Glockenspiel – Leicester Square memories, Trafalgar Square exhibitions …

In London town they say you see many things … surprising things and some which bring back funny memories long forgotten, yet this one had disappeared into the recesses of my mind …

Glockenspiel and Clock with, in front, the Cantonal Tree

… years ago, not quite centuries, but decades have passed since I visited Swiss House for some food or drink or to pass the time of day … what I had not forgotten was we had to go down stairs, sit on high bar stools where I had the most amazing Drambuie Cream Sorbet …

Creamy Cherry Kirsch Icecream

… a texture and taste I long remember, though whether or not it was Drambuie, I doubt – I’m not a happy camper with a whisky – so perhaps Cherry Kirsch … more suitable for the Swiss House … delicious is all I can say and remember …

… I’ll never find out now, I guess … and as I see a link for over 127 Kirsch Ice Cream recipes … I won’t even try!!

Ultramarine blue
Cockerel on 4th plinth
in Trafalgar Squre

Still I had two reasons for going to London … to see “Primary Colours” – an exhibition at the National Gallery on pigments and their relationship with paintings from medieval days …

… and then round the corner to the National Portrait Gallery to see the exhibition on Virginia Woolf: Art, Vision and Life …

The Cantonal Tree

I’ll post shortly on both those … I went by bus from Victoria station to Piccadilly, then walked through the masses of students and throngs of visitors towards Leicester Square …

… as I was about to walk into Leicester Square at midday suddenly the most amazing Swiss bells ring out – I’m startled … I’m right underneath … cowbells in London?

Photo taken by Dickon Love
when installing the clock

 I was mesmerized and stood listening for the five minute playtime, and watching as the minute/second hand went round, it was spoon shaped, then I noticed the procession of animals and cow-herders …

c/o Figures by BBC

… the original Glockenspiel on the Swiss Centre – consisting of 27 bells, an astronomical clock and a procession of 23 farmers herding their cows to Alpine pasture was given to the City of Westminster on its 400^th anniversary in 1985 by Switzerland and Liechtenstein as a token of centuries of friendship.

Swiss Centre
1960s
architecture

When Swiss House was demolished and the area redeveloped … the Glockenspiel needed to be refurbished, which was done by Smith of Derby (clockmakers since 1856, and in fact back to 1708 – interesting firm with lots of fascinating clock installations … I see another post sometime!) …

… the installation was recreated into two parts this amazing ‘clock tower’: a Cantonal Tree displaying the 26 Coats of Arms of the Swiss Cantons and the Glockenspiel Clock …

Old Glockenspiel installation

I only heard the daily chimes that ring out:

Times of chiming given: 

M-F 12.00pm, 17.00, 18.00, 1900 and 20.00

 Sat and Sun:  12.00, 14.00, 15.00, 16.00, 17.00, 18.00, 19.00 and 20.00

But when the Glockenspiel was formally re-inaugurated in 2011 a demonstration was given of the way it could be played live - by plugging in a keyboard …

Alphorn concert in Vals, Switzerland

… and six Alphorn players were placed on various roofs around Leicester Square, some hidden … so that a degree of mystery surrounded the sudden emanation of sound …

… in the streets traditional bell-playing folklore groups from various parts of Switzerland paraded towards the Glockenspiel at the newly named Swiss Court … when the Glockenspiel was programmed to give solo performances and played in unison with the bell-ringers.

Must have been wonderful to have been there …

Two of the bells taken by
Dickon Love on installation

The details of the bells are given at this site … the bell number, region, weights, diameter, music note … all the bells were cast by the Bell Foundry, H Ruetschi in Aarau.

Each of the bells has the inscription of a different Swiss canton in the inscription band, with the name of a different Westminster ward along the sound bow.  On the waist of each bell is a shield of shields of the canton to which it is dedicated.

Federal Charter of 1291

The precursors of Switzerland established a protective alliance at the end of 13^th century (1291), forming a loose confederation of states which persisted for centuries.

Liechtenstein has been included due to its working proximity to Switzerland, albeit it is a separate microstate ‘doubly landlocked alpine country’ - bordered on two sides by Switzerland and on the other two by Austria.  The bell for Liechtenstein is dated 1791 ... reference to relevant Constitutional Documentation. 

Gutenberg Castle, Balzers, Liechtenstein
is a museum

So anyone who is visiting London … I highly recommend a visit to listen to this amazing instrument … fascinating to watch, and highly entertaining to listen to – amidst the cacophony of tongues roundabout.

Westminster City
Coat of Arms

Strange but true … cow-herders can be seen in Leicester Square …

Website: Smith of Derby showing some slides ... and giving us a few more details:  viz the design islike a free-standing totem pole, featuring 23 figures - 11 moving farmers and their animals - against a typical Swiss Alpine backdrop, images of the 27 cantons,  27 bells and 4 Swiss Jacomas representing bell ringers and two clocks.

Website:  Smith of Derby - Swiss Glockenspiel Clock returns 

Website: Westminster Lover's Guide re Glockenspiel - for information

Website: Anglo-Swiss Friendship - Memorial 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

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