Verona Bell-Ringing Competition Celebrates Heritage and Craftsmanship

It is an ancient art that combines musical creativity with artisan traditions. The passion for Shining Bronze Bell Ringers is widespread and deeply felt in Verona, but not only, as on the occasion of the Sabaini Trophy happening tomorrow afternoon from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM at the parish church of Cavaion, bell-ringing groups from Verona and its province, as well as some formations from Mantua, Brescia, and Vicenza, will perform in their traditional annual competition.

The prize at stake is highly coveted: a complete bell including its clapper and wheel, donated by the event organizer, master Francesco Sabaini, with his company, a meticulous maintainer for 50 years of the massive set of nine bells in Verona Cathedral, and heir of the artistic tradition inherited from his father Emilio, who passed away in 1985. Emilio dedicated his life to building and restoring these precious instruments and continued working in his workshop until the age of 87.

This homage to the family patriarch will focus on the centerpiece of the concert-show: the performance of the compulsory piece, a traditional secular bell-ringing motif, given to participants at the beginning of the year. It was initially composed on keyboards or piano and later specifically transcribed into numbers, allowing anyone—even those who cannot read sheet music—to play.

Errors, variations in execution, rhythm, difficulty, and timely sound entry, as well as the harmonious development, are the elements evaluated during the performance. Each group, consisting of about seven members, will perform under the guidance of a master who ‘calls the piece,’ as the expression goes, providing the contestants with each corresponding number for their respective toll.

Requirements and characteristics of bells

To be considered special, a bell must be well-made and cast in high-quality bronze, explains Sabaini. Among the existing examples, the protagonists stand out from one another precisely due to their casting method and material.

Composed of 78 percent copper and 22 percent virgin tin, each bell therefore has its own personality, and each specimen constitutes a unique piece. Many people are interested in this captivating world, which is increasingly attracting a diverse crowd, including many women.

Errors not only in production but also in assembly, installation, maintenance, and restoration are common—activities supported by his son Massimo and son-in-law Davide Francesco, continuators of the family tradition.

Sabaini knows intimately what is housed within the bell towers of Verona and surrounding towns. Mainly, parishes turn to him to keep an eye on the mechanical parts of their “assets,” including the frame structures, supporting bolts, and hammers.

Then, it is up to sacristans and bell-ringers to “ring the voices,” ensuring the bells sing their melodies at the right moments.