Belling the Barony

How the SCA Barony in Albuquerque learned to tell time

(a reprint of an article printed in the Chivalry Sports Renaissance Catalog Magazine.)

When the good folk of al-Barran needed a bell, they got one the old-fashioned way: They made it themselves.

The 20-year-old barony, also known as Albuquerque, New Mexico, is located in the SCA Kingdom of the Outlands.

The idea for the bell emerged from discussions among Sir Needham, Baron of al-Barran; Susan the Midwife, Baroness of al-Barran; and Master Gunwaldt Gulbjorn, the Seneschal. The three had gathered to begin preparations for the upcoming Grand Outlandish Tournament and to find ways to help strengthen the barony.

Held annually during Memorial Day weekend, Grand Outlandish is the barony's largest event of the year.

Why a Bell?

One thing needed for the Grand Outlandish was a way to keep things running on time-- or at least be able to tell time. But you can do that with a four-dollar digital watch and an air horn, so why go to all the trouble and expense of making your own bell?

Sir Needham sums it up this way, "When you have a choice between two things to do," he says, "always choose the more medieval."

And medieval the bell is. Bands of celtic knotwork circle it at top and bottom. A series of five plaques-- the badges of the five baronial orders of al-Barran-- gird the midsection.

Just below the badges an inscription stands out in strong relief: I PEAL FOR THE GLORY OF AL-BARRAN. A.S. XXVIII. Four dragons' heads stand guard at the top of the bell, where they do double duty as mounting points.

Clinging to the clapper is a bronze scorpion. The venomous arachnid figures strongly in al-Barranian symbology and forms the main charge of al-Barran's device.

The bell is named Antares Kano. Antares ("The Heart of the Scorpion") is the brightest star in the Scorpio constellation. Kano, the Norse Rune of Opening, mean "light and clarity." Cast in bronze at the Adobe Foundry in Albuquerque, Antares Kano weighs 50 pounds, stands a little over 13 inches tall, and sings a pure C note. Its diameter at the bottom is 10 inches.

"It had to be small enough to be able to get around yet large enough to have good tone," says Mistress Susan. "We agreed that a 10-inch diameter was the best size."

Blessings and Honors

Bells were very important in the Middle Ages. When a new bell was put into service it was blessed by a priest and instructed in its duties.

Every medieval bell had four basic jobs to do, all of which helped keep the community informed and cohesive. The bell would chime for routine time-keeping, toll during days of mourning, peal during celebrations, and sound to issue warnings.

In keeping with the old ways, the people of al-Barran wrote a special dedication ceremony based on the ancient customs.

As well as the instructions to the bell, the ceremony included awards for the people who had contributed to the project.

All who helped were designated Bellmakers Extraordinaire to the Baron and Baroness of al-Barran. The honors list was a long one: Mistress Susan crafted the wax forms for the two bands of knotwork. Mistress Saerlaith L'Estrangere made the badges of the five baronial orders. Master Hieronymus the Sarabite carved the inscription.

Master Creon the Artisan added the dragons' heads. Lord Christoffe Gately sculpted the clapper's scorpion. Master Johan Blau and Lord Joseph the Hun shaped the bell's metal mountings and built the wooden supporting frame. Sir Richard Wolfwood did much of the grinding and cleaning required to finish the rough casting.

For his part in the project, Master Gunwaldt was named Rock of al-Barran. In recognition of her leadership and work, the privilege of ringing Antares Kano for the first time went to Mistress Susan.

Among their other duties, bells in the Middle Ages served to summon the community together. By the very act of coming into existence-- and by drawing on the time and talents of so many people-- Antares Kano has done the same for the barony of al-Barran.

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This page was last updated Tuesday, 27-May-2003 13:20:29 EDT