Complex Mechanism Runs Carillon
Bv DON PRINGLE
What is a carillon? How is it played? What does it look like?
A carillon slightly resembled the organ and piano. If compared with the piano, then the top row of the clavier or keyboard represents the black keys, the bottom row the white keys. The carillon keys are round tapered oak levers about six inches long. These are struck with the side of the closed fist, the bell clappers swinging as far as the lever goes down.
Wires attached to the clavier keys and foot pedals extend up through the ceiling to the arms of horizontal roller bars. From arms on the bars, opposite each bell, rods extend to the clappers. Counterweights attached on the horizontal bar balance the heavy clapper, enabling it to be swung by a minimum of pressure on the clavier key.
Few carillons in the world are as well tuned as the University carillon, since it was one of the first to be tuned electronically. As all carillons built by John Taylor and company, it was completely assembled and tested in the foundry in England before it was shipped to Lawrence.
The low countries of Europe were the birthplace of the carillon, but the art has spread to the New World in recent times. There are now more than 72 carillons in North America. Only three of these are larger than K.U.'s 53 bell carillon. They are in Riverside church, N.Y. (72 bells), University of Chicago Chapel (72 bells) and Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls, Canada (55 bells).
The clappers swing only two inches or less against the inner rim of the bell. The bells do not move, being anchored to the steel beams.
Ronald M. Barnes, University carillonneur, is probably the best authority in Kansas on carillons. Mr. Barnes, because of his appearance and pleasant manner, is often mistaken for just another student.
Unlike most artists he is unable to fully enjoy his music. Since he plays the carilion in a small room near the top of the campanile just below the bells, he does not hear the full quality of the music.
Mr. Barnes earned his B.M. at the University of Nebraska and his M.A. at Stanford University, Calif. He has had experience playing the carilons of Stanford University; of the Peace Tower, Ottawa, Canada; and of the Congregational church, Lincoln, Neb.
Since almost no carillon music is published, Mr. Barnes must arrange most of the music.
Each chairnellourne comes to have his own special music library which expresses his own tastes, and preferences, and the personality of his carillon. A chairnellourne can give an infinite variety of expression to the bell music, either in soft or loud passages, and impart a personal touch even to the mighty seven ton bourdon or tenor bell.
Mr. Barnes is interested in American folk songs. He has a large library of these and of classical music for the instrument. In the future he plans to make records of the bell music and invite guest carillonneures for concerts several times a year.
The soft steel clappers will gradually wear but stainless steel wires and springs connecting clavier and bells, and the massive steel framework supporting the bells, are almost improvable.
Entrance to the carillon chamber in the campanile is by climbing a narrow, winding, steel stairway. An elevator shaft is contained in the tower but as yet no elevator has been installed.
If ancient European campaniles are a criterion, the concrete and steel Memorial campanile will be standing at least 14 centuries from now.
The first chamber reached contains Mr. Barnes' office and a practice keyboard, an exact duplicate of the actual clavier, only having metal
A special program on the Memorial carillon will be played at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in honor of the meeting in Lawrence of the Kansas Poetry society.
Ballads from the Southeast: "I Wonder as I Wander," "Black Oak Tree," "The Dear Companion," and "Go 'Wav From my Window."
The recital, to be played by Ronald Barnes, carillonneur, will be made up of examples of American folk music.
Western ballads and cowboy songs: "Brown Eyed Lee," "Git Along Little Doggies," "The Streets of Laredo," "Sweet Betsy from Pike," and "I Ride Old Paint."
The program will include:
Recital To Honor Poetry Society
Kentucky fiddle tunes: "Hagan-
town Gals" and "Downfall of Paris."
University Daily Kanson Page 3
An early climax to the program came with her singing of an aria from Verdi's "La Forza del Destino." Miss Farrell proved that she is among the best whether she sings opera, classical or semi-classical music.
Approximately 2000 persons attended the recital of Eileen Farrell Monday evening in Hoch auditorium and not one went home disappointed.
Eileen Farrell Thrills Audience
The varied program presented by the popular vocalist was scarcely a task for her clear, rich voice, and the concert was a delight to the audience. Ther applause called her back repeatedly for bows and encores.
To the delight of her audience, Miss Farrell selected well-known ballads for encore numbers. They included "Lullaby" (Cyril Scott), "Summertime," "Through the Years," and "The Last Rose of Summer."
Miss Farrell went quickly from an aria from "Alceste" to soft, expressive melodies by Brahms. Her perfection of tone was revealed in the quiet, emotional German love songs, "Es Traumte Mir" and "In Waldeseinsamkeit."
The story of the "spinning" is interesting because of the experiences of Allen Crafton, professor of speech, and William Conboy, instructor in speech. They produced the music for the production.
Crafton, Conboy Collaborate On Tunes For New Musical
By JIM POWERS
"However, to me, the music suggested a marching song," he said. "Onward Spirit of Kansas" was the result.
Mr. Conboy's musical background includes writing the music for the first "College Daze" show.
Persons attending "Good Medicine," speech and drama department musical production, starting Wednesday, Oct. 24, may be sure most of the show's music is "homespun."
Professor Crafton insists his musical training consists of "knowing a great deal less than nothing about music." "Ideas for songs," he says, "just come to me from somewhere."
Although "knowing nothing about music" Professor Crafton says he's been lucky as in the case of "Onward Spirit of Kansas."
The "Sawmill" song included in the program also has an interesting past.
During the rehearsals of "Cum Laude" in 1939, Jack Laffer, a student, came up with some music. Laffer thought it would make a good "drinking song."
Professor Crafton admits he "couldn't see" a drinking song in a prohibition revue.
"My first try on a song for this part was one on the school of religion and the psychology department. It was no good." said Professor Crafton.
"The words came to me, 'we're not like the others, we're misunderstood,'" said Professor Crafton.
"I found it fit into our act called 'The Theatre Guild.'"
"Another bit of luck," he says,
"in good wood, in part
'wn of Good Medicine.'
After several tries, an idea on the athletic department came to the professor.
"Though it's not very original, I hope people will like it because it shows K.U. athletics are not like they are at other places," Professor Crafton said.
In 1938, while stranded in Yorkshire, England, because of bad weather, the professor discovered a piece of music which he copied down.
The melody of "Beautiful Evening in Spring" is a "corruption of a song I heard in a Nice, France, cafe," the professor continued.
The finale song, "On Our Way," is
a 'steal' from a 1910 popular song. The big hurdle came in trying for a finale number. Professor Crafton said a dignified "alma mater" type song was wanted.
"For ten weeks Bill Conboy tried to compose words for such a song," said Professor Crafton. "He got nowhere."
"After we chose "Good Medicine" as our title, Bill was hit by a blinding light. He wrote some good lyrics for a 'Good Medicine' song."
"I borrowed a couple of hymn books from local churches and we spent an evening singing hymns to get ideas. We had no luck."
"But this was an opening song instead, so we changed the opening to fit the song."
"The way it is now," he said,
"we'll probably be trying to write songs up to dress rehearsal time."
Available Through The
SOCIALIST STUDY CLUB
Rosa Luxemburg, Selections (mimeo'd) .15
One Way Only (statement by A. Bevan's group) .10
Anvil & Student Partisan, Fall 1951 .20
Write to SOCIALIST STUDY CLUB, 1539 Tennessee or Call 3691
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