Big Ben - The Bells of Westminster
Big Benは、イギリス（英国）の首都ロンドンにあるウェストミンスター宮殿（英国国会議事堂）に付属する時計塔内に設置されている大時鐘の愛称です。時計塔全体の正式名称は、エリザベス2世在位60年を記念して2012年に「エリザベスタワー」とされましたが、ビッグ・ベンは塔全体や大時計そのものを指して使われることが多いようです。現在の鐘は2代目で、高さ2.2メートル、直径2.7メートル、13.7トンあり、さらに周囲にはやや小さい鐘が4つあります。初代は1859年5月31日に作られ、当時は世界で最も正確な時計でもありました。（毎時の誤差1秒以内）(English) 'Big Ben' is the nickname of the Great Hour Bell in the clock tower attached to the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) in London, the capital of the United Kingdom (UK). The official name of the entire clock tower was changed to 'Elizabeth Tower' in 2012 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, but 'Big Ben' is often used to refer to the entire tower or the big clock itself. The second generation's current bell is 2.2 metres high, 2.7 metres in diameter and weighs 13.7 tonnes, with four slightly smaller bells around it. The first generation was built on 31 May 1859 and, at the time, was also the most accurate clock in the world (within one second of an hourly error).
Audio) https://murf.ai/share/le5n3k6l
Big Ben - Info.
The former name Clock tower
Use Clock tower
Number of floors 11
Height 96.3 m
Start of construction 1843
Completed 10 April 1859
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The Bells of Westminster - Song titles, lyrics of school bells
1)
The clock tower Big Ben in the Palace of Westminster in London plays a short melody every day at noon.
This tune is called 'The Bells of Westminster Westminster Chimes' and is known in Japanese elementary and junior high schools as the 'Keen-kon-kan-kon' chime (the original tune).
The bells of Big Ben were first rung in 1859, and in 2009, the 150th anniversary, the walls were illuminated with the words 150 and an image of the bells.
A relatively well-known arrangement of The Bells of Westminster is Louis Vierne's Carillon de Westminster, composed around 1927.
The Bells of Westminster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar8ICdxTxzs
Listen to the chimes of Big Ben
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyCS17vzqbU&t=1s
2)
About the English lyrics
Several English lyrics accompany the melody of The Bells of Westminster. All of them are similar in content to church prayers.
Firstly, the official lyrics are inscribed on the wall of Big Ben's Clock Room. The content is based on the words of the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy.
Throughout this hour
Lord, be my guide
And by thy strength
No foot shall slip.
All through this hour
Lord, be my guide; no foot shall slip by your power.
By Thy power
And by Thy power, no foot shall slip.
3)
Lyric no. 2.
Commonly used text; sometimes, the third line is 'So by Thy power'.
O Lord our God
Be thou our guide
That by thy help
No foot shall slip.
O Lord our God.
Be thou our guide, That through thy help no foot may slip.
Be thou our guide, That with thy help
That by your help, no foot may slip.
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School bells Who composed the music?
1)
Roots in 18th century Cambridge University, England.
School chimes announce the start and end of classes with a 'Keen-kon-kan-kon'. Who composed this simple melody, and how was it introduced to elementary and junior high schools in Japan?
The roots and origin of the school chime can be traced back to the sound of church bells at Cambridge University in England in the 18th century. So let's take a closer look.
2)
The bells of Great St Mary's Church
The large, historic church of Great St Mary's stands majestically near King's College in the heart of the University of Cambridge, England.
In 1793 or 1794, when Great St Mary's was renovated, and a new clock was installed, the tune now known as 'School Chimes' was adopted as the new bell tune to tell the time.
3)
Was the composer a teenage pupil?
There are various theories as to who composed the tune, but the most likely idea is that it was written by William Crotch (1775-1847), a musician who was still in his teens at the time.
William Crotch had worked in Cambridge since his early teens as an assistant to John Randall (1715-1799), then Professor of Music at Cambridge University.
At the time of the renovation of Great St Mary's Church in 1793, he was an organist at Oxford University Church, and it is thought that he composed a new melody for his old church in Cambridge.
As for the origin of the melody, some have suggested that it may have been an arrangement of the third part of Handel's Messiah, composed in 1742.
4)
To the London Clock Tower 'The Bells of Westminster'.
More than 60 years later, in 1859, Big Ben, the clock tower at the Palace of Westminster in London, rang its bells for the first time. Its melody was that of the 'school chimes' that Great St Mary's Church had been ringing since 1793.
The sound of Big Ben's bells was renamed 'The Bells of Westminster', and the tune is still played in modern Britain. At the time, it was often played on British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) radio as a symbolic British tune.
5)
Bells in Japanese primary and junior high schools
The Bells of Westminster was first introduced to elementary and junior high schools in Japan in the 1950s, after the war. At Omori Daishi Junior High School in Ota Ward, Tokyo, the bells used to start and end classes often broke down, so the school adopted the Westminster chime, which was already well known from other industrial equipment and music boxes, as a new chime.
It became famous as a chime in primary and secondary schools throughout the country and remained a standard 'school chime' to this day.
Audio: https://murf.ai/share/le5pgpbw
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Messiah, Part 3 - Handel (George Frideric Handel/1685-1759)
1)
The third part of Handel's Messiah consists of eight songs in which the Saviour (Messiah) sings 'Faith in the Resurrection', 'Eternal Life', 'Victory over Death' and the Hymn to Jesus Christ (Amen).
The Transfiguration of Christ by Raphael. (Photo)
2)
It focuses on the 40th song from Part 3 of Handel's Messiah, which is said to be related to the 'Bells of Westminster' in London.
The number of songs from the first part of the work is 40 to 47, and the opening song, 'I know that my Redeemer liveth' (Aria/Soprano), is mentioned as the root of London's 'Bells of Westminster'.
The lyrics of Handel's Messiah are taken from the Bible, especially the prophetic books.
'I know that my Redeemer liveth', the lyrics are taken from the Old Testament Book of Job and one of the New Testament Epistles, 'The Epistle to the Corinthians'.
The 40th song at the beginning of Part 3, 'I know that my Redeemer is liveth'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg7aXEvCeXY
3)
From the Old Testament, Book of Job.
I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand upon the earth in the latter day.
And though ... worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
4)
From the New Testament letter to the Corinthians.
Christ is risen from the dead, the first fruits of those who sleep.
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Hallelujah Chorus.
From the second part of the oratorio 'Messiah'.
Handel (George Frideric Handel/1685-1759)
Handel's oratorio 'Messiah', famous for its Hallelujah Chorus, is one of Handel's religious works, along with Bach's St Matthew Passion and St John Passion.
The title comes from the English reading of the word 'Messiah', the lyrics are taken from the Bible, and the work consists of a solo, chamber and choral pieces based on the life of Jesus Christ.
Big Ben - Wikipedia
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%93%E3%83%83%E3%82%B0%E3%83%BB%E3%83%99%E3%83%B3
The Bells of Westminster - Song titles, lyrics of school bells
https://www.worldfolksong.com/songbook/england/westminster-chimes.html
School bells Who composed the music?
Messiah, Part 3 - Handel (George Frideric Handel/1685-1759)
https://www.worldfolksong.com/classical/handel/messiah-part3.html
Hallelujah Chorus.
https://www.worldfolksong.com/classical/handel/hallelujah.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usfiAsWR4qU
Who is Georg Friedrich Handel? Life, personality, cause of death?
https://classical-music.fun/georg-friedrich-hande-life/
What's inside Big Ben? (Elizabeth Tower)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3xgBS_kDNw
Music Chime in Japanese school, 1970-80s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhg7FcMjDsM
Mechanism of school chimes (manufactured by Citizen TIC Co., Ltd.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RsMe-FFsOs
Why is the school chime the same as the melody of Big Ben's bells?
https://blog.goo.ne.jp/powerful_mom/e/a1aea8a07b6e7fd1434ce6ec7b0327d9