The 2014/5 Ringing Theory Discussion Group Rules Debate

Definitions and Requirements for Method Ringing: A Proposal by the Ringing Theory Discussion Group, June 2014 – April 2015

This Changeringing Wiki article is intended to summarize the results of a debate and series of polls by the Ringing Theory discussion group ("r-t") that took place from June 2014 to [month] 2015. The debate concerned what an improved set of CC Decisions might look like. The content below does not represent the views of all members of r-t - only the majority (or in some cases plurality) of the subset of r-t members who chose to take part in the various polls.

Background

[To be added. Likely comprises:

(1) what the Ringing Theory Discussion Group ("r-t") is, and its history of discussing shortcomings in the current CC Decisions and how they could be improved

(2) the proposal that was carried at the May 2014 CC meeting that, with a strong groundswell of opinion, both inside and outside the Council, it was time for a fundamental review of the CC Decisions

(3) the interest by some members of r-t in contributing to the development of an improved set of rules through debates and the conducting of polls to determine list members' views, leading to the proposed Definitions and Requirements for Method Ringing that are recorded in this article

(4) a summary of what is considered to be wrong with the existing Decisions

(5) how it is hoped the movement to improve the current Decisions will progress from here in the lead-up to the May 2015 CC meeting]

Contents

• Methods
• Calls
• Stationary Bells
• Compositions
• Method Classification
• Performances
• Method Extension
• Method Naming

Methods

Definitions

1. Row: A sequence of N bells in which each bell rings once and only once.
2. Place: A position of an individual bell within a Row.
3. Stage: A name that represents the number of bells, N, that form a given Row, as follows:

N	Stage	N	Stage
1	[tbd]	2	[tbd]
3	Singles	4	Minimus
5	Doubles	6	Minor
7	Triples	8	Major
9	Caters	10	Royal
11	Cinques	12	Maximus
13	Sextuples	14	Fourteen
15	Septuples	16	Sixteen

1. Change: A transposition of bells at a given Stage from their Places in one Row into the Places of the next Row.
   1. Simple Change: A Change where the transposition moves every bell to either the same Place it previously occupied, or to an immediately adjacent Place.
      1. Null Change: A Simple Change where the transposition moves every bell to the same Place it previously occupied.
   2. Jump Change: A Change that is not a Simple Change.
2. Method: A process for generating a sequence of Changes at a given Stage.
   1. Lead-based Method: A Method that can be defined by a fixed sequence of Simple Changes.

Method Naming

Requirements

Methods may be named and recorded in the Central Council’s Method Library if they meet the following requirements