Hector Berlioz · section 44 of 67

Bells

Also in

OrchestrationCecil Forsyth · orchestral bellsPrinciples of OrchestrationNikolai Rimsky-Korsakov · orchestral bells

They have been introduced into instrumentation more for the sake of dramatic than of purely musical effects. The timbre of low bells is appropriate only for solemn and grandiose scenes. On the other hand, that of the high bells has a more serene character; it has something rustic and naive about it; this makes it particularly suitable for religious and pastoral scenes. For this reason Rossini has employed a little bell in high G to accompany the graceful chorus in the second act of “Guillaume Tell’, whose refrain is “Voici la nuit’;

whereas Meyerbeer used a bell in low F to

give the signal for the massacre in the fourth act of his “Les Huguenots”. At the same time the bassoons play a B - the diminished fifth of this F; together with the low tones of the two clarinets (in Bb and A) these create that ominous sound which spreads awe and horror in this immortal scene. (Example 146.)

146. les huguenots, act IV

The wonderful application of the bells in “Parsi-

difficulties, since real bells with this beautiful, low

range are too heavy and expensive. Instead, large

metal bars or several pianos combined with gongs

have been used.