Glockenspiel. Stratford. Taranaki. New Zealand.
S 39° 20.355 E 174° 17.085
60H E 265991 N 5642058
The Taranaki town of Stratford has New Zealand’s only glockenspiel clock, which takes pride of place in the town centre. It plays its chiming bell music several times each day.
Waymark Code: WM6BXB
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 05/10/2009
Views: 8
The glockenspiel, also known as orchestra bells, is a musical instrument in the percussion family, Stratford's glockenspiel is unique in New Zealand. It was completed in 1999 to commemorate 100 years since the formation of the original Stratford Borough.
The Taranaki town of Stratford is named after the English town of Stratford-on-Avon the birthplace of the famous playwright William Shakespeare. The William Shakespeare theme is played upon by the naming of 67 streets after Shakespearian characters from 27 of his plays, as well as housing New Zealand's only glockenspiel clocktower that has life sized figures of Romeo and Juliet, which re-enact the balcony scene several times a day.
The glockenspiel plays a scene from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet three times daily (at 10am, 1pm, 3pm) with figures made by the curator of the Tawhiti Museum, Nigel Ogle.
The glockenspiel performs for approximately 5 minutes, after the hour chimes are finished.