The most famous bells in San Francisco are the chimes of the Ferry Building clock tower, which was completed in 1898. They chime every quarter hour. The clock tower was modeled after the bell tower of the Seville cathedral in Spain.
When I went to a friend’s wedding in Modica , Sicily, I learned that most churches in Italy seem to reserve their bells for really special occasions. For the ordinary bell-ringing which starts at about 0700 and goes on what seems like every half-hour for the rest of the day, they prefer recordings of a garden gate being beaten to death with a rusty tire iron by an epileptic gorilla. And there are literally dozens of churches in that place. Just greeeeeat when you have a hangover.
That’s like the switch from real votive candles to push-button electric candles.
An outfit called Schulmerich has been making electronic carillons for ages.
Their quality and accuracy depend upon the folks using the things. Just this week I attended a funeral at a church where, obviously, they missed the change to Daylight Savings time. It’s also tolling the hour a few minutes after the hour. Either no one working there has noticed, or they just can’t figure out how to set the time. (I’ll give 'em a hint: press the button marked “time of day”, punch in the current time, and hit enter!) Sheesh.
The old 1887 city hall building downtown (now the county historical museum) has a large electronic carillon that chimes quarter hours a la Westminster, and plays a tune at noon. It also has a keyboard, upon which the old local organ professor plays carillon concerts on certain holidays.
I noticed that the churches in my area ring their bells, in fact one rings it regularly everyday. I am wondering though it doesn’t seem they are as loud as when I was a kid. My hearing is still good so I wonder if the churches did somehow manage to get their bells modified to ring softer?
In the centre of my city, and within earshot of my house, are a couple of different churches and a cathedral.
They regularly ring their bells. The cathedral still marks every fifteen minute interval and chimes the hour, every hour.
There is also a carillon, a gift from The Netherlands to the city. It seems the forces from this city’s military base played a major role in the liberation there. Who knew? On one of the anniversaries of the occasion, a few years ago, they presented this to the city, along with a beautiful monument and plaque.
It rings beautiful songs, one every hour, I believe. At Christmas it plays carols, very lovely when the park is covered in snow and skaters are on the little rink. A very thoughtful gift, and much enjoyed.
I should take a picture. (Hmmm, that gives me an idea for another thread entirely!)
The monastery next door to where I work has a steeple with a little mini-carillon. The bells ring every quarter hour (once at 15 after, twice at 30 after, etc.), plus a certain song every morning at 8:00.
:rolleyes: “how impressive”
The bells at my (Catholic) Church are rung on Sundays at each mass, and also three times a day for the Angelus.
Theres a church very close to me that still rings its bells on Sunday and has a practice session on Wednesday evening.
I’m not very religious myself but I love the sound because it makes the world a slightly more interesting place.
I live in rural Greece, about 50m from a church. They ring their bells at 7am, 7.30am and 8am every Sunday. They do the same on every important Saint’s day, of which there seem to be an inordinate amount.
If anyone is missing the sound of bells (I am not) then can I recommend the wonderful BBC Radio 4 programme Bells on Sunday. It’s a recording of a different church’s bells broadcast every Sunday. Honestly not a joke. The great thing is they all sound exactly the same.