Restored Burton Tower carillon will ring out again on University of Michigan campus
Steve Pepple photo | AnnArbor.com
The carillon’s original bells, installed in 1936 and almost sent to the scrap yard after a 1974 renovation, have been restored and reinstalled along with the carillon’s original keyboard, which was discovered in the possession of a world famous Egyptologist and supporter of organ and carillon music at the university.
The university will mark the carillon’s restoration and 75th anniversary with a series of concerts Tuesday afternoon and evening, capped by a 10 p.m. performance by Steven Ball, the University of Michigan carillonneur.
It was Ball who, recognizing the “irreplaceable musical quality” of the original bells saved them from the scrap heap and found the keyboard in the possession of Egyptologist James Harris, the university said in a press release. Harris donated the keyboard back to the university after Ball contacted him.
University of Michigan photo
The carillon, housed in Burton Tower on the University of Michigan Central Campus, was donated in 1936 by Charles Baird, a U-M alumnus and former athletic director.
The carillon is controlled by a keyboard of wooden levers and pedals, played with the fists and the feet. Each lever connects to a hammer inside a bell. When the lever is depressed, the hammer strikes the bell and rings it. No computers or electricity is involved.
The University of Michigan added a second carillon, the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Carillon on North Campus in 1996.
Burton Tower, which besides the carillon, houses classrooms and offices for the School of Music,, has also recently undergone renovations. Last fall, the university began repairing stonework and replacing metal flashing on the tower and repairing the metal framework supporting the carillon. Those repairs necessitated stopping the tower’s clock, but it has since been restarted.
The schedule of events Tuesday is as follows:
Noon: All bells in the city of Ann Arbor will ring, followed by carillon recitals at Burton Memorial Tower by Jim Fackenthal, by Bill DeTurk at 2 p.m., and Lyn Fuller at 4 p.m. 4:30 p.m.: Lecture on “The History of the Organ in the Motion Picture Theater” at Michigan Theater:
5 p.m.: Showing of “The Casting of the Baird Carillon” (1936) and “The Back Page” (1936), at the Michigan Theater
6 p.m.: Carillon recital at Burton Memorial Tower by Carrie Poon
7 p.m.: Grand opening of the new exhibit on bells at Hill Auditorium
10 p.m.: “The Phantom of the Opera,” performed at Burton Tower by Steven Ball
All events are free and open to the public. The Burton Memorial Tower deck and chamber will be open to the public during the day, from noon to midnight, except during performances and again immediately after the film.
Comments
SemperFi
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 8 p.m.
I'm pleased to see that the clock is working again. Being correct more than twice a day is important. Mostly, I'll enjoy hearing the performances of the carilloneurs. Yay!
Jojo B
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 3:33 p.m.
Non-controversial articles don't generate many comments, but I just want to say WONDERFUL NEWS! I can't wait to hear the bells back in action. I always enjoyed hanging out in the mall area during my lunch to hear the daily little concert. It makes working in the downtown A2/UM area wonderful.
Bob Bethune
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 1:34 p.m.
Through the balmy air of night How they ring out their delight! From the molten-golden notes, And an in tune, What a liquid ditty floats To the turtle-dove that listens, while she gloats On the moon! Oh, from out the sounding cells, What a gush of euphony voluminously wells! How it swells! How it dwells On the Future! how it tells Of the rapture that impels To the swinging and the ringing Of the bells, bells, bells, Of the bells, bells, bells,bells, Bells, bells, bells- To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells!
arborani
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 9:30 p.m.
Poetent!