What is a carillon? "A Carillon Is..." (2nd edition)

[ANDREWLEONARDSMITH]

I assume that carillions that use Pneumatic actions are attached to or form part of the specification of a pipe organ,as it needs wind in order to function As there are examples of pipe organs that incoporate a carillion in their specification but this is usually only 1 or 2 octaves at the most and in most cases use tubular chimes or small brass bells of handbell size size due to space limitations.

[ANDREWLEONARDSMITH]

I assume that carillions that use Pneumatic actions are attached to or form part of the specification of a pipe organ,as it needs wind in order to function As there are examples of pipe organs that incoporate a carillion in their specification but this is usually only 1 or 2 octaves at the most and in most cases use tubular chimes or small brass bells of handbell size due to space limitations.

[ANDREWLEONARDSMITH]

The mechanism that operates a carillion is the same as the mechanical tracker action used in some pipe organs.As with the organ do some modern carillions use electric action where the Bells are struck by solonoids operated from a normal keyboard.

[quasimodo2]

@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH - THis is what John Gouwens answered, I quote (part I):

There are indeed some “carillon-sized bell instruments” that use solenoids (or in a few cases pneumatic actions) to operate the bells, in some cases applied for the automatic action of a traditional carillon, in other cases in lieu of the traditional carillon keyboard.

[quasimodo2]

@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH This is what John Gouwens answered, I quote (Part II):

While a few – really very few – of the electric or pneumatic actions applied to bells are set up to provide some dynamic contrast, none approach the range of dynamics and character of sound that a skilled carillonneur can produce. In that sense, the distinction is very different from an electro-pneumatic organ.

[quasimodo2]

@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH This is what Carl S Zimmerman answered: I quote (part I):

There is one instance (that I know of) in North America where a baton keyboard operates an electric action rather than a tracker action. That is one of the two sets of bells in The Tennessee Bicentennial Bells, Nashville, Tennessee. (See gcna.org/data/TNNASHT1.htm)

[quasimodo2]

@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH This is what Carl S Zimmerman answered: I quote (Part II):

Although the electric action is supposed to be velocity-sensitive, experienced carillonneurs who have tried this instrument (following the Guild Congress at Sewanee) could not hear (or make!) any significant difference in the sound of the bells. Our conclusion was that the experiment was interesting but not successful.

[quasimodo2]

@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH This is what Carl S Zimmermann answered: I quote (Part III):

That electric action works well in organs but not with bells should not be surprising. Organ pipes speak only one way, with air at constant pressure, so all volume control must be done with swell boxes. (Tracker action can theoretically yield some very small variation in attack, but has no advantage thereafter.)

[quasimodo2]

@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH This is what Carl S Zimmermann answered: I quote (Part IV):

The volume of sound from a bell is highly variable depending on the velocity with which the clapper strikes, and electric actions have not yet been able to reproduce the full range of that variation, much less provide control of such variation to the player in the manner that the baton + tracker action does.

[quasimodo2]

@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH This is what Jeff Davis answered: I quote:

Grace Cathedral has this Marc. It is played from a small electric keyboard inside the cathedral. I can't imagine that the brutal force with which the solonoids drive the clappers to the bell isn't, over time, damaging to the bells.

Jeff

[jaxxstraw]

A beautiful sounding intstrument that does indeed bring joy and enrichment into our lives. That is what music and art give the world.

[PureDanceFTW]

I am a carilloner and i plat the carillon!

[MsFishty]

Wow! I really enjoyed this video. Would love to see more. It reminds me of our carillon in 'Cobh Bells'.

[NatterK]

Does anybody know if there is an automated carillon active (or still functionable) that predates the introduction of the Jacquard loom? One from the 18th century or earlier? And are there any videos, pictures or articles about them, if in existance?

[KeepDeltaMyDelta]

I'd love to play this on my carillon. Do you know where I'd be able to order the music?

[renatonovis]

would be perfect in a gothic band *__*

[Mumriken]

Doesn't it hurt when you use your fists like that on the keys? It looks like they smack them quite hard!

[quasimodo2]

@Mumriken Hi Mumriken. Compare it with hammering a nail, you move the hammer up and down but at the end of the movement its the hammer that hits the nail, in our case here we push gentle the key down with our pink finger (it looks as if we "bang" but we absorb the inertia by turning our wrists). At the moment the clapper hits the bell, we are allready on our way to next key. To understand better the movement in slow motion: take a basketball and bounce it between your hand and the ground.

[Towncarguy52]

Utterly fascinating!

[disturbanite8]

What a dark ambient instrument. Love it!

[Zylstra555]

And now I know! I wish we had these in our area. Thank you.

[Raiderhater1013]

Very good, I have never heard a better recording of a carillon or glockenspiel as I know it. Very well done, and a great instrament, it's amazing to listen to this in person.

[Kylyx]

how can i become a carillonneur? im brazilian.

[quasimodo2]

@Kylyx (1) you need a carillon. Brasil has 2 carillons: Sao Paulo, Cathedral Metropolitano (Catedral da Se) ; Vila Formosa, Igreja Nossa Senhora Sagrada Coracao. (2) learn to play. One of possibilities is going to the Carillon School in Mechelen (Belgium). Try to fly over to Europe twice a year for one or two weeks and get course from morning till evening. Normal studies take 6 years for diploma. Depending your progress it can take less or more. Good luck!

[organistpeter]

Das ist ja echt der Hammer! Wirklich klasse gespielt!

[KNJ1966]

Thank you! I am an elementary school music teacher. My student read about the carillon and heard a recording, but this brings it to life for them.

[duidelijkluid]

Mooi filmpje ! De Vlaamse beiaardkunst ten voeten uit !

[TheEternalTriumphant]

Great video up until the "we are the world" platitudes at the end. I doubt there are many blacks who'd feel particularly "enriched" by a carillon. It's a product of European culture and, while visiting blacks may find it impressive, to bring them as a lame attempt to "unite us all" under the bell of the carillon is ridiculous. Like they'd give a crap. Neither does it make much of a difference to the poor, either. When you're poor, you don't give a shit about a bunch of stupid bells. Get serious.

[quasimodo2]

Thanx four your comment. Imagine you are sick, black, poor, non-european and almost dying, and the carillonneur is playing the song you danced on your wedding day. It might give you 3 minutes of joy, forgetting all your misery and pain... and hours later you still have that song in your mind... That is what we offer your for free... and if you don't give a shit about the carillon, it is OK. Carillonneurs just play 1 hour a week. Busses will make more noice than the carillon in a week's.

[thecritiquevirtuoso]

@TheEternalTriumphant

Tell me, are you an American Republican?

[CrabOfDoom]

@TheEternalTriumphant - there ARE black Europeans, dude. We also have both a large black population and a carillon park in Dayton, Ohio. It's very much a part of the city and its heritage, even if that heritage doesn't go back a thousand years.

Carillon bells are a form of music, like any other. Music is a universal language and is often the only free pleasure poor neighborhoods have. Almost all of the pioneers of rock and roll were poor people who gave a shit about music, whatever form it took

[quesondriac]

@TheEternalTriumphant What about all the blacks who visit Bok Tower in Wales Florida.

Oh right. You didn't know about that, you ignorant close minded racist.

[leakesonasucs]

i own one

[Cindermakers]

Which is the first piece?

[quasimodo2]

Preludium in d, written for carillon by Staf Nees.

[Cindermakers]

Which is the first piece?

[Zvonarnasjagospodja]

Interessante en heldere video. Hoog op de gele wagen speelt Jo Haazen erg virtuoos. KLASSE !!!!

[SailorBarsoom]

Very cool. The world's first "heavy metal" music!

[brit3535]

Well I never knew any of that. They say you should learn something new every day. I think I have a few days banked up .Thanks for doing the 2nd edition. The first edition looked good. Shame it was destroyed.

[paulbrockenhagen]

My first experiance with a carillon was at Stone Mountain, GA. I belive it has an impressive 732 bells!!

[kempedkemp]

This Haazen fellow is phenominal. I have always loved the bells. My church growing up had a small carillon of 13 bells. I got to practice and play at City Hall of Albany NY which has 49 bells. Carillons ARE GREAT!

[tonbraas]

Dit is een prachtige video. Instructief en animerend. Goed gemonteerd. En doordat er ditmaal steeds beiaardmuziek te horen is, is deze versie nog veel beter dan de eerste (die ook al erg goed was). Veel dank.

[Cheesetubes]

There is one of these right by where i live.. "Bournville Carillon bells"

[robertgift]

WONDERFUL!

DELIGHTFUL!

INFORMATIVE!

Now get rid of the lousy music in "1st Edition".

It would then be nice, too.

[cwbellman]

awesome video great job on explaining what a carillon is all about and the deep rooted history

[CaptainMonroe]

This is a very excellent video about something we love so much.