|
| The
Ferry Building clock mechanism. Housed in a dimly lit room atop the
tower, the mechanism is original to the tower (1898), but it has since
been electrified. The clock was originally powered with a weight and
pulley system. |
Name
That Tune!
Every weekday at 12:03 and 5:03 (weekends at 12:03) a song plays out
from atop the Ferry Building tower. Here’s the story behind this
charming tradition:
From 1918 to 1972, a siren was sounded at 8am, noon, and 4:30 pm.
Perhaps it sounded unsettlingly like an air raid warning; whatever the
reason, the siren was replaced with a chimes system in 1972. The Loma
Preita earthquake damaged the chimes and a modern system of loudspeakers
connected to a CD system was installed.
At present, only carillon music is played (see list below). But
according to Alan Fisher, a San Francisco State engineering student
working as an intern on the clock tower project for the Port of San
Francisco, steps are being taken to expand the play list.
Songs of special interest to San Francisco and its history are being
considered and Bay Crossings readers are urged to send their suggestions
to info@baycrossings.org.
Carillon Playlist as of 6-29-00
Prelude in C# minor (Bach) To a Wild Rose Frere Jacques
Tune from Elijah (Mendelssohn) Prelude #6 (Bach) Minuetto
for Carillon
Tune from Rinaldo (Handel) Prelude #7 (Bach) A
Mighty Fortress When the Saints go Marching In Amazing Grace A Sunbeam,
A Sunbeam
Bist Du Bei Mir Tune for Carillon (Callender)
