| A bell
is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and
an idiophone. Its form is usually an open-ended hollow drum which resonates
upon being struck. The striking implement can be a tongue suspended within
the bell, known as a clapper, a small, free sphere enclosed within the
body of the bell, or a separate mallet. Bells are usually made of cast
metal, but small bells can also be made from ceramic or glass. Bells can
be of all sizes: from tiny dress accessories to church bells weighing
many tons. |