“It’s from the bells up there”

Have you ever heard songs like “Over the Rainbow,” or the theme to “Harry Potter” being played in harmonious melody around campus? Yes, it is “from the bells up there.” And you would wonder if someone played that, or the songs are played by "computer.” The fact is they are usually played by AU carillonneur, Professor Laurel Buckwalter, or students who are taking the carillon lessons.

The musical instrument is made up of different bells, but is called the carillon. The carillon is composed of at least 23 carillon bells, arranged in chromatic sequence, so tuned as to produce concordant harmony when many bells are sounded together.

It is played from a keyboard that allows expression through variation of touch. The keys are struck with a half-closed hand. In addition, the larger bells are connected to foot pedals. It is fair to say that the carillon is a larger version of the piano; the difference is that there are bars which the carillon players need to hit and use their hands to pull the string and hit the bell, instead of playing on a keyboard with both hands.

AU’s carillon has 47 bells. The largest weights 3,850 lbs. and the smallest weighs 20 lbs. In the 1930s, a group of alumni headed by AU Biology professor Lloyd Watson decided to purchase a carillon for the university to honor past president, Boothe Colwell Davis and wife, Estelle. A set of 35 old bells arrived in 1937. AU was told that 18 of the bells were casted by the famous Pieter Hemony, one by Andreas Van den Gheyn and 16 by Joris Dumery. The bells were casted from bell bronze.

With the leadership of Muriel Polan Baber, ’40, and the generosity of several other individuals, an endowment for the maintenance and enhancement was started, now worth $27,000. This endowment, in memory of Muriel’s brother, Dighton Polan, ’43, who was killed in World War II, has funded resurfacing of the open platform roof that was leaking, removal of two rotted ceilings and repainting of some areas.

Most carillon players (caller carillonneurs or carillonists) have a piano or organ background. At AU, professor Buckwalter is largely self-taught, having had a few lessons from the previous carillonneur Joanne Droppers, and a few from a teacher coming to Alfred to perform in the summer. There are two students taking the carillon course this semester. As Alfred does not have a functional practice console, which costs about $35,000, practices are done on the tower and heard by the community.

AU Carillon is played on Saturday from 4 pm to 5 pm throughout the year, except over Christmas break, in August, and when the temperature is a bit too cold. Students taking the course also play the carillon every other day. There will be a recital session on either Wednesday, Dec. 8 or Thursday, Dec. 9 at 12 pm by the students who are taking this course this semester. Further information will be posted in MyAlfred.

Alfred is one of the few schools that has a traditional carillon; the carillon adds peace and harmony to this small community. Next time you hear the Alfred Alma Mater over campus, enjoy it and be proud of it.