Alastair Simpson

@BSOrchestra librarian. Organ, trombone, hurdy-gurdy, guitar, tin whistle.
Conductor, composer, folk & choral singer, actor, bellringer, knitter, dog-walker.

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

@LevParikian @TimandraHarknes Definitely. There's so much there, and so many of the public have no idea what goes on in a belltower.

[Dorchester Bells @DorchesterBells]

And an excerpt from last night's ringing in the #NewYear in #Dorchester. We waited for the Corn Exchange clock to finish striking, and rang 6 bells very merrily. We even fired them 12 times!
Here's wishing #bellringers everywhere a very #HappyNewYear!
#bellringing #NewYear2023

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

Still ongoing...

[Dorchester Bells @DorchesterBells]

The start of a #quarterpeal on the bells of St Peter's, #Dorchester of #Grandsire Triples to mark the start of 2023 for the #Dorset County Association of #bellringers this afternoon. Currently ongoing.
#bellringing

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

This idea just popped into my head.
'Deck the halls with Psycho Killer, F- f- f- f- faaaa, f- fa fa faaaa...'
https://t.co/KBI21zoyLj

[In Quires and Places Where They Meme @QuireMemes]

It's actually bad luck to say "MacMillan" inside a church or concert hall. You have you to call him "The Scottish Composer".

[Dorchester Bells @DorchesterBells]

A short excerpt from this afternoon's #bellringing at St Peter's for the passing of the Queen. We rang fully-muffled, meaning leather pads on both sides of the clappers where they strike the soundbows, apart from the tenor. This was half-muffled to have a clear knell.
#Dorchester

[Dorchester Bells @DorchesterBells]

At noon today, along with many other towers all over the country, St Peter's #Dorchester will ring fully-muffled with an open tenor backstroke for about an hour for the passing of #QueenElizabethII.
The bells were prepared yesterday evening for the occasion.
#bellringing #Dorset

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

At noon today, towers all over the country will ring (all their bells if they have enough ringers) fully-muffled. A rare occurrence, this last part, only happening on the death of the monarch, the bishop, or the incumbent vicar.
Only towers that have one bell ringing are tolling.

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

News and media outlets, be aware of this terminology.
#Bellringing is the act of turning a bell 360° from one 'up' position to the other to sound. This is done with the other bells in the tower.
A bell #tolling, or #knelling, is ringing on its own, usually as a mark of mourning.

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

@QuireMemes Depends on what name he chooses. He may not go with 'Charles'.

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

@BettyStovesEyes @QuireMemes It will likely be recomposed make it fit. Don't forget that 'Elizabetha' wasn't the original either.

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

The #bellringing at St Peter's, #Dorchester this evening was a select affair, with lots of Grandsire and Stedman Doubles. I was Not With It, and made terrible hashes of all sorts of things. For the layperson, it's not just yanking on a rope.
#Dorset #DorchesterDorset #bellringer

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

@jmpneale What a shitshow...

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

When playing with the @DorchesterBID #WilliamBarnes #Dorset dialect playing cards, this one caught my eye.

#Boris-Noris: going on blindly, without any thought of risk or decency. How apt.

#Dorsetdialect #BorisJohnson

[Claire Wong @ClaireRWong]

Guys, I think I’ve solved it. Hear me out...

We make any day the temperature goes above 32C in the UK an automatic bank holiday

And then watch the big corporations scramble to fix climate change ASAP

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

@LevParikian Biscuit Fuzz. Ew.

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

I went on Sunday morning to #Oxenhope (8, 12cwt) to ring for their service. We only managed the front 6, and a touch of Bob Doubles and call changes both fired out, but they're quite pleasant bells I a tower far too big for them!
#bellringing #bellringer #westyorkshire

[Dorchester Bells @DorchesterBells]

Tonight's bellringing practice at St Peter's was the first time changes of surprise have been rung in that tower in almost exactly two years. A plain course of Cambridge Surprise Minor peaked an evening of Stedman Doubles, Plain Bob Minor, and Plain Hunt Triples.
#bellringing

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

Only in my life would the phrase 'I had to stop my #lute practice because the candle got too low' be entirely accurate.
#accidentaltimetraveller

Also, I've got a lute now!

[Alastair Simpson @AltheLibrarian]

Touches almost successful, apart from the time I was so busy calling 'single' in the right place I forgot to lead!
#bellringing

[Dorchester Bells @DorchesterBells]

It's a slightly damp and miserable evening in #Dorchester, but the ringers of St Peter's have gathered for the weekly #bellringing practice. Lots of touches of Plain Bob Minor; bobs for Helen, singles for Kate. Eynesbury and Huntley Doubles for everyone else.
#Dorset #Dorsethour