This clock is not an unusual one.

Or is it?

I remember it sitting on a shelf along with books in my parents’ library. Mom and Dad both passed away in that room, which seemed fitting, given their love of words, books, poetry, and plays.

It’s a pretty clock. An anniversary clock. I assumed it was a family heirloom, thinking it was from Mom’s aunt May’s home. But no one else remembers that.

At first, the clock made its new home in our guest room. Then I moved it to our study. And a year ago, to the new sunroom.

It was a quiet little thing until a few months ago. One afternoon, I heard a soft tinkling sound, but by the time I tracked down the source, the chiming had ceased. I moved it closer to where I sit while on computer, so I might hear it again.

I did. A total of four times over the course of several weeks. No rhyme nor reason as to when the clock burst into sound. Gary heard it twice, luckily, so we didn’t question my sanity. Next I moved it over to our upright piano.

Well, the anniversary clock apparently liked the new location. It started chiming on the hour.

I was ready with the video setting on my camera Saturday afternoon, as I knew my brother Dave would be able to identify the tune.

The melody was oddly familiar, but not enough for me to identify it.

See if you can:

Spoiler alert: Don’t continue reading until, like me, you’ve given up on identifying the musical piece.

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Thankfully, Dave knew and messaged me back post haste: The tune played by the clock is Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” sped up to a ridiculous degree. Between the zippy tempo and the chintzy electronic sounds, it comes off as circus calliope music, very different from the effect the original gives. The contrast between the visual elegance of the clock and the cheapo quality of the music is bizarre.

Good heavens! Of course I’m familiar with “Ave Maria.” It’s a standard at weddings and funerals. (Ave Maria is Latin for Hail Mary.)

In fact, it was beautifully sung at Mom’s funeral.

Brother Bill thinks the clock may have been an anniversary gift from Dad’s parents. That would make sense. If the box was labeled as containing a clock that chimed Schubert’s “Ave Maria” on the hour, it was certainly the perfect gift.

Well, our clock continues its mysterious ways (or perhaps persnickity is the more appropriate word). It hasn’t made a peep all day, yet continues to keep time.

If anyone reading this has any theories as to the clock’s tempermental behavior, I’d love to hear them. It’s getting closer to Halloween, so maybe it’s a wee bit haunted?

Either way, let’s end this with the great Luciano Pavarotti singing Ave Maria as it was meant to be performed:

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