![]() The Westminster chime as we know it today, however, wasn’t created until 1793 when a new clock was being built in St Mary the Great, the University Church in Cambridge. The song ‘I Know That My Redeemer Liveth’ was first composed in 1741, and its creator is also the reason why the song plays in the bells of the ‘Red Tower’ in Halle, the town Handel was originally from. It makes up a set of variations of 4 notes from “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth” from the German Baroque composer George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Messiah (we’re taking Wikipedia’s word on this one because we listened to about twelve different variations of this song and can’t hear the similarities). This famous chime gets its name from the Palace of Westminster in London, England where the classic “Big Ben” clock hangs and is considered to be the most commonly used chime for striking clocks. ![]() Let’s jump right in and examine each of the main chimes! But what is it, and why is that chime used in clocks? What about the other chimes? Where do they come from and why are they used? That graceful 4-note melody is as distinctive to clocks as it is ingrained in our souls. When someone asks you to hum the Westminster chime, chances are, you know exactly what they’re talking about.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |