A time strike melody is used to inform the public that the bell tower is about to toll the hour, and optionally signal the passage of other quarter hours.
Here are a few examples (many more available on select Chime Master ringing systems).
Westminster
The famous Westminster chimes ring every quarter hour from the Victoria Clock Tower of the House of Parliament in London. The words to this chime are "Lord through this hour, Be Thou our guide So, by Thy power No foot shall slide." Many know this tune as the ubiquitous 'Grandfather Clock Chime.'
Whittington Chimes
The Whittington chime is derived from the Church of St. Mary's le Bow, Cheapside, London. This partial change ring pattern varies for each quarter. Legend has it that Dick Whittington, running away from ill treatment as a house waif, seemed to hear the chimes say, "Turn again - Whittington, Lord Mayor of London Town." Dick turned back to eventually serve three terms as London's Lord Mayor.
St. Michael Chimes
Perhaps the St. Michael Chimes have more significance to the United States since their history is really a part of our heritage. The bells were cast in London and installed in St. Michael Church in Charleston, South Carolina in 1764. When the British took over the city during the Revolutionary War, the bells were taken by them, back to England. A Charleston merchant bought them in England and shipped them home to America. In 1823, cracks were found in some of the bells and they were returned to London to be recast. In 1862, during the siege of Charleston, the bells were moved to Columbia for safe-keeping but Sherman's army set fire to that area. Only fragments of the bells were found to be returned to London once more, where the original molds still stood. In February 1837, the bells were again installed in St. Michael Steeple and on March 21st joyously rang out, "Home again, home again from a foreign Land."
Winchester Chimes
The Norman conquerors of England did not like the fantastic cathedral chimes of the Saxons, so Bishop Walkilin, a kinsman of William the Conqueror, demolished and rebuilt the Winchester chimes in 1093. The cathedral's central tower, which contained the chimes, fell in 1107 but
soon was rebuilt. This edifice forms a substantial part of the present cathedral, located in Hampshire, England. The lyric of the Winchester
chimes is:
"O Art Divine, exalted blessing! Each celestial charm expressing! Proudest gift the gods bestow! Sweetest chimes that mortals know."