But, several years ago, I was in the square before Salzburg Cathedral at midday on the December 25, where the sound of the peal is trapped by the square itself. It would have drawn a Health & Safety outcry in this country, as the ground shook and the impact was overpowering, leaving the head ringing. At least we knew they were celebrating something.
Bell ringing practice is another matter. Many years ago, a group of bellringers in Norwich practised every Monday night, despite complaints that families at the near-by fire station could not get their children to sleep. The ringers weren’t even prepared to tilt their shutters on the belfry so the sound went upwards.
A music club I belonged to met on Tuesdays, then the bells switched to Tuesdays, and we had to move to Monday. Then they changed back, and I complained to the Vicar. He raised his hands and confessed: “I’m afraid they don’t have very Christian attitudes”.
