Potsdamer Glockenspiel, Bell tower in Potsdam, Germany.
The Potsdamer Glockenspiel is an instrument with 40 bronze bells mounted on a metal frame at Plantage square. The bells range from the heaviest piece to much smaller ones that together produce the different tones needed for the musical performances.
The original was part of the Garrison Church and was destroyed in an air raid in 1945. The current instrument was installed in 1991 as a gift to Potsdam from the city of Iserlohn.
The hourly melody 'Praise the Lord' echoes across Plantage square and shapes the soundscape with a familiar religious tune. At half-hour intervals, a different traditional song plays, marking the rhythm of the day for visitors and locals alike.
This instrument plays daily through both automatic and manual operation, offering regular performances throughout the day. Its location at Plantage square makes it easy to visit and hear the bells at different times.
The bells of the current instrument produce higher-pitched tones than those of the original from the Garrison Church. This difference in pitch still shapes the sound character of the square today.
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