[Bell Historians] Unusual clock chimes

[Richard Offen]

Just goes to show everyone's tastes are different!   I've always found the
Norwich 'tune' rather charming, but then that has only ever been as an
occasional visitor - these things tend to seem different if you are
resident!   My fond memory of them is of a good number of boating holidays
on the Broads when visits to Norwich with a service at the Cathedral were
almost compulsory for the sheer joy they brought.

 

Must admit I've often wondered if the Merton chime came before Canterbury.

 

R

 

  _____  

From: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com [mailto:bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of David Cawley
Sent: Friday, 6 November 2009 6:48 PM
To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Bell Historians] Unusual clock chimes

 

  

In my email last night I omitted to mention that Helmore's Gregorian chimes
of Canterbury Cathedral are by no means unique, as devotees of Inspector
Morse will know. The quarter chimes at Merton College - presumably on the
back five - are the same composition. This begs the question as to which
came first, Canterbury (as Richard says, 1897) or Merton; and if it was
Merton, did they originate with Helmore, or did he "borrow" the idea for
Canterbury?

 

I would take issue with him on the Norwich "chimes being sounded
automatically" - what a racket they make, being struck in the order 12342345
with an "open handstroke" every alternate row, monotonous and repetitive in
the extreme, not least because of the undersized hammers. The bells used to
be sounded by human agency from a chime rack in the N triforium, the ropes
being attached to the old ringing clappers as they had been since c1800. The
sound was quite acceptable if if the method was doubtful. The QUARTER
CHIMES, composed by Precentor Medley for Dean Goulburn's new clock, are
however melodious, even and unusual. They are sounded using full-sized and
correctly proportioned hammers. It was to these perhaps that Richard should
have referred. For other comments on the service chimes, aka 'Gilbert's
Revenge' see the late Paul Cattermole's Church Bells of Norwich with photos
of the Cathedral bells by me.

 

DLC (Norwich DAC Bells Adviser 1972-1977)   

 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Richard <mailto:richard.offen at IxyfV47G8Wk-Aw-8OuMpWWJrGd3XcpoAk0RqWCBsTXbyHIqAilyO0sXxK3pE_7dekjJ47QlAiaxficZRNe51ugVLqL6F.yahoo.invalid>  Offen 

To: bellhistorians@ <mailto:bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com 

Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 12:35 AM

Subject: Re: [Bell Historians] Unusual clock chimes

 

  

The clock chime at Canterbury Cathedral, which is based on the 8th Gregorian
Chant and was composed in 1899 by the Cathedral's Precentor, Canon F.J.O.
Helmore (who was also a very fine ringers by all accounts) to commemorate
the 1,300th (if memory serves me correct) anniversary of St Augustine
landing in Kent.   The whole chime is topped off by the magnificent sound of
Great Dunstan - probably the best sounding 18th century bell in Britain
(that statement should set a debate going!).

Richard



On Mon Nov 2 6:50 , 'Mark Regan' sent:

  

IR17;m thinking of doing a cd of big clock bells and unusual clock chimes in
the UK. Please can subscribers let me know of any clock chimes which they
think worth recording? 

.


With thanks

 

Mark

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Regan

22 Sebright Avenue

Worcester

WR5 2HH

 

01905 354339

07971 573688

 

 

 



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