*Dear Frederick* *Kindly publish this article of my friend Elvidio Miranda as he requested me to do so.*
*Thanks* *Stephen Dias* *Dona Paula* Golden Bell at Se, Pangim Church and Bell making Elvidio Miranda In particular, bells were made to be used in churches, bell towers and public buildings. The church bells in Goa are of intrinsic value, which have survived the test of time. Two bells in particular, also the biggest two in Goa are found in the Se Cathedral in Old Goa, foundation of which was ordered by Afonso de Albuquerque the cathedral devoted to St. Catherine, known as the S. Pedro or Golden bell (Sino de Ouro) which was cast in Cuncolim (Salcete) and known as the Golden bell because of its rich deep, resonant and mellow sound. It is supposed to be also one of the best in the world. The Se Cathedral took 90 years to build and its construction was started in 1562 and completed in 1652. In yesteryears, the power of sound of this bell could be heard as far as at Merces. To extol the quality of this bell and the four smaller ones in Se Cathedral, Tomas Ribeiro has penned poetic verses to eloquently describe these bells, which remain till today testimony of the popularity associated with this majestic architectural marvel. The other bell, which is now on belfry of the Pangim church or the Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception was made in Lisbon by Joao Nicolau Levachi and is the second biggest bell in Goa. It was brought from the convent of St. Agostinho in Old Goa and had been kept in the Aguada lighthouse during the governance of Jose Joaquim Lopes de Lima and brought to Pangim in 1874. In the book Tiswaddecho Igorzo, the Jesuit historian mentions that this massive bell was placed on the belfry in August, 1875 with the help of a mechanic from Siolim, Antonio Felix da Costa who prepared the scaffolding to lift the bell to the belfry. It weighs 2250 kgs. Tolling of bells is a unique skill depending on the dexterity of the sacristan. Almost nothing has been chronicled about the metallic composition of these bells. It could be that then the casting of these bells was a secret known to a select few involved in its making at that time. However, it is widely known that Bell metal is a hard alloy which is a form of bronze with higher tin content. Typically 78 percent of copper and 22 percent of tin by mass was used in bell making. Also the higher the tin content the greater the rigidity of the metal, which increase the resonance. Bell metal of these ratios has been used for more than 3,000 years and is known for its resonance and attractive sound. Both tin and copper are relatively soft metals that will deform on striking. By alloying the two elements a harder and more rigid metal is created but also one with more elasticity than the use of one of the metals alone. This allows for a better bell resonance and causes the bell to vibrate like a spring when struck, a necessary quality as the clapper may strike the bell at speeds of up to 600 miles per hour. This metal combination also results in a tough, long-wearing material that is resistant to oxidation and subject only to an initial surface weathering. Other metals in small quantities like gold and silver were also used. Bells are manufactured with exact formulas, so that using the diameter it is possible to calculate precisely every dimension of the bell and in turn its musical note or tone. The core and outer shell is made in the shape of the bell. Ingots of either ready-made bronze or its component metals are melted in a melting furnace and heated until molten at a temperature of about 1,100 degrees Celsius, this molten metal is then skimmed to remove impurities before the start of casting process. This metal is then poured into the top of the mould and allowed to cool and settle for several days. The bell’s strongest harmonics are tuned to be at octave intervals below the nominal note, but other notes also need to be brought into their proper relationship. The harmonics of each bell with its distinctive metallic compositions are unique to the composition of metals used in its individual making.
