KULTURE
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9. 2005 6A
Far above the Golden Valley
Student carillon players take advantage of the unique opportunity to play atop the Campanile
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Morrissey hits the last notes of the Alma Mater, high above the busy college world below, slaps a high-five with her classmate Anna Temple, and smiles out the window that overlooks The University of Kansas. She then turns a page, studies the notes for a quick second, takes a deep breath and resumes her pounding. Morrissey now plays "Toccata for 42 Bells," and her body moves in sync with the notes — slower, then faster; harder, then softer, as Temple watches.
Erin Morrissey gracefully pounds her fists on the large keys of one of the most outstanding musical instruments on campus. While no one can actually see the Portland, Ore., senior playing the instrument, the entire campus can hear her perfectly striking each note. Morrissey is playing the KU Alma Mater on the carillon, the 53-bellied instrument housed at the top of the Campanile.
Pronounced "kare-eh-lon," the instrument has four octaves in range and is played live weekdays, during holidays, for special concerts, graduation and for some on-campus weddings. The carillon's quarterly tolls are mechanical, but the songs played at noon and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday are not. Students such as Morrissey play them live four days a week.
"I like it when nobody knows it's me playing." Morrissey said.
As Morrissey's arms and fists rhythmically thrust keys resembling rolling pins, she hits each one with a different amount of force. The weights of the bells vary, and the heavier the bell, the more force is needed. Striking one key with a certain pressure, the next key with a little more pressure, and so on is the key to keeping the campus-wide sound smooth.
"It's not a hard instrument to play, but it is
a hard one to play well," Temple, Seneca senior, said.
Temple watches her classmate play, nodding her head along with the harmony, and at once they both laugh. Morrissey missed a note, but she's immediately back on track, harmonizing the heavier bells with the lighter ones in one balanced performance to complete the piece.
"I enjoy being able to make music that has such a spirit of community behind it," Walter said.
to complete the ppt. Morrissey and Temple are two of about 10 students who play and study the carillon each semester. Elizabeth Berghout, University Carillonneur, teaches carillon classes in the School of Fine Arts, at levels 100, 300 and 621. Students of any major may study the carillon, whether they're undergraduate or graduate students.
Lara Walter, Stephenville, Texas graduate student, said Berghout sold her on the idea of studying the carillon, and she had no regrets.
Walter said her musical performances could add to the environment surrounding the carillon and the Campanile. She said the music was regularly associated with Potter Lake, napping or sledding on the hill, walking to class, and Memorial Stadium. Walter described the impact of the music she plays as "immediate" and said she liked being so close to all the traditions and superstitions related to the Campanile.
Both Walter and Temple said they hoped to continue playing the carillon in the future. Walter has visited carillons all over the country, meeting other carillonneurs and playing different carillon instruments. Each carillon is a little different, depending
SEE ABOVE ON PAGE 4A
Erin Morrissey, Portland senior, plays the KU alma mater on the carillon, a stationary set of chromatically tuned bells, in the Campanile every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Morrissey has played the carillon since August 2004. Each of the 53 bells for the carillon were cast in Loughborough, England, at the John Taylor Bell Foundry. The bells arrived by railroad car in Lawrence on May 1, 1951. The total weight for all of the bells is more than 36 tons. There are 30 foot pedals on the carillon. The layout of the pedals are similar to the layout of the keys on a piano. Unlike a piano the carillon is usually played by using closed fists to hit the keys. The springs are part of the connection between the pedals and the keys. The springs allow the pedals, once pushed down, to come back to their original position.
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