Seven bells and the square they ring over
Dom bells and Domplatz
The seven bells that open the midday concert in Salzburg Cathedral, and the Domplatz outside: arches, Marian column and the Everyman play.
Reserve a seat under the dome ↗The bells that start the concert
The cathedral's concert page says the concerts begin after the bell ringing. Its bells page says the ensemble has seven bells and weighs 32 tons in all, which it describes as the largest in the southern German-speaking countries. It calls the ringing of the bells one of the most beautiful in Austria, and says the first bells of the present cathedral were cast in 1628 for the consecration. The bells carry the names Salvator, Rupert, Maria, Joseph, Virgil, Leonhard and Barbara.
1628 and 1961
According to the cathedral, Wolfgang II and his son Johann Neidhart cast five new bells in 1628, consecrated with the new Baroque cathedral. Of the seven bells now in the tower, the Maria and Virgil bells still date from 1628. The other five were cast in 1961 by the Oberascher foundry in Salzburg and consecrated on St Rupert's day that year. The Salvator bell is the largest, at 14,256 kilograms.
A history written in fire and war
The cathedral's bells page says the first mention of the cathedral bells, in 1127, reports a failed casting that caused a fire in the city. It says a fire in 1312 melted all the bells, and that the same happened in the cathedral fire of 1598. In 1942 the bells then in service had to be given up for war purposes, and only three stayed in the cathedral, of which two still ring. The complete ensemble returned in 1961.
The sound of the ringing
The bells page lists the sound motifs in the ringing, among them a great minor triad on E flat, a great major triad on G flat and a Salve Regina motif. A listener does not need the names. At midday the ringing is the cue that the concert is about to start, and the cathedral's page says the music begins once it ends.
Squares in the calendar
German Wikipedia says the cathedral is dedicated to Saint Rupert and Saint Vergilius, and that the feast of Rupert falls on 24 September. It also says an Advent market is held on Domplatz, and that the Rupertikirtag, a fair, takes place there in the week around 24 September. Both come with crowds, so a midday concert in those weeks is best planned with time to spare on the square.
Domplatz
English Wikipedia says the square is entered through three open arcade arches to the north, south and west, called the cathedral arches, which join the cathedral to the Residenz and to St Peter's Abbey and form an enclosed square. In the middle stands a Marian column by the Hagenauer brothers. German Wikipedia says the column has stood there since 1771.
Everyman and the Festival
German Wikipedia says Everyman, a play by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, has been performed on Domplatz every year since 1920 as part of the Salzburg Festival. The cathedral's history page says the Baroque squares around the building form a stage used by the festival. The cathedral's house rules say that in July and August rehearsals and performances can change the opening hours, which matters for planning a midday concert in summer.
Frequently asked questions
How many bells does Salzburg Cathedral have?
Seven. The cathedral says the ensemble weighs 32 tons, and the two bells of 1628 ring with five cast in 1961.
Do the bells ring before the concert?
The cathedral's concert page says the concerts begin after the bell ringing.
Which is the largest bell?
The Salvator bell, cast in 1961, which the cathedral gives as 14,256 kilograms.
Is Everyman performed in the cathedral?
No. German Wikipedia says it is performed on Domplatz, the square outside, every year as part of the Salzburg Festival.
Sources