Description
The melody consists of five different permutations of four pitches in the key of E major. The pitches are B3, E4, F♯4 and G♯4.
The permutations are:
- g♯4, f♯4, e4, b3
- e4, g♯4, f♯4, b3
- e4, f♯4, g♯4, e4
- g♯4, e4, f♯4, b3
- b3, f♯4, g♯4, e4
played as three crotchets and a dotted minim. These permutations are always played in order, and each permutation is used twice every hour. Different quantities of permutations are played at each quarter-hour: one set at the first quarter, two sets at the half, and so forth, as follows:
| First quarter: | (1) |
| Half-hour: | (2) (3) |
| Third quarter: | (4) (5) (1) |
| Full hour: | (2) (3) (4) (5) |
| Big Ben |
The full hour chime is followed by one strike for the number of the hour by Big Ben (e3) (one strike for one o'clock, two strikes for two o'clock, etc.).
In other words, a cycle of five permutations, (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), is repeated twice during the course of an hour. For a clock chiming mechanism, this has the advantage that the mechanism that trips the hammers need only store five sequences (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) instead of ten. The mechanism then plays two complete sets of five sequences for each complete hour. In musical terms, the first and third quarters finish on the dominant (B), whilst the second and fourth quarters (the half and full hours) finish on the tonic (E). This produces the very satisfying musical effect that has contributed so much to the popularity of the chimes.
Read more about this topic: Westminster Quarters
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