Yesterday evening we rang with Marcus; we had agreed to go for a quarter of Pudsey. I decided that we all need more practice at all the positions in Pudsey, so I put together a composition in which each handbell pair rings at least a whole course of every position (i.e. 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8).
1344 Pudsey Surprise Major Simon J. Gay V M H 2345678 ---------------- 2 ss 2547638 - 3 2345678 ---------------- For handbells: 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8 each ring at least a whole course of every position.
I've become too accustomed to conducting from the tenors and ringing the coursing position all the time. I found it remarkably tricky to keep right in the other positions, and when the tenors came back together for the last three courses, it was amazing how much difference it made to my ability to see what other bells were doing. We got through the quarter, and it's given me renewed respect for what Jonathan and Tina have to cope with when we're trying to ring 8-spliced.
Next week we're planning to ring a quarter of Superlative, so I'm wondering whether to continue this theme with the following composition (the one above isn't true to Superlative):
1344 Superlative Surprise Major
Simon J. Gay
V B M H 2345678
-------------------
s s 2745368
ss s s 2475638
ss s 2745638
s 2345678
-------------------
For handbells: 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8 each ring
at least a whole course of every position.
or perhaps the following one, with the added challenge of half-lead bobs:
1344 Yorkshire or Superlative Surprise Major
Simon J. Gay
V M 3½ H 2345678
-------------------
- 4235678
- - - - 7632458
-------------------
3 part.
For handbells: 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8 each ring
at least a whole course of every position.
or one of these, which use both 4th and 6th place bobs:
1280 Superlative Surprise Major Simon J. Gay V B 2345678 ------------- 14 2365874 16 * 2567834 ------------- 2nd observation. 3 part, adding ss at * in one part. (s = 1234) For handbells: 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8 each ring at least a whole course of every position. Also true to Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Pudsey.
1280 Superlative Surprise Major Simon J. Gay 4 M B 2345678 ---------------- 16 2385476 14 * 2783456 ---------------- 2nd observation. 3 part, adding ss at * in one part. (s = 1234) For handbells: 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8 each ring at least a whole course of every position. Also true to Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Pudsey.
or maybe something easier. The easiest calling for Superlative is to start and finish at the treble's backstroke snap and call six middles (i.e. bob, bob, single, bob, bob, single), which has 5-6 coursing throughout and 3-4 coursing for 4 of the 6 courses.
I'll report the results next week.