Death knell

In England, an ancient custom was the ringing of church bells at three specific times before and after the death of a Christian.

It was customary in some places by the end of the 19th century to ring the death knell as soon as notice reached the clerk of the church (parish clerk) or sexton, unless the sun had set, in which case it was rung at an early hour the following morning.

Sometimes the age of the departed was signified by the number of chimes (or strokes) of the bell, but the use of "tellers" to denote the sex was almost universal.

Fully muffled bell ringing is very rare as the loud and soft effect is lost.

An excellent example of this was demonstrated with the bells of Westminster Abbey at the Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997.

In Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, the funeral knell was used in the 68 section of the 5th movement (i.e. Dream of a Witches' Sabbath).

English-style full circle bell with clapper half-muffled. A leather muffle is put over one side only of the clapper ball. This gives a loud strike, then a muffled strike alternately. The bell is shown inverted in the "rest position". Half-muffles are usually used for funerals and occasions of remembrance or mourning.