Bells in the Roman Tower - Vienna Cathedral Music

Bells

Roman Tower

A photograph of the ‘Kantnerin’ bell. — ‘Kantnerin’

A photograph of the ‘Fehringerin’ bell. — ‘Fehringerin’

A photograph of the ‘Bieringerin’ bell. — ‘Bieringerin’

A photograph of the ‘Churpötsch’ bell. — ‘Churpötsch’

A photograph of the ‘Chorglöckl’ bell. — ‘Chorglöckl’

A photograph of the ‘Feuerin’ bell. — ‘Feuerin’

The six historic bells in the northern Roman Tower

Six of the historic bells at St. Stephen’s Cathedral hang in a huge wooden belfry, parts of which date back to the Middle Ages. Both belfry and bells survived the cathedral fire because this part did not catch fire. The bells are rung individually after evening prayer from Thursday to Sunday and alltogether on Saturdays and Sundays before vespers at 5 p.m. These bells are of great historic and musical value.

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Roman Tower bells

1. ‘Kantnerin’

Pitch: E flat’ + 2

Weight: approx. 1250 kg

Ø 129.7 cm

Cast in 1772 (re-cast from 1552) by Franz Joseph Scheichel in Vienna

Originally it was used for calling the cantors to the Cathedral.

2. ‘Fehringerin’

Pitch: G flat’ + 4

Weight: approx. 750 kg

Ø 111.5 cm

Cast in 1772 by Franz Joseph Scheichel in Vienna

It was rung for High Mass on Sundays, however the origin of its name is not known. Today, it rings every Sunday after the Angelus at 8 p.m. in special memory of all those who died the previous week.

3. ‘Bieringerin’

Pitch: A flat’ + 7

Weight: approx. 530 kg

Ø 99 cm

Cast in 1772 (re-cast from 1546) by Franz Joseph Scheichel in Vienna

For centuries it was rung to signify the closing time for public houses in the vicinity of St. Stephen’s. This tradition is continued when the ‘Steffl-Kirtag’ fair takes place in May.

4. ‘Churpötsch’

Pitch: C“ + 11

Weight: approx. 290 kg

Ø 78.5 cm

Cast in 1772 by Franz Joseph Scheichel in Vienna

Originally it was rung for the Rosary. Its name probably referres to a funding by the archiepiscopal ‘Cur’ honoring an icon of our lady in the Cathedral which is known by the name of Maria Pocs. Today, it is used for the Angelus at 8 p.m. on Saturday commemorating baptism.

5. ‘Chorglöckl’

Pitch: G’’ + 8

Weight: 212 kg

Ø 62 cm

Cast around 1280 and ascribed to Konrad of Munich.

Also known as ‘Little Bell of St. Stephen’ it used to call the canons to prayer. It is one of the oldest bells still in existence in Vienna. It is rung every Friday after the Angelus at 8 p.m. commemorating all victims of war and violence.

6. ‘Feuerin’

Pitch: E flat’ + 0

Weight: approx. 1750 kg

Ø 140 cm

Cast in 1859 (re-cast from 1453) by Friedrich Gössner in Vienna

It was rung signaling a fire in the city. Today it is rung every Thursday after the Angelus at 8 p.m. commemorating the agony of Christ on the Mount of Olives.

Destroyed historic bells in the southern Roman Tower

The ‘Viertel Pummerin’ and the ‘Zwölferin’ were placed here. These bells were destroyed in the fire of 1945. Today there are no bells in this tower anymore.

Two historic bells currently not in use

There are two historic bells which are currently not in use. They are placed as show pieces below the belfry of the ‘Pummerin’.

1. ‘Speisglocke’

Pitch: C’’

Weight: 237 kg

Ø 73.5 cm

Cast in 1746 (re-cast from 1613) by Johann Joseph Pfrenger in Vienna.

It was used for mourning. Unfortunately it has a crack.

2. ‘Zügenglocke’

Pitch: E flat’’ -3

Weight: 158 kg

Ø 65 cm

Cast in 1803 (re-cast from 1707) by Bartholomäus Kaffel in Vienna

It was rung for people who were approaching death.