Chimes from Crusader times: Recreating Nativity Church’s Mediaeval music

Researchers are embarking on a mission to recreate the music of Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity from the Crusader era, dating back almost 800 years. The 13 bronze bells, buried by mid-13th century Crusaders near the church to safeguard them from potential destruction during a Muslim offensive, are a key focus of the project. Led by David Catalunya, a researcher from the universities of Oxford and Wuerzburg, the effort involves constructing facsimiles of the bells, a process expected to take about five years after completing the exploratory research phase.

The original bells, protected with animal fat against rust, still produce a clear, high-pitched chime when gently knocked, although their clappers have deteriorated over time. Catalunya acknowledges that the current sound is only half of the original, which was more robust and resonant. The bells were part of a carillon that accompanied chants inside the church.

The collection also includes 222 Medieval copper pipes from the Church of the Nativity’s organ, discovered in the early 20th century during construction at the church’s Franciscan compound. Father Stephane, the Custody’s liturgist, notes that the organ pipes are considered the oldest in Christendom. Additionally, the collection features the sceptre of the Bishop of Bethlehem and 12th-century candlesticks, believed to share a common origin with the bells and organ pipes, possibly from France.

Father Stephane expresses hope that the significant collection will be displayed and played at a Jerusalem museum planned by the Custody for opening in 2024. He emphasizes the cultural and symbolic importance of these artifacts, particularly the bells, as cherished symbols of the Nativity in the Christian world.