This is a series of cyclic 8-part compositions of spliced major culminating in a 12 method peal with all 480 possible 4-bell runs at the front and the back. As a series I hope the peals will prove quite a satisfying project. The number of runs gradually increases as more methods are added (with the exception of the 4 method peal having more runs than the 5 or 6) so there is some extra reward to be had at each stage.
I produced the 12 method peal as a personal challenge and something that would be enjoyable to ring; it is an adaptation of an earlier composition with the same musical properties but I consider the new version to contain a more interesting and varied collection of methods. I made extensive use of the Ringing Master peal proving software but beyond that no further computing power was used in its production and the methods were all invented (or re-invented!) by hand. The composition was successfully rung at Barrow Gurney on 08/12/13 by a largely Bristol based band.
The 12-spliced attempted cold is quite a challenge due to the unfamiliarity of the methods and the variable hunt nature of a cyclic 8-part. In order to make it a less daunting proposition for some bands I asked Don Morrison to produce a series of build-up peals beginning with 4 methods and working up to 12 in steps of one method. I requested that each of the peals be cyclic 8-parts and that the `cyclic shunt’ be achieved by the use of a lead of Seven Stars Differential Little Hybrid – the link method used in the 12-spliced. Don answered my request to the letter, in a very timely fashion, and I am very grateful to him.
The peals are given here. Any one is welcome to ring any of these peals; at the time of writing only the 12-spliced has been rung. The 4-8 method peals are entirely Don’s work, to my specification, and so should be credited to him. The 10 and 11 method peals are really just simple arrangements of the 12 and the 9 is somewhere between the two! I would leave it to the band’s discretion exactly who is credited and in what way for the 9, 10 and 11 method peals should you ring any of them.