Campanology

Campanology (/kæmpəˈnɒlədʒi/) is both the scientific and artistic study of bells, encompassing their design, tuning, and the methods by which they are rung. It delves into the technology behind bell casting and tuning, as well as the rich history, traditions, and techniques of bellringing as an art form. This field often involves the study of large, tuned bell collections, such as Flemish carillons, Russian zvons, or English "rings of bells" used for change ringing. These unique assemblages come with distinct practices and challenges, and campanology also explores the composition and performance of music written specifically for them.

While campanology primarily refers to larger bells typically housed in towers, it is not usually applied to smaller bell collections, such as glockenspiels, tubular bells, or Indonesian gamelans. Instead, the term is most commonly associated with the use of large bells, their musical and historical significance, and the ongoing efforts to perfect these instruments.