Bells in the South Tower - Vienna Cathedral Music

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Bells

South Tower

A photograph of the ‘St. Stephen’ bell. — St. Stephen

A photograph of the ‘St. Leopold’ bell. — St. Leopold

A photograph of the ‘St. Christopher’ bell. — St. Christopher

A photograph of the ‘St. Leonard’ bell. — St. Leonard

A photograph of the ‘St. Joseph’ bell. — St. Joseph

A photograph of the ‘St. Peter Canisius’ bell. — St. Peter Canisius

A photograph of the ‘St. Pius X.’ bell. — St. Pius X.

A photograph of the ‘All Saints’ bell. — All Saints

A photograph of the ‘St. Clement Mary Hofbauer’ bell. — St. Clement Mary Hofbauer

A photograph of the ‘St. Michael’ bell. — St. Michael

A photograph of the ‘St. Tarcisius’ bell. — St. Tarcisius

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

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

Eleven bells in the South Tower

Until World War II, the belfry was reserved for the old ‘Pummerin’, which was destroyed by fire in 1945.

Since the new ‘Pummerin’ was put at the top of the North tower in 1957, there was space for 11 bells in the South Tower. They were cast in 1960 by the Vienna based company of Joseph Pfundner. However, they are located on a lower level than the Pummerin previously.

Their sound was designed to complement the Pummerin. They were first rung in 1960 on All Saints’ Day. Since then, the bells are rung either all together creating festive sounds or in various combinations thereby creating particular patterns. They are rung for every service throughout the year and an order of ringing has been developed which specifies the use of each bell.

Recording

Videos

Individual bells in the South Tower

South Tower Plenum

1. St. Stephen

Pitch: G° + 11

Weight: 5,221.5 kg

Ø 198.7 cm

Cast in 1960

2. St. Leopold

Pitch: C‘ + 8

Weight: 2,193 kg

Ø 150.6 cm

Cast in 1960

3. St. Christopher

Pitch: E flat‘ + 13

Weight: 1,286 kg

Ø 125.7 cm

Cast in 1960

4. St. Leonard

Weight: 956 kg

Pitch: F‘ + 8

Ø 112 cm

Cast in 1960

5. St. Joseph

Weight: 593 kg

Pitch: G‘ + 12

Ø 100 cm

Cast in 1960

6. St. Peter Canisius

Pitch: B flat‘ + 11

Weight: 399 kg

Ø 86 cm

Cast in 1960

7. St. Pius X.

Pitch: C‘‘ + 8

Weight: 266.9 kg

Ø 75 cm

Cast in 1960

8. All Saints

Pitch: D‘‘ + 8

Weight: 261.4 kg

Ø 71 cm

Cast in 1960

9. St. Clement Mary Hofbauer

Pitch: F‘‘ + 11

Weight: 108.9 kg

Ø 56 cm

Cast in 1960

10. St. Michael

Pitch: A‘‘ + 9

Weight: 63.9 kg

Ø 45 cm

Cast in 1960

11. St. Tarcisius

Pitch: C‘‘‘ + 11

Weight: 44.4 kg

Ø 39 cm

Cast in 1960

The clockwork and its bells are located in the upper part of the spire

1. ‘Primglöcklein’

Rings the quarter hour

Pitch: G‘‘

Weight: approx. 140 kg

Ø 60 cm

Cast in 1771 by Franz Joseph Scheichel in Vienna

2. ‘Uhrschälle’

Rings the hour

Pitch: C sharp‘

Weight: approx. 1,500 kg

Ø 149 cm

Cast in 1449 by J. Straiffing & P. Obrecht