Circle Bells

Circle Bells captures the rare artifact called "Blossom Bells", created by local SF Bay Area metal working artisan Pete Engelhart. His hand-welded tuned percussion instrument features six steel conical bells tuned to different pitches and spread out in a fan arrangement. Each bell has a deeply rich, warm & sonorous tone with a long sustain and crystalline clarity. We sampled each bell up close in wide stereo using soft mallets and viola bow with both single-strikes/staccatos and rolls/sustains. Its distinctive sound evokes the feel of a steel Marimbaphone or Celeste when played with mallets and a glass armonica when bowed, yet its character and undulating resonance defies any direct comparison.

The bells range in size from 2" to 3 1/2" in diameter and about 10" long. Each note can sustain for up to 10 seconds and carries a deep blend of beautiful overtones. We used a viola bow to produce sustains and staccatos, and a soft cloth mallet to play single notes and sustaining rolls. After that, we expanded these natural metal tones with a variety of ambient soundscapes and pads to give you ultimate sonic freedom.