This is an article about Original Triples, and is the fourth in my series about Original. The first three articles [Part 1, Part 2, Part 3] were about Original Minor, taking you from basic ringing and calling steps up to calling quarter peals. If you would like to read them, you can find them in the last three issues of the FSG Newsletter (and on the FSG website in the past Newsletters section, Ed). However, they are not necessary pre-reading for this article, and you can continue to read on now in blissful ignorance of what has gone before, and you should be none the worse for the experience.
Any band that can ring Grandsire and/or Oxford Bob Triples should be able to cope well with Original Triples. Original Triples is plain hunting on seven. Just add bobs and singles and you are there.
As in Original Minor, Original Triples is a principle, so all bells do the same work (ie plain hunt) - and all bells can be affected by the bobs and singles.
Bobs and singles in Original Triples are made in 5th, 6th and 7th places. To illustrate the calls, here are the first six changes of the plain course (ie without any bobs or singles):
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
| 2 1 4 3 6 5 7 * |
| 2 4 1 6 3 7 5 |
| 4 2 6 1 7 3 5 |
| 4 6 2 7 1 5 3 |
Bobs and singles are called at handstroke (rather than at backstroke, as in Original Minor), and they take effect immediately at the next backstroke and handstroke. So, if a bob is called at row * above, the following happens:
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
| 2 1 4 3 6 5 7 CALL BOB |
| 2 4 1 6 3 7 5 |
| 4 2 6 1 3 5 7 |
| 4 6 2 3 1 7 5 |
So, if at the handstroke at which the bob is called you are in 4th's place going up, then at the next backstroke and handstroke you make two blows in 5th's and hunt in. This is shown above by the path of the 3rd.
If you are in 6th's place going up when the bob is called (ie having just arrived at the back), then you dodge once in 6-7 up. This is shown above by the path of the 5th.
If you are in 7th's place going down when the bob is called (ie having just rung your two blows at the back), then you dodge once in 6-7 down. This is shown above by the path of the 7th.
As in Minor, calls can be made in succession. So, suppose we called another bob at the next handstroke immediately following the previous call, the following would happen:
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
| 2 1 4 3 6 5 7 CALL BOB |
| 2 4 1 6 3 7 5 |
| 4 2 6 1 3 5 7 CALL ANOTHER BOB |
| 4 6 2 3 1 7 5 |
| 6 4 3 2 1 5 7 |
| 6 3 4 1 2 7 5 |
The result is that the two bells at the back dodge again (in the same places), while a second bell (the treble in this case) makes 5th's. There can be up to 4 bobs in succession without the changes running false.
We identify where the bob comes in the touch by the place of the bell you are calling from when the bob is called. So, if you were calling the above touch from the seventh, we would say that 2 bobs in 7th's have been made.
If a single is called at * in the plain course sample, the following changes happen:
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
| 2 1 4 3 6 5 7 CALL SINGLE |
| 2 4 1 6 3 7 5 |
| 4 2 6 1 3 7 5 |
| 4 6 2 3 1 5 7 |
So, if you are in 4th's place going up when the single is called, you lie two blows in 5th's place and hunt in again (the same as at a bob), as shown by the path of the 3rd.
If you are in 7th's place going down when the single is called, you make two blows in 6th's and go back into 7th's place (ready to lie again unless another call is made).
Note that if you are in 6th's place when the single is called, you just lie behind (ie your path is unaffected by the call). However, it will feel different to ring, as you will do your two blows over the same bell, rather than over two different bells as you would have done if no call were made.
As you might have come to expect by now, you can compose some really pretty touches of Original Triples. The first two below are examples of “proper” Original, in which all bells are affected by calls (including the treble). The music is densely packed and the calling is simple (relative to what it can be!). My humble but immodest opinion is that these are some of the most musical touches of Triples known to man.
| Call 7: | 7 5 3 1 2 4 6 | Course end |
| 3 - - | 4 3 5 1 6 2 7 | |
| - - - - - - | 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 | |
| Repeat twice |
| Call 7: | 6 7 3 1 2 4 6 | Course end |
| - - 3 | 3 1 4 2 6 5 7 | |
| - - - | ||
| - - - | 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 | |
| Repeat twice |
Note that Touch 2 starts with a bob at 6, which means the conductor will have to commence the touch with the dramatic command of “Bob! – Go Original!” The bob is then made in the very first change (the 5th makes a place in 5th's and hunts in while, Grandsire-like, the 6 and 7 do half a dodge at the back before leaving).
These two touches are similar in the changes they contain, but Touch 1 has all the 5-7s and 4-6s at handstroke, while in Touch 2 they are all at backstroke. You can therefore choose whichever aesthetics please you the most, but my money goes on Touch 2.
Both touches include handstroke and backstroke roll-ups, 7654s at the back, and nice tittum effects. Lovely!
For me, any other touches are in some way all inferior to these, though modesty prevents me from going on about this too much. However, for those who find security in a hunting treble (or indeed if you have 6 'Original' ringers** (!) plus one who can hunt a treble) then Touch 3 below is about the best we can do.
| Call 7: | 7 5 3 1 2 4 6 | Course end |
| - - - | ||
| - - | ||
| - - - | 2 6 3 4 1 5 7 | |
| - - | 3 4 2 6 5 1 7 | |
| 2 - | 4 1 5 2 6 3 7 | |
| - - - | ||
| - - | 2 3 4 1 6 5 7 | |
| - - 4 | 3 6 2 4 1 5 7 | |
| - - - - | ||
| - - | 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 | |
| - - | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
If you've enjoyed ringing these touches, then why not go for a peal? I've got two different compositions for you to try, each including hundreds of bobs and singles. Special offer while stock lasts – choose one and get the other absolutely free! (Actually they're both free, just get in touch with me and you can have them.) And, yes, neither has ever been rung – you could be the first!
Due to a popular request, there will be a final article next time, in which I will summarise what happens with Original on 8 bells and upwards, along with a few touches to whet your appetite. Thank you for reading, and happy ringing!
** I think there are plenty of us in the FSG who would count ourselves pretty much as "original" ringers! (Ah, you be right, my bwoy. Thur's thee and me, and 'im and 'im over thur, plus 'er… ah, an' I furgot 'im . . . .an' I sin plenny more, an'all. Ed.)
Robert Chadburn