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Virtual Belfry is a computer program for bellringers, featuring English-style church bells viewed from above and animated using hundreds of photographs, with an alternative rope view for practising or teaching ropesight. (See examples below.)
The eight - and now ten - bells featured in the program ring methods and more under your command, producing perfect striking and visual realism for your enjoyment and for demonstrating the art of change ringing to others.
One of the two ten-bell options is tuned and configured to resemble Worcester Cathedral's unique harmonic minor ten. The hauntingly beautiful sound of well-struck caters on bells tuned in this way is further enhanced by the use of half muffles and whole-pull changes.
You can...
- Select any arbitrary combination of bells (including just one);
- Watch the bells (or ropes) holding up and cutting in when dodging etc.;
- Practise new methods, call touches or try some call-changes;
- Test your ropesight skills with a game;
- Add your own methods, compositions and call-change sequences to the program's stock;
- Change the speed of the ringing;
- Watch a graphical display of place notation;
- Ring one of the bells yourself by using the mouse to simulate pulling the rope;
- Fire the bells and more.
The program will run on most modern PCs (but check the
system requirements to be sure).
It is available for
purchase via this site.
