MSU Carillon and Beaumont Tower
About the Instrument | History of Beaumont Tower & Carillon
Carillonneurs & Assistant Carillonneurs | Music Samples | 2008 Concerts | Tours
About the Instrument
 A carillon is a musical instrument consisting of at least two octaves of carillon bells arranged in chromatic series and played from a keyboard that permits control of expression through variation of touch.
The carillon was developed in the 15th and 16th centuries in the area of Europe that is now Holland, Belgium, and Northern France. Presently, there are about 170 carillons in the United States with new ones being installed each year. Presently there are 13 carillons in Michigan.
The MSU carillon, which is housed in Beaumont Tower, contains 49 bells and is capable of playing the full range of literature composed for the instrument. The first 10 bells were installed in the newly erected Beaumont Tower in 1928, and 13 additional bells were installed so that the instrument became a carillon in 1935. The largest bell weighs two and one-half tons and the smallest bell weighs in at 15 pounds. The carillon and the tower were completely renovated in 1996.
The carillon keyboard is located on the fourth floor of the tower, up near the bells. To play the bells, the carillonneur's loosely closed fists strike the wooden keys and the carillonneur's feet depress the foot pedals. When the keys and pedals are depressed, wires move the clappers to hit the bells and the bells sound. The more force used in moving the clappers the louder the bells sound. There is only mechanical assistance involved in playing music on the instrument. A carillon practice keyboard is located on the ground floor of the tower. Some of the bells also have a hammer on the outside and these bells. When activated by a computer, they strike the Westminster Quarters every 15 minutes during the day.
Music Samples
1) Fight Song (Wendell Westcott, recorded January 17, 1999)
2) Shadows (Wendell Westcott, recorded May 30, 1998)
12th Annual Muelder Summer Carillon Series 2008
All concerts will be on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.
July 2---Carlo van Ulft, Centralia, Illinois
July 9---Ray McLellan, University Carillonneur, MSU
July 16--David Hunsberger, Berkeley, CA
July 23--Lee Cobb, Lake Wales, FL
July 30 -Sally Harwood & Patricia Johannes, Assistant Carillonneurs, MSU
The tower will be open for tours following the recitals.
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