Editing Bell (section)

{{short description|Percussion instrument}}
{{about|the instrument}}
{{pp-move}}
{{pp-move|small=yes}}
{{technical reasons|Bell #9801|the memorial with that title|Bell 9801}}
{{Infobox Instrument
|name=Bell
|image=Parts of a Bell.svg
|image_capt=Parts of a typical tower bell hung for swinging: {{nowrap|1. Bell yoke or headstock,}} {{nowrap|2. canons,}} {{nowrap|3. crown,}} {{nowrap|4. shoulder,}} {{nowrap|5. waist,}} {{nowrap|6. sound bow,}} {{nowrap|7. lip,}} {{nowrap|8. mouth,}} {{nowrap|9. clapper,}} {{nowrap|10. bead line}}
|background=percussion
|classification=[[Struck idiophone]]
|hornbostel_sachs=111.242
|hornbostel_sachs_desc=Bells: Percussion vessels with the vibration weakest near the vertex
|range=From very high to very low
|related=[[Tubular bells|Chimes]], [[Cowbell (instrument)|cowbell]], [[handbell]], [[gong]]
}}
A '''bell''' [[Help:IPA/English|/ˈbɛl/]] ({{Audio|En-us-bell.ogg|}}) is a [[struck idiophone|directly struck idiophone]] [[percussion instrument]]. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong [[strike tone]], with its sides forming an efficient [[resonator]]. The strike may be made by an internal "clapper" or "uvula", an external hammer, or—in small bells—by a small loose sphere enclosed within the body of the bell ([[jingle bell]]).

Bells are usually cast from [[bell metal]] (a type of [[bronze]]) for its resonant properties, but can also be made from other hard materials. This depends on the function. Some small bells such as ornamental bells or cowbells can be made from cast or pressed metal, glass or ceramic, but large bells such as a church, clock and tower bells are normally cast from bell metal.

Bells intended to be heard over a wide area can range from a single bell hung in a turret or [[bell-gable]], to a musical ensemble such as an English [[ring of bells]], a [[carillon]] or a Russian [[Russian Orthodox bell ringing|zvon]] which are tuned to a common scale and installed in a [[bell tower]]. Many public or institutional buildings house bells, most commonly as [[Striking clock|clock bells]] to sound the hours and quarters.

Historically, bells have been associated with religious rites, and are still used to call communities together for religious services.{{sfn|Ross|1911|pp=687–691}} Later, bells were made to commemorate important events or people and have been associated with the concepts of peace and freedom. The study of bells is called [[campanology]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rubino |first=Anthony |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s-fsDQAAQBAJ&dq=The+study+of+bells+is+called+campanology.&pg=PT110 |title=Why Didn't I Think of That?: 101 Inventions that Changed the World by Hardly Trying |date=2010-03-18 |publisher=[[Simon and Schuster]] |isbn=978-1-4405-0698-7 |language=en}}</ref>