The next handbell peal at Albany Quadrant is likely to be the day after our handbell day at the beginning of May. It's a little unclear whether we will have five people or six. If five, I would like to go for Bristol Royal again as it will be a slightly different band. If six then I expect we will try Cambridge Maximus.
I've written about handbell-friendly peal compositions of Cambridge before, but I don't think I mentioned the one that I had actually chosen last time we were thinking about going for a peal. (In the end we just rang a quarter because the practice session didn't show enough competence for a peal).
One composition that I have written about, which is based on the go-to composition of Cambridge Royal by CUG Collective, is this one. 3-4 only ring the 3-4 position, and 5-6 ring the 5-6 and 3-4 positions.
5280 Cambridge Surprise Maximus Simon J Gay M W H 23456 -------------- s s 53462 s s 63425 s 23465 s s 63452 s s s 54326 -------------- 2 part.
However, I don't really want to ring ten full courses - apart from anything else, imagine firing out during the extra half course!
Coming round at the treble's backstroke snap for 5042 requires 3-4 to be coursing at the end. This composition has 3-4 in the 3-4 position for as long as possible, until the last half course:
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus Simon J Gay M W H 23456 --------------- s s s 54362 s s ss 64325 s ss 24365 s s 64352 s s ss 54326 s - 32456 --------------- Rounds at the snap after 290 changes.
Now the problem is the risk of throwing 3-4 into a new position after 9 courses. So I prefer this one, which gives 3-4 a couple of courses of coursing earlier on and has the added benefit of three 657890ET course ends in a traditional style.
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus Simon J Gay M W H 23456 --------------- s s s 54362 s s 64325 s 3 24365 s s 64352 s s ss 54326 s - 32456 --------------- Rounds at the snap after 290 changes.
I have seen a composition by Don Morrison that starts with a bob at middle to put 3-4 into coursing and then keeps them coursing for the whole peal. But that moves 5-6 around more, and in any case the 3-4 position is arguably easier than coursing. So I think I will use my composition if and when we go for a peal.