Thinking of England, I cannot help but think of London. Because when I was a child, my father was in London due to his work. So I would like to talk about London. Above all, about the very famous clock tower in London.
The clock tower is called "Big Ben." You know this structure, don't you? Big Ben is the clock tower's nickname by the House of Parliament. It was built in 1859 and the height of the tower is 96m. Now it's seen as the symbol of England by many people in the world.
And Big Ben has a bell. It rings and plays one melody every noon. I didn't know that Big Ben rings…・・；）
Do you know the melody?
This melody is called "Westminster Quarters." It is composed of four scales. In fact, this melody is a very familiar sound for Japanese! Do you know why? Because it's used as the chime for Japanese schools! Probably, I guess you know this sound.
I listened to this melody many times in my youth. But I didn't know that it really came from England! So we can say that Japanese schools are connected with England!! It's a very interesting thing, I think.
Now my dream is to be a teacher. If I become a teacher, I want to tell my students this thing!!
Comments for Big Ben, the Very Famous Clock Tower in London
If you've got a minute, and some pennies for my thoughts ... by: Anonymous
It does seem rather amusing that, when writing/typing about the city which was once the centre of the civilized world, both geographically (Greenwich) and in terms of power (largest empire ever), a person should choose to write about a single clock-tower. In a city which was made by the Romans, and whose history is so lavishly furnished with the names of the men who (argueably) shaped today's world (Julius Caesar, Isaac Newton, Sir Francis Drake, and more importantly, the colonialists) still Big Ben finds himself the topic of discussion amongst foreigners. Never-the-less, an honourable attempt at capturing a sliver of Londinium's timeless essence, and, to mine eyes, a passable display of proficiency in a second tongue, XD. I myself am learning the Japanese language, and am finding it to be most pleasurable, if anyone is still reading and/or cares. No-one? ... No? Oh well then, as nobody's listening, may aswell. I have a severe phobia of wind turbines!!! Oh, and also, Midas has donkey's ears!!! #for the lullz
Aug 26, 2013 Rating
Bells by: Anonymous
Big Ben is the bell. Up until very recently the tower didn't have a name at all!
Bell ringing in England actually uses mathematical patterns and not musical tunes, unlike the rest of Europe. We just have to be different, I guess!
Aug 16, 2012 Rating
Big Ben The Bell by: Anonymous
Big Ben isn't the actual tower it's the bell ^.^ ~Random English Person
Jul 03, 2010 Rating
Westminster Quarters by: Gary Wolff
Fascinating story, Jun.
I had no idea the most famous tune for striking clocks and even for doorbells in America has origins back to the Big Ben Clock Tower in London. VERY interesting.
Well, once again you have outdone yourself, Jun. I have no doubts in my mind you'll make a grrrrreat teacher, as you are definitely ALREADY a very good educator.
Regardless of which side of the aisle you're on and the accuracy of the economic indicators below (I didn't bother fact checking them), I believe most folks would agree that many Americans are truly s…
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