2y ago

TIL the reason doorbells go "ding-dong" is because of Handel's opera The Messiah

en.wikipedia.org

Westminster Quarters - Wikipedia

Long story short, the classic "ding-dong" doorbell chime is the first two notes of the bells played Westminster Palace, which in turn are based on Handel's opera The Messiah. Read more about it, it's neat.

10 comments

Why ding-dong is ding-dong and not dong-ding: ablaut reduplication. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduplication#English
- That was far too interesting of a read. Give me more things to consume!
  
  If it’s a linguistics rabbit hole you’re looking for, I recommend Dr. Geoff Lindsey.
Well, fuck you very much, Handel
- No no you're thinking of Pachelbel.
  
  don’t even open that can of worms
  
  The statement matches Beethoven's 5th, no?
My grandparents own a "ding dong" clock, which would count every quarter hour and then count the entire hour just as you heard... then it would fucking mark the hour with a number of tolls... the fucking insanity. If that clock still exists next time I am there, it's existence will be short.
Somebody owes Handel a whole lot of money.

10 comments