Abstract:

From a single bell thousands of years ago to a modern carillon of up to seven octaves, bell sounds and bell music have fascinated, informed, regulated, and entertained the people within their sphere. The talk will concentrate on the Western traditions of marking the hours, signaling, banishing evil spirits, enriching market place activity, and filling the air with the distinctive and sometimes complicated sounds of a carillon concert. Slides and recordings will illustrate the instruments and the music.