A very interesting sketch of the history of small bells is given by Mr. S. B. Goslin in his “Musical Hand-Bell Ringer’s Instructor” (J. Warner & Sons), in which a great deal of information is condensed into a small compass. The illustrations, which are chiefly taken from old manuscripts, are of themselves worthy of attention.
The Literary Churchman and Church Fortnightly, March 5th, 1880.
“The Musical Hand-Bell Ringer’s Instructor.”—Messrs. Warner are famous for bells; and we are led therefore to entertain somewhat high expectations from a treatise on the subject with which their name is connected. Nor are we disappointed. The essay before us is particularly interesting, as well because of the mass of curious and recondite learning which the author has gathered together to illustrate the history of his subject, as from the clear directions given for hand-bell ringers, and the exercises here provided for their use.
It appears to us quite worth the consideration of the clergy whether the practice of hand-bell ringing would not do much to keep their corps of church ringers together and provide an antidote to the public-house. We find that a medium set of eight hand-bells, forming an octave, can be obtained for from four to five pounds; and the steps of the art present no considerable difficulty, even to rustic intellects. Many a young country curate would find it a pleasant thing to take the post of leader, and call his choir together for hebdomadal practices.
Transcriber’s Note
Footnotes have been moved to directly underneath the paragraph they refer to. Illustrations and Notes have been moved to between paragraphs.
“... and to which ... he points the reader ... to take in hand ...” as printed in the source document.
Some minor obvious typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected silently.
Table “The number of changes which may be produced”, last line: 22 changed to 12.
“Bannister” and “Banister” standardised to “Banister”.