What exact shape makes a brass church bell (1) sound loundest, and (2) ring longest?

Question

Would a Gaussian "bell shape" cross section produce either one of the two desired results?

Answer 1

♠ the bell is not shaped exactly Gaussian; it is shaped like deck of royal piano and other string/percussive instruments.
♣ the material of the bell must absorb the less the possible of sound energy; thus the shape must provide resonance for most possible number of frequencies produced in the bell;
♦ this actually results in longest and loudest sounding.