Lapping

The last two sessions were mainly spent writing things down.  Let’s do something this time!

“Lapping” was a Victorian pub game.
(These Victorians really knew how to have a good time!)

A group of people would sit in a curved line and ring changes by passing the bells from one to another.  It is actually very like what the MiniRingers do on their mat.  You can see a video of some really expert lapping at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9rQHrjrCrc

Think back to last week, when we talked about Place Notation.  We’ll stay with a simple one: x 16 x 16 x 16 x 16 x 16 x 16  That’s plain hunting on six.  A lapping team needs three ringers and six bells.

At home, you can either recruit two people or try doing it yourself by setting the bells out on a table (and then running about like a mad thing!)  You’ll need a set of six bells and, if you are in one of those sadly deprived houses that doesn’t have such a thing, you can substitute them with six bits of paper – or wooden blocks – or anything.  (How about paper cups or yoghurt pots?)  They just need to be clearly numbered 1 – 6.
They won’t sound as good as bells, I’m afraid.

Set them out on your laps or on the table in three pairs, in order, with the treble (1) on your right as you face the “audience” and the tenor (6) on the left.
Where there is an “x” in the notation, each of those pairs swaps their own bells.  Where there is a “16”, the two on the ends hold onto their “outside” bells (the ones in position 1 and 6) and everyone swaps with their neighbour.

Keep doing that and you should end up with all the bells back in rounds (1 2 3 4 5 6) after 12 swaps.

Next week, we’ll take this a step further.  If there are four of you (and you’ve got 8 yoghurt pots) you could try jumping right in.  The place notation is: 3 1 7 3 1 31 3 7 1 3 1

Or, to fit the video, you’ll need six people and twelve paper cups:  3 1 E 3 1 3 1 3 E 1 3 1  (The “E” stands for 11)