The forgotten origins of the world's most famous clock tower melody
In short: The chimes of Elizabeth Tower are instantly recognizable across the globe. This video explores the history of the Westminster Quarters, tracing the melody from its academic beginnings to its status as a global cultural icon.
The melody, now known as the Westminster Quarters, was originally called the Cambridge Quarters. William Crotch, a Cambridge University organ student, wrote it for the 1793 clock at Great St. Mary’s Church in 1793. The chime consists of the four notes E, D, C, and G played in different combinations every quarter hour.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Westminster Quarters and the chimes of The Elizabeth Tower
- Also: Westminster Quarters | work by Crotch | Britannica
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