Applications due 4-30 for Early Music America Medieval/Renaissance Performance Competition

News from Iowa State University

1. Spring Carillon and Organ Festival 1997

Iowa State University hosted the Spring Carillon and Organ
Festival 1997 and the Carillon Composition Competition during the weekend of April 25-27. The Festival also celebrated the tenth anniversary of the installation and dedication of the Brombaugh organ of the Music Department. Guest artists were Brian Swager, former University Carillonneur at Indiana University, Bloomington, and David Dahl, organist from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington. The Festival began with two recitals by the guest artists. Brian Swager performed carillon music from Belgium and America that included Johan Franco's Ames Nocturne, a work commissioned by The Stanton Memorial Carillon Foundation in 1984. David Dahl performed organ works by two women composers: Fanny Mendelssohn and Ethel Smyth, and Michel Corrette's Magnificat du 3e et 4e ton with Donald Simonson as cantor. A workshop on "Organ Works by Three 19th-century Women Composers: Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn and Ethel Smyth" was conducted by David Dahl on Saturday morning, and Brian Swager held a carillon seminar in the afternoon on "Music for the Carillon: A Distinguished Repertoire Emerges." The Festival continued with a Family Concert featuring ISU student carillonneurs, ISU Wind Ensemble, ISU Dance Tour Company, and ISU Oratorio Choir. Echo by Amy Michelle Black was premiered by Michael Tammaro at the carillon and the Oratorio Choir under the baton of Robert Molinson. The Festival concluded on Sunday with carillon music from The Netherlands performed by Tin-shi Tam, Iowa State University Carillonneur.

A  Carillon
Composition Competition was held to encourage young composers to write original
carillon music. Judges were Brian Swager, Jeffrey Prater, and
style="mso-spacerun: yes">  Tin-shi Tam. Contestants were from all
parts of the country and overseas. The winning composition was By de dei
lâns (The Proceedings of the Day) by Klaas R. R. de Haan of Amsterdam,
The Netherlands. It was premiered by 
Tin-shi Tam during the Festival. The next Spring Carillon Festival
and  Carillon Composition
Competition  will be held from
April 24-26, 1998. Guest carillonneur will be Albert Gerken, University
Carillonneur  at University of
Kansas, Lawrence.

II. Junior High Keyboard Camp

The Fifth Annual Keyboard Explorations junior high school
summer music camp was hosted by the Iowa State University Music Department from
July 7-12, 1997. Participants had the opportunity to learn about various kinds
of keyboard instruments and had hands-on experiences in playing them. Seven
participants studied carillon under ISU Carillonneur, Tin-shi Tam. Two carillon
concerts were performed by students towards the end of the week.

III. 1998 Carillon Composition Competition

Iowa State University has announced the Carillon Composition
Competition '98. The purpose of the competition is to encourage the writing of
original carillon compositions by composers under age 35. The submitted work
shall be an original composition for four-octave carillon (tenor C to C4), with
a two-octave pedal board (tenor C to C2). The composition may be a solo, duet
for one carillon, or a work for carillon with one or more other instruments or
chorus. The submitted composition must be postmarked no later than March 31,
1998. For more information contact the University Carillonneur at Iowa State
University; Music Department; 149 Music Hall; Ames, IA 50011; phone:
515/294-2911, e-mail: tstam@iastate. edu or web-site: www.music.iastate.edu

Bell information requested

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Belgian
Carillon School, a festschrift will be published. Marc Van Bets is preparing a
paper on Mechelen bellfounders for this book. He requests reports on all
Mechelen bells that currently are, or ever have been, in
style="mso-spacerun: yes">  North America. Such bells would have
been brought by Capuchin monks who came to North America as missionaries. All
bells are included in the scope of the paper: carillon, church, tolling,
ornamental, etc. All information is welcome, such as the function of the bell,
measurements, pitch, anecdotes, photos. Please contact Marc Van Bets; Ridder
Dessainlaan 27; 2800 Mechelen; Belgium. Phone: (0112)32.15.42.38.52. Fax:
(011)32.15.43.17.07. Email: [email protected]

1998 Queen Fabiola Competition

Since its founding in 1922 the Royal Carillon School
"Jef Denyn" in Mechelen, Belgium, has fostered a greater blossoming
of the carillon art. Toward this end, the school established the Queen Fabiola
International Carillon Competition in 1987. This competition has grown rapidly,
becoming the most important of its kind and providing a strong stimulus for the
recognition of the carillon art as a high-quality artistic expression.

The winners of the first three competitions were: Geert
D'hollander of Belgium in 1987; Boudewijn Zwart of The Netherlands, in 1990;
and Gideon Bodden of The Netherlands, in 1993.

The fourth Queen Fabiola Competition will take place August
5-9, 1998. Carillonneurs from around the world are invited to take part. There
is no age limit. After an elimination round, a maximum of six competitors will
be selected for the finals. Judging will be done by an international jury.

The candidates are required to present nine pieces of a high
virtuosic level: three baroque, three romantic, and three contemporary pieces.
The romantic and contemporary selections must be original carillon compositions
and not transcriptions. One of the baroque pieces must be a carillon prelude
written by Matthias van den Gheyn. In addition, there will be an obligatory
piece.

The school's 1997 international composition competition
brought 21 entries from seven countries: Belgium, The Netherlands, Australia,
The USA, Spain, Russia, and Sweden. Performance of the winning composition will
be required for participants in the Queen Fabiola Competition. Winners of the
composition competition will be announced once registration for the Fabiola
Competition is closed.

During the competition, the participants perform on the new
carillon in the St. Rombouts tower. This instrument was founded by Koninklijke
Eijsbouts in 1981. It is tuned in equal temperament and consists of 49 bells;
the bourdon sounds F and weighs eight tons.

The first-prize winner will receive 100,000 BF, a bronze
bell, a certificate, and a concert tour in Belgium  in 1999. Five additional prizes with cash awards will be
given. The SABAM prize of 25,000 BF will be awarded for the best interpretation
of a contemporary Flemish carillon composition, and an additional 25,000 BF
will reward the best improvisation. Participants should send their completed
applications to the Royal Carillon School "Jef Denyn"
style="mso-spacerun: yes">  before April 30, 1998. After their
repertoire has been approved, the full list of regulations and practical
information will be sent to each competitor. The obligatory piece will be sent
to the participants two months before the beginning of the competition.
Participants are granted a per diem of 1000 BF for as long as they take part in
the competition.

For information and applications, contact
style="mso-spacerun: yes">  the Royal Carillon School "Jef
Denyn"; Frederik de Merodestraat 63; 2800 Mechelen; Belgium. Phone:
32.15.20.47.92. Fax: 32.15.20.31.76.

McLellan appointed at MSU

Ray McLellan has been appointed University Carillonneur at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. His responsibilities include playing weekly recitals, teaching carillon and organ, coordinating and
producing the MSU Summer Carillon Recital Series. Ray studied carillon with
Margo Hal-sted at the University of Michigan and with Todd Fair at the
Netherlands Carillon School. He earned the Bachelor of
style="mso-spacerun: yes">  Arts degree at Florida Southern College
in Lakeland and the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at the
University of Michigan. He also studied on full scholarship at the
Pädagogische Hochschule in Freiburg, Germany. Besides the position at MSU,
Dr. McLellan continues in his church and temple positions.

Brian Swager is carillon editor of THE DIAPASON.

Sixth International Queen Fabiola Carillon Competition
Since its foundation in 1922, the Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn” in Mechelen, Belgium, has been involved in the support and development of the art of carillon playing. As part of this effort, the school organizes the international Queen Fabiola Carillon Competition in cooperation with the city of Mechelen. This competition, widely recognized as the most prestigious of its kind, provides a powerful stimulus for the recognition of carillon playing as an artistic expression of the highest level.
The winners of the previous competitions have acquired international fame:
1987 - Geert D’hollander
1990 - Boudewijn Zwart
1993 - Gideon Bodden
1998 - Tom Van Peer
2003 - Twan Bearda.
The sixth international Queen Fabiola Carillon Competition will take place on September 10–14, 2008. Carillonneurs from all over the world are invited to participate; there is no age limit. Candidates should submit nine compositions of a high degree of virtuosity: three baroque or classical works, one of them being a prelude by Matthias Vanden Gheyn; three romantic works originally composed for carillon; and three contemporary works also originally composed for carillon. Candidates must send one copy of each score along with their application. These scores may not show any references or indications from which the name or the nationality of the participant could be traced. An obligatory work is to be performed in the elimination round and in the finals.
All performances will be played on the new carillon in the tower of St. Rombouts in Mechelen. It was cast by Royal Eijsbouts, Asten, the Netherlands, in 1981. This carillon comprises 49 bells: B-flat, C1, D1—chromatic through—C5. The instrument transposes down a fourth: the pitch of C1 is G0. Candidates are offered the opportunity to practice on this instrument as well as on the practice consoles in the carillon school.
The elimination round takes place on Wednesday, September 10 and, if necessary, also on Thursday the 11th. During the elimination round, all candidates will perform three works: the obligatory work, one work chosen by the candidate, and one work chosen by the jury and selected from the candidate’s repertoire. The order of performing is assigned by lot. Performers are unknown to the members of the jury. The five competitors who receive the highest marks will be selected for the finals. Those who are not selected for this final round will receive an allowance of €125.
The finals will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 13–14, 2008, at 7:30 pm. On Saturday, finalists will perform three works chosen by the jury: one baroque or classical, one romantic, and one contemporary. On Sunday, the candidates will perform the obligatory work as the contemporary composition, a baroque or classical work chosen by the jury, and a romantic composition also chosen by the jury.
First Prize: €3000, Prize of the Minister of Culture of the Flemish Government
Second Prize: €2000, Prize of the Province of Antwerp
Third Prize: €1500, Prize of the City of Mechelen and the Mechelen City Guides League
Fourth Prize: €1300, Prize of the City of Roeselare and the Royal Tower and Carillon Society “Jef Denyn”
Fifth Prize: €1000, Prize of Mr. A. Jans, honorary president of the Archeological Society and Mr. P. van den Broek, honorary director of the carillon school
Extra Prize: €1000, Prize of SABAM for the best interpretation of a Belgian contemporary work.
Applicants should send their curriculum vitae with a suitable photograph, the nine scores, and the choice of which work they will perform in the elimination round before May 15 to the Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn,” Frederik de Merodestaat 63, B-2800 Mechelen, Belgium.
The organizers may refuse any submissions that do not meet the required standards. No appeal against their decision is possible. After approval by the organizers, candidates will receive a confirmation and additional practical guidelines.

Brian Swager is a contributing editor of THE DIAPASON.

Chesman appointed

Jeremy Chesman has been appointed University Carillonneur and Instructor of Music at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. He will develop and direct a carillon program and teach music theory. Additionally, he will serve as staff accompanist.

The carillon, installed in August, is a 48-bell instrument cast by the Royal Eijsbouts Foundry in Asten, The Netherlands. The bourdon, a C3, weighs 4850 pounds. The instrument is chromatic for four octaves, excluding the lowest C-sharp.

Mr. Chesman holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Michigan, in organ and carillon, respectively. He is currently studying at the Royal Carillon School in Mechelen, Belgium, on a fellowship from the Belgian American Educational Foundation. His primary carillon teachers include Margo Halsted, Todd Fair, and Eddy Mariën.

Carillon study at the Lemmens Institute, Leuven, Belgium

The Lemmens Institute opened in Mechelen, Belgium, in 1879, founded by Flemish organist and composer Jaak Nikolaas Lemmens (1823–1881). Lemmens is remembered by organists for his revolutionary pedal technique which, through his students Guilmant and Widor, had a significant impact on French romantic organ music. His method book, Ecole d'orgue basée sur le plain-chant romain, emphasized the importance of pedal technique as well as manual technique and was adopted by the Paris Conservatory among others.  Lemmens founded the Institute as a school of church music, basing the curriculum on the study of Gregorian chant and the organ.

The Lemmens Institute moved to the famous university town of Leuven (Louvain) and has developed into a broader school of music offering training in all musical disciplines: all instruments, voice, theory, music education, music therapy, jazz, and theater. Carillon study is also possible at the Institute, and because of its status as a department of the "Hogeschool voor Wetenschap en Kunst" it offers a Master's Degree in Carillon.

Each student's curriculum is designed individually and includes a broad range of related disciplines. The aim of the course of study at the Institute is the total development of the musician as opposed to focusing solely on an instrument. Carillon students can also study another instrument such as organ.

The carillon curriculum consists of:

* Bachelor's Degree (3 years): courses in harmony, music theory, history, analysis, carillon playing, etc.

* Master's Degree (2 years): improvisation, arranging, campanology, etc.

Post-graduate courses are available.

The carillon department has a lively exchange program with the Netherlands Carillon School in Amersfoort.

Partners of the Lemmens Institute in the Erasmus Program for carillon are the Academy of the Arts, Utrecht, The Netherlands, and the Academy of Music, Gdansk, Poland. This program offers the student the opportunity of specialized study in any of the three academies. For example, a student could spend a term studying baroque performance practice on carillon with Bernard Winsemius in Amersfoort or learning about arranging music for carillon and brass ensembles from Carl Van Eyndhoven.

General information:

Lemmensinstituut

Herestraat 53

3000 Leuven

Belgium

Tel :+32 / 16 23 39 67

Fax: +32 / 16 22 24 77

www.lemmens.be

Information about carillon studies:

Carl Van Eyndhoven

Tel: +32 476 337 330

e-mail: [email protected]

Carillon composition competition

2002 is the 400th anniversary of the formation of the Dutch East India Trading Company, or VOC (from the Dutch, Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie).  Chartered on 20 March 1602, the VOC monopolized trade with the East Indies.  It was a coalition of a number of small, independent trading companies, all operating out of The Netherlands. During its 200-year history, the VOC became the largest company of its kind, trading spices like nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and pepper, and other consumer products like tea, silk, and Chinese porcelain. Its factories and trade centers were world famous: Desjima in Japan, Mokha in Yemen, Surat in Persia, and Batavia, the company's headquarters on Java. The new company was given extensive powers by the government of The Netherlands, including the rights to enter into treaties, to maintain military forces, and to produce coinage, as well as powers of government and justice. By the second half of the seventeenth century, the VOC had established Cape Town, South Africa, as an important place for replenishing its ships with essentials such as water, fresh fruit and vegetables.

To celebrate this momentous event many activities are planned in the six Dutch cities that make up the former VOC: Amsterdam, Middelburg, Rotterdam, Delft, Hoorn, and Enkhuizen. In addition to a week of carillon recitals given by the carillonneurs of these cities, the organization The Carillon Of Hoorn has organized a carillon composition competition.

Songs from that era were selected by a musicologist, and they will form the basis for each composition. Included are songs such as "Sailor's Farewell," "A Veritable and Pitiful Tale," and "A Vagabond Song." A complete set of these works will be sent on request.

The prize winner will receive 4000 Dutch guilders. The composition will be the required piece for the performance competition to be held in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, on 22 July 2002. Along with the winning composition, five or six of the best remaining works will be published and may also be played during the carillon week.

Competition rules and information

1. The keyboards of both Hoorn and Enkhuizen are: G, B-flat, C, D, chromatic to D5 (52 notes).

2. A composer may submit multiple works but only one will be awarded a prize.

3. The work should be based on one of the VOC songs without necessarily following them note-for-note.

4. A list of songs is available from: Frits Reynaert, Zuiderhavendijk 40, 1601 JC Enkhuizen, The Netherlands; phone: 0228 317816;

<[email protected]>

5. Duration of the piece should be between six and nine minutes.

6. Form and style is left to the composer.

7. The composition should be playable on meantone instruments.

8. The jury consists of Peter Bremer, chairman Wim Franken, Geert Bierling, Carl van Eijndhoven, and Mathieu Dijker. Frits Reynaert is the non-voting secretary.

9. The jury will judge for originality, musicality and suitability for carillon.

10. The jury has the right to award no prize as well as splitting the prize.

11. To ensure impartiality, no identifying marks may be placed on the score.

12. The identity of the winner will only be made known at the end of the competition.

13. Composers should send in six good clean readable copies (no originals please). Deadline is 1 April 2002 to Frits Reynaert. In a separate letter the composer should give their name and address, the title of the piece, and a short curriculum vitae.

14. The winner agrees to all of the rules of the competition which include publication of the winning piece.

15. The winner will be notified on 1 May.

Send items for "Carillon News" to Dr. Brian Swager, c/o The Diapason, 380 E. Northwest Hwy., Suite 200, Des Plaines, IL 60016-2282. For information on the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America, write to: GCNA, 37 Noel Dr., Williamsville, NY 14221.

CALL FOR PAPERS AND PERFORMANCES

The Historical Keyboard Society of North America (HKSNA) and the Schulich School of Music of McGill University (Montreal, Canada) are pleased to invite submissions of proposals for the Fourth Annual Meeting of HKSNA:

“French Connections: Networks of Influence and Modes of Transmission of French Baroque Keyboard Music”

The conference will be held at the Schulich School of Music, McGill University, from May 21 to 24, 2015.