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.
Name That Tune!
Published: August, 2000
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)
