Carillon News

Brian Swager is carillon editor of THE DIAPASON.

Call for papers
The 16th congress of the World Carillon Federation will be held July 13–17, 2008, in Groningen, the Netherlands. Proposals for lectures during the upcoming congress are now invited. Subjects for lectures must be related to the carillon. The maximum allotted speaking time is 30 minutes. The proposal should consist of an outline describing the thesis and conclusion of the lecture, not to exceed one half page. The complete text of the lecture must be available two months before the congress begins. The theme of the congress is “theme with variations.” The program committee will make a selection from all entries received. Applicants will be informed about this choice before March 1, 2008. Proposals are due before January 31, 2008, and should be sent to: Adolph Rots, Rijksweg 87, 9918 PD Garrelsweer, the Netherlands; +31 (596) 57 18 23; <[email protected]>.

Live carillon webcasts from Iowa State
Iowa State University carillon concerts are now being broadcast live on the Internet. Audiences can listen to and view the recitals online. Daily 20-minute recitals are performed Monday through Friday at 11:50 am (Central Time), when class is in session. Special concerts are scheduled throughout the semester. Tin-shi Tam is the university carillonneur. Recital programs, schedule, and the webcast link are available at <http://www.music.iastate.edu/carillon&gt;.

Kaliningrad: a third carillon for Russia
In 2001, St. Petersburg’s first carillon, with 51 bells, was installed in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. The occasion was the 300th anniversary of the city, and the initiative was supported by 355 sponsors from various countries. This revived the carillon tradition that was imported into Russia by Czar Peter the Great in the 18th century after he had become so enchanted by the carillons of the Low Countries.
In 2005, St. Petersburg was blessed with a second carillon, which was hung in the Cavalry Tower in the Peterhof. The first bell bears the name of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the second bell was a gift from the Minister of Culture of the Flemish Community in Belgium.
In the meantime, a third city has become a candidate for a carillon, namely Kaliningrad, formerly known as Königsberg. Kaliningrad is not only an important seaport, but is also the birthplace of the famous philosopher Immanuel Kant. The administration of the carillon project will be handled by the Immanuel Kant Foundation, with the support of the Kaliningrad Ministry of Culture and the Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn” of Mechelen, International Institute for the Carillon Art and Cultural Ambassador of Flanders (Belgium).
Kaliningrad is a Russian enclave that borders on the European Community. The city profiles itself as a bridge between Eastern and Western Europe, where cultural exchange and economic affairs are of great importance for promoting good relations between East and West. It is only natural that the carillon art—a quintessential form of social art—can play a role in this.
The carillon will be placed inside the beautifully restored cathedral, a rare arrangement beneath Gothic vaults. It will be a four-octave instrument with 51 bells. The intention is to create a real concert instrument that is capable of being played along with the extant organs and even with orchestra—a real first!
Sponsors are being sought to support this project. In recognition of their participation, sponsors may choose a bell, whose inscription will immortalize in bronze their name, their company/business name, or their friends or beloved. Sponsors will be sent photographs of their bell and will be invited to witness a bellfounding as well as the festive inauguration of the carillon in Kaliningrad in 2008.
Further information on the bells, their size, weight, and prices, is available from Jo Haazen, Director; Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn”; Frederik de Merodestraat 63; 2800 Mechelen; Belgium; <[email protected]>.

Send items for “Carillon News” to Dr. Brian Swager, c/o The Diapason, 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025; <[email protected]>. For information on the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America: GCNA, 37 Noel Dr., Williamsville, NY 14221; <www.gcna.org&gt;.

Brian Swager is a contributing editor of THE DIAPASON.

1998 World Congress Report

The 11th Carillon World Congress was held in Mechelen, Belgium, August 9-13, 1998. The welcoming recital was performed in the tower of St. Rombouts Cathedral by Jo Haazen, director of the Royal Belgian Carillon School. Other recitals that day were given by Patrick Macoska (Michigan), Adrian Gebruers (Ireland), Anna Maria Reverté (Spain),  Arie Abbenes (The Netherlands),  Timothy Hurd (New Zealand), Koen Van Assche (Belgium), Adrien Tien (Australia), Erik Vandevoort (Belgium), Xia Hua (China), and Liling Huang (Taiwan). A lecture on "75 Years Royal Carillon School in Mechelen" was given by musicologist Koen Cosaert, an instructor at the school. This was followed by a film, produced by Toshi Sakurai, documenting the school's history. The last two of the six finalists in the Queen Fabiola Competition played in the evening, and we were graced by the presence of Queen Fabiola herself. The winner was Tom Van Peer of Belgium. Second place was awarded to Belgian carillonneur Liesbeth Janssens.

The second day began with a recital by Helen Hawley (Kansas) who exclaimed that "it really was 441 steps up to the cabin in the St. Rombouts tower--there aren't even hills that high in Kansas!" Recitals that day were also given by Jeffrey Bossin (Germany), Frank Müller (Germany), Nico Swaenen (Belgium), Trevor Workman (England), Karel Keldermans (Illinois), and Carlo van Ulft (The Netherlands). Xia Ming Ming, director of the Museum of Antique Bells in Beijing, gave a lecture on bells excavated from the tomb of Zeng Hou Yi, the Marquis of Zeng, and on bells in ancient China. Liling Huang and Xia Hua provided musical intermezzi on traditional Chinese instruments. Alexander Iarechko, president of the Russian Association of Bell Culture, gave a lecture on the art of bell ringing in Russia. The vocal/instrumental trio Zolotoj Pljos from Zaratov, Russia (students at the Belgian Carillon School), performed musical intermezzi of traditional Russian folk music. The day concluded with a concert of carillon with guitar and brass quintet featuring Eddy Mariën (Belgium) on the Busleyden carillon.

Tuesday August 11 was a travel day.  The group first went to Grimbergen where a lovely concert of Gregorian chant was performed by organ and a men's choir inside a church. Once outside, a carillon concert based on Gregorian chant was heard. The concerts were followed by the obligatory drink of beer, and lunch, both offered by the town of Grimbergen. The group then traveled to Holsbeek to visit the Clock-O-Matic Company where lectures on the carillon console were presented. Karel Keldermans explained the standards set forth by the GCNA. Timothy Hurd spoke about his studies of the use of the keyboard, and the Clock-O-Matic representative discussed their data gathered from electronically monitoring the movement of a player's arm during a carillon performance. The day ended with a gala dinner at the Horst Castle on the edge of a lovely wooded lake where we were welcomed by a concert for carillon and concert band.

On Wednesday, the day's activities took place in Louvain, Belgium. Recitalists that day included Ann-Kirstine Christiansen (Denmark) on the University Carillon in Leuven. This carillon has a video system so that performers can be observed by the audience. Rosemarie Seuntiëns (The Netherlands) and Frank Steijns (The Netherlands) performed on a mobile carillon for the lunch hour. Henk Verhoef (The Netherlands) and Andreas Friedrich (Switzerland) performed on a mobile  carillon during the evening meal which was served in the Begijnhof garden. A concert of contemporary music was given by Klaas de Haan (The Netherlands), Brian Swager (California), and Carl Van Eyndhoven (Belgium) on the University Carillon, with each performer playing new Dutch, American, and Belgian carillon music, respectively.  The rest of the day was filled with various lectures which were given in a very warm room in a university building. The evening was reserved for "9 O'Clockworks," a musical happening on the large square facing the University Library. The Ghent bellman walked around the square introducing performances by various bell groups such as Valencian bell tollers, an Indonesian gamelan ensemble, Russian bell ringers, a mobile carillon, and the University Carillon. The happening concluded with a jam session.

David Hunsberger (California) performed the opening recital of the final congress day. Other recitals that day were given by Koen Cosaert (Belgium), Stefano Colletti (France) and Annick Ansselin (Australia). Sjoerd Tamminga (The Netherlands) played on the carillon in St. Peter's Church in Leuven.  Several lectures were presented that day including papers by Margo Halsted (the carillon music of Johannes Volckerick), Brian Swager (the carillon repertory of Gustaaf Brees), and Karel Keldermans (Gillett & Johnston).  A prelude to the closing session was the music of Matthias Van den Gheyn--including two carillon preludes--performed on harpsichord by Frank Agsteribbe (Belgium). Adrian Gebruers (Ireland) was announced as the new president of the World Carillon Federation. An evening of festive performances heralded the unveiling of the city of Leuven's new jacquemart "Meester Jan." Theban trumpets sounded, a mobile carillon and a renaissance brass quintet accompanied a renaissance dance ensemble, Arie Abbenes and Bob van Wely played a duet on the St. Pieters carillon, and the mobile carillon and a vibraphone accompanied ballet dancers in the Nutcracker Suite. An elegant reception in the University Hall was the final event in a most memorable Congress.

Brian Swager is carillon editor of THE DIAPASON.

Nunc Dimittis
From former classmate Frank Steijns, I received word that his father, Mathieu Steijns, passed away at age 75 on February 21. Mathieu Steijns was carillonneur of Maastricht, The Netherlands, from 1952 until 1997, when he was succeeded by his son Frank. Mathieu was also municipal carillonneur of Heerlen, 1969–1995. His earliest music studies were with Benoit J. Franssen, first in the boy choir at the St. Servaas Church and later as a private student. He studied piano, organ, and choral conducting at the Maastricht Conservatory. Besides his carillon posts, he was primarily known as director of the Maastricht Men’s Chorus, the chorus “Crescendo” of Amby, the Parnassus Men’s Chorus in Roermond, and the Gronsveld Oratorio Society.
As a carillonneur, he was known for building bridges, both musically and politically, between the Flemish and Dutch carillon cultures, which, in the 1950s, were diametrically opposed in many regards. He had studied with Staf Nees and Jef van Hoof at the Belgian carillon school, where he received, 50 years ago in 1958, the final diploma with distinction.
For his cultural contributions Mathieu Steijns was recognized by the Order of Orange-Nassau with a Gold Medal of Honor and with the “Trichter” medal from the city of Maastricht.

Send items for “Carillon News” to Dr. Brian Swager, c/o The Diapason, 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025; <[email protected]>. For information on the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America: GCNA, 37 Noel Dr., Williamsville, NY 14221; <www.gcna.org&gt;.

Brian Swager is carillon editor for THE DIAPASON.

A carillonneur is featured in a 2006 murder mystery, Swing by Rupert Holmes (Random House, ISBN: 140006158X). It takes place in 1940 at the height of the big band era. The setting is San Francisco and the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island. Musical clues are provided in an accompanying CD of jazzy numbers.

Richard Watson announces a new website for Meeks, Watson & Company. The bell founding and carillon building firm, based in Georgetown, Ohio, installs both stationary and swinging bells, peals, chimes, and carillons. They also renovate, tune, and recast older instruments; <http://www.mwbells.com/&gt;.

Jill Johnston has written a biography of her father, Cyril F. Johnston, one of the foremost English bellfounders in the first half of the 20th century. She has intertwined her birth circumstances and motivations for writing the book, which inevitably led to her investigations of the bells that her father cast. England’s Child: The Carillon and the Casting of Big Bells is published by Cadmus Editions.

An Eijsbouts mobile carillon has arrived in the USA at Chime Master Systems in Lancaster, Ohio. This carillon comprises four octaves/48 bells. Information and schedule can be found at <mobilemillennium.com>. There is one other mobile carillon in America, a 35-bell instrument built by Petit & Fritsen, played by Frank DellaPenna and his Cast in Bronze. Information and schedule can be found at <castinbronze.com>.

Christoph Paccard Bellfoundries of Charleston, South Carolina has announced that they have become the exclusive representative in the United States for the Paccard Bellfoundry of Annecy, France. Stan Christoph is the president of the new firm. Paccard was formerly represented by the van Bergen Company.

Three record bells have been cast in the last decade. The largest tolling bell in the world was cast in 2006 by the Royal Eijsbouts firm of Asten, the Netherlands. Commissioned by Kiyozaku Shoji for the Tokinosumika park in Gotemba, Japan, the bell weighs 36,250 kg (79,918 lbs), has a diameter of 3.82 meters (12.5 feet), and is 3.72 meters (12.2 feet) high. It sounds a G-sharp. The previous record for a tolling bell was set in 1998 by the Peace Bell cast by the Paccard Bellfoundry of Annecy, France, for the Millennium Monument in Newport, Kentucky. It weighs 33,285 kg (73,381 lbs), has a diameter of 3.7 meters (12.1 feet), and sounds an A. Both bells were too large to be cast in the bellfoundries, so both firms used the facilities of foundries that make ship propellers. Eijsbouts used Wärtsilä in Drunen, the Netherlands, and Paccard used Fonderies de l’Atlantique in Nantes, France. The lowest sounding carillon bell in Europe was cast by Royal Eijsbouts for the carillon of Ghent, Belgium, in May 2008. The Matilde bell was named for Matilde of Portugal, who was Countess of Flanders from 1157 to 1218. The bell sounds E, leaning toward E-flat, just as the entire carillon is closer to A-flat than to A. It weighs a bit more than the 10-ton bourdon of the carillon of Dordrecht, the Netherlands.

Nunc Dimittis
The carillon world was saddened by the passing of two lovely carillonneurs recently. Marilyn Clark was carillonneur of the Church of Our Lady of Good Voyage in Gloucester, Massachusetts. I have many fond memories of Marilyn from visits to play in Gloucester, her visit to Bloomington, Indiana, and carillon congresses. Marilyn was a role model for me, especially in her ability to be so generous with warmth and loving kindness. Sue Magassy of Canberra, Australia, was the first foreign carillonneur to pass the playing examination in order to become a carillonneur member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America. A gregarious character and zealous supporter of the carillon art, she traveled all over the world to attend carillon events.

Send items for “Carillon News” to Dr. Brian Swager, c/o The Diapason, 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025; <[email protected]>. For information on the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America: GCNA, 37 Noel Dr., Williamsville, NY 14221; <www.gcna.org&gt;.

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 for THE DIAPASON.

International Carillon Congress in Michigan
Seven churches and three universities in Michigan will host a joint congress of the World Carillon Federation and the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America from June 26 through July 2. The gathering will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the GCNA, the 75th anniversary of the University of Michigan Baird Carillon, and the start of the next 500 years of the carillon, which originated in the area of Europe that now comprises Belgium, the Netherlands, and northern France. Activities will include recitals on nine carillons as well as other instrumental and ensemble performances, presentations and workshops, business meetings, and social events.
Congress headquarters will be located at Kirk in the Hills, Bloomfield Hills. The Kirk (77-bell Petit & Fritsen carillon) will host all events on Sunday and Monday, while St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic Church (48-bell Eijsbouts carillon) and Christ Church Cranbrook (50-bell Taylor carillon), also in Bloomfield Hills, will be Wednesday and Friday’s venues. Participants will journey to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, on Tuesday, where activities will include a silent film with carillon accompaniment at the Baird Carillon (Taylor, 55 bells) on the central campus, a 75th-anniversary extravaganza recital on the north campus Lurie Carillon (Eijsbouts, 60 bells), a visit to the nearby Kerrytown Chime, and a Pipe Organ Encounter.
Thursday will feature a visit to Detroit to see and hear carillons at St. Mary’s of Redford (Paccard, 51 bells), Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church (Gillett & Johnston, 23 bells), Christ Church Grosse Pointe (Gillett & Johnston, 35 bells), and Grosse Pointe Memorial Church (Gillett & Johnston/Petit & Fritsen, 47 bells). On Saturday, following the previous day’s closing ceremonies, Michigan State University (Gillett & Johnston/Eijsbouts, 49 bells) in East Lansing and Grand Valley State University (Eijsbouts, 48 bells; Paccard, 48 bells) in Grand Rapids will provide open towers.
For further details, see www.gcna.org, www.carillon.org, and Facebook: Carillon Congress 2011.

Send items for “Carillon News” to Dr. Brian Swager, c/o The Diapason, 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025; or e-mail
[email protected]. For information on the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America: www.gcna.org.