There’s a fun NYT article about Stéphane Urbain, the man who rings the bells at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris (free registration may be required—sorry). Apparently not even the world of church bell-ringing is spared the “tradition vs. new ideas” tug-of-war:

His musicality has led to a minor revolution in the way that the bells have been rung since he became the chief sacristan three years ago.

This has put him in conflict at times with the caretakers of the bells. They visit them six times a year to check the condition of the bronze; examine the electric motors, with their intricate chains, that now swing the bells; and inspect the wooden frame from which they are suspended.

The caretakers want less music, to diminish wear on the centuries-old bells. Mr. Urbain wants more, to restore the art to what it must have been when the bells were young.

In all seriousness, that’s really neat. I’d always assumed that the bells at famous cathedrals were powered by decades-old automated programming. It’s fun to learn that there’s a lot of thought and artistic vision behind those ringing bells.

(Public domain image courtesy of Thschutt.)