed to govern the cycles of life in nature, namely life and death. It also rang during the Old Slavic carols (kоляда) – winter solstice; the ringing greeted the return of the Sun and “the promise of new life emerging from the frozen ground.”
In Russia, pre-Christian beliefs persisted for a long time, so when Russia embraced Christianity in the 10th-11th centuries through Byzantium – whose main symbols were bells and icons – the magical power of bells from that time was also adopted by the church bells. In the Byzantine ritual, the bell was associated with the logos, the creative force of God’s word. Over time, the bell became a sonorous icon of Russian Orthodoxy. All of this explains the deep and layered meaning that the bell has in Russian tradition.
Russian philosopher Ivan Ilyin wrote: The sound of Russian bells is mystical, filled with multiple layers of meaning. powerful in its impact on the human soul. The vibrations caused by the ringing of bells create in the spiritual-material world the same images as those created by the sun’s rays piercing through layers of the atmosphere, or the light of candles and incense.
Bell casting in Russia began only in the 15th century, until then bells were mostly imported from Western Europe. The impetus came from Tsar Ivan III, who invited craftsmen from Italy to Moscow; bell founding quickly flourished and by the end of the 16th century there were more than five thousand bells in Moscow and its surroundings! It is recorded that on holidays all the bells would ring at the same time and the streets were filled with the deafening sound, the Great Bell Toll resounded above the city like a gigantic, invisible dome of thundering bronze…
Bell ringing as a call to divine service and in praise of God evolved into a true art in the 17th century. It was then that bells with multiple voices started to appear. The large bells, which sound heavy and low, produce a uniform sound, while the small bells create They ring in different rhythmic patterns.
The church bells, which were a symbol of Orthodoxy and imperial power, suddenly fell silent with the victory of the Bolsheviks; in the period of 1920-1930, there was a real massacre of bells. A ban on ringing was imposed, churches were closed, bells were mass removed and melted for the needs of the metal industry.
With the collapse of communism, the rich Russian bell-ringing tradition came back to life. Moreover, the Russians still hold it as something sacred, so they refuse to electrify their bells, unlike the rest of Europe. They still ring manually, so there are schools for bell ringers within the monasteries.
Jerodeacon Roman from the Monastery of St. Daniel says: The church bell is a symbol with much meaning. Bells summon angelic trumpets that proclaim the will of Heaven on earth. But more than anything, their sound is connected to the voice of God. The voice of God calls people, and the voice of God is the voice of our conscience… Container