This recording shows the five bells of the Papal Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome.
In the centre of the Eternal City, the imposing building complex of St. Mary Major is enthroned on the Esquiline, the highest of the seven hills of ancient Rome. According to tradition, the basilica was built on the night of 5 August 352, when Pope Liberius saw the Virgin Mary in a dream, instructing him to build a church where there would be snow the next day. The traditional date of this snow miracle was adopted as the consecration day for St Mary Major, although the church was not built on its present site until the early 5th century.
S. Maria Maggiore is the only one of the great early Christian basilicas in Rome that has largely retained its original appearance despite various extensions. Due to its unique art treasures, the basilica is not only a religious but also an art-historical centre of great importance. This is visible from the outside through the monumental facades, the two large domes and, last but not least, the Campanile, which dominates the entire cityscape. The tower was built in the Romanesque style from 1377 and, at 75 metres high, is the highest point in the Eternal City.
The five basilica's bells are located on the top two floors of the campanile. The documented history of the bells begins with the donation of two bells in 1289. While the larger of the two instruments was replaced in 1884 by a new casting (III.) by Giovanni Battista Lucenti and later transferred to the Vatican Museums, the other bell (IV.) is still on the tower today. A hundred years later, in 1391, another bell (V) was added. In 1581, Pope Gregory XIII donated two bells, one of which (II) is still preserved. The most famous bell on the tower is without doubt the largest, 'La Sperduta'. Cast in 1614 to replace an even older predecessor, the current bell was created after a crack in 1851 and, after showing a lost pilgrim the right way, it still rings out every evening at 9 p.m. - its sound is well known to all Romans and can be heard throughout the city: • Große Glocke der Basil...
The bells of S. Maria Maggiore are of outstanding art-historical importance. They are without doubt one of the most important and famous bells in the Eternal City.
Technical data of the bells
I. La Sperduta, Ton: c#'±0
~3500 kg, 1644 mm, G. Lucenti, Roma (1851)
II. Seconda, Ton: c#'±0
~2000 kg, 1437 mm, P. F. da Bologna (1581)
III. Terza, Ton: d'-2
~1100 kg, 1178 mm, G. B. Lucenti, Roma (1884)
IV. Quarta, Ton: f#'+2,5
~600 kg, 971 mm, unbekannt, Pisanus? (1289)
V. Quinta, Ton: g'+3
~900 kg, 1075 mm, unbekannt (1391)
Sources
Inventarisation durch den Verfasser, 20.06/25.06.23.
DE BLAAUW, SIBLE, Campane supra urbem. Sull' uso delle campane nella Roma medievale, Rivista di storia della chiesa in Italia, Bd. 47, 1993. S. 375ff.
PIETRANGELI, CARLO, La basilica romana di S. Maria Maggiore. 1987. S. 183ff.
ROMANO, PIETRO, Campane di Roma, Curiosita' Romane 4-5, 1944. S. 30ff.
STENS, JAN HENDRIK, Die Glocken der Patriarchalbasiliken zu Rom: S. Maria Maggiore, JbGk 19/20, 2007/2008. S.167ff.
Many thanks to the Chapter of the Basilica for the recording license and to Dr Kubilius, Dr Raub and Mr Francavilla for their willing support on site!
Recording and text: Ben Schröder. #Bells