[Bell Historians] Unusual clock chimes

[Paul Cubitt]

I have always found the bells of Norwich Cathedral a joy.  They sounded throughout tmy school days and I have never grown tired of their uniqueness.

The CD by Terry Mann, 'Bells of Paradise' starts with the Cathedral bells sounding the hour - and, although not aware of what was coming, I could place them straight away.  How many chimes can be instantly recognised?

Paul Cubitt
Assistant DAC Bells Advisor, Norwich Diocese
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Richard Offen 
  To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 2:05 PM
  Subject: RE: [Bell Historians] Unusual clock chimes


    

  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 xeuaN-TAoZokUyLFVpVof1OngZhvciZsLRuWN8iYfgfWdEeD-63a08Z92bJTD6aocAk7srIAdbZv_PmQgshAuv8c_Q.yahoo.invalidom] 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 Offen 

    To: bellhistorians at 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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