Library of Bell Recordings
by Dr John R Ketteringham MBE Lincoln, England

Carillons

The bells which can be heard are those of Bournville Schools
carillon having 48 bells and a bourdon pitch C

(If you cannot hear the bells please click here.)


A carillon is a musical instrument composed of at least 23 carillon bells and may have as many as 77 bells arranged in chromatic sequence, so tuned as to produce concordant harmony when many bells are sounded together.  The heaviest bell, which is called the Bourdon, can range from 300 pounds to over 20 tonnes in weight.

The carillon is played from a large keyboard containing both manual and pedal keys, similar in design to an organ but much larger.  A carillon is very sensitive to the touch of the player, and has the largest dynamic range of any acoustical instrument. The keyboard is linked to the clapper of the bell by a manual transmission mechanism that allows the player great expressive range.

The world's greatest concentration of carillons is still in the Low Countries of Europe (Belgium, The Netherlands, northern France and northwest Germany).  The art of the carillon has spread world wide, however, with instruments on every continent except Antarctica.  Nearly 200 exist in North America.

Where known, the details of the recording are revealed by placing your mouse pointer over the file symbol.
The i symbol will link to further details of the latest recordings where details are known. 


 

 World Carillon Federation is the web site to visit for further details of CD recordings throughout the world.
Sample File Inf Location & Dedication Home Page
The sample is of the carillon chiming only
120Kb		  

Amsterdam, Oude Kerkstoren, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
47 bells.

 ( none)
CDs: Rene Gailly CD 88 902 & Dureco 11 64512 i

Antwerpen, O.L. Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerpen, Belgium
49 bells.

 ( none)
CD: UMC 1001
243Kb		  

Ann Arbor, Charles Baird Carillon, Burton Tower, University of Michigan, USA
55 bells. Bourdon 215 cwt in D#

 (Charles Baird Carillon)

1.2mb		  

Ann Arbor, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Tower, University of Michigan, USA
60 bells. Bourdon G

 (College of Engineering)
BEIAARDEN VAN DE VELUWE Concert on Dutch carillons TMN 19991
197Kb		 i

Apeldoorn, Oude Raadhuis, Gelderland,  Netherlands
52 bells.

 ( none)

153Kb		  

Arlington, Arlington National Cemetery, Netherlands Carillon,Virginia, USA
50 bells. Bourdon pitch G

 (The Netherlands Carillon)

875Kb		  

Athens, Marsh Memorial Carillon, Concord College, West Virginia, USA
48 bells. Bourdon (est) 54 cwt in C

 (Marsh Memorial Carillon)
BEIAARDEN VAN DE VELUWE Concert on Dutch carillons TMN 19991
176Kb		 i

Barneveld, Oude Raadhuis, Gelderland,  Netherlands
44 bells.

 ( none)
BEIAARDEN VAN DE VELUWE Concert on Dutch carillons TMN 19991
175Kb		 i

Barneveld, Oude Kerk, Gelderland,  Netherlands
51 bells.

 ( none)
CD: Historische Beiaardopnamen 1950-1975 Vol. 2 i

Borgerhout, Districtshuistoren, Antwerpen, Belgium
47 bells.

 ( none)

128Kb		 i

Bournville, Bournville Schools, UK
48 bells. Bourdon  64 cwt 18 lbs in  Ab

 (The Bournville Carillon)
CD & cassette: Hudson HRM 96 & Erasmus DDD WVH 094 i

Breda, Our Lady Church, Breda, Netherlands
45 bells. Bourdon 54 cwt in B

 (Our Lady Church)
CD: Ethnic B 6751
19.0mb		 i

Brugge, Belfort, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
47 bells.

 ( none)
CD: Ethnic B 6751
309Kb		  

Buglose, Le Carillon de la Basilique, Eglise Notre Dame, Landes, France
60 bells.

 (Le Carillon de la Basilique)

728Kb		  

Chicago, The Laura Spelman Rockefeller Carillon, University of Chicago, Illinois, USA
72 bells. Bourdon 18½ tons in C#

 (Laura Spelman Rockefeller Carillon)

1.26mb		  

Cobh, Cathedral Church of St Colman, Cork, Eire
47 bells. Bourdon 67 cwt 2 qrs 22 lbs in A

 (St Colman's Carillon)

349Kb		 i

Dordrecht, Grote kerk, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
67 bells.

 (Dordrecht City)
i

Douai, The Belfry of Douai, France
62 bells. Bourdon (est) 46 cwt in C
plus sub-bourdon in A

 (The Belfry of Douai)

2.51mb		  

Durham, The Allen & Perkins carillon, Duke University Chapel, North Carolina, USA
50 bells. Bourdon 100cwt in G

(Duke University Chapel)

1.1mb		  

East Lansing, Beaumont Tower Carillon, Michigan, USA
49 bells.. Bourdon 46 cwt in C

 (Beaumont Tower Carillon)
BEIAARDEN VAN DE VELUWE Concert on Dutch carillons TMN 19991
178Kb		 i

Ede, Oude kerk, Gelderland,  Netherlands
61 bells.

 ( none)

842Kb		 i

Enschede, Universiteit Twente, Campusbeiaard,
Overijssel,  Netherlands
49 bells.

 (Campus Beiaard Kring)

537Kb		  

Fort Smith, Reynolds Tower, University of Arkansas, USA
42 bells. Bourdon 12 cwt 2 qrs 18 lbs in F

 (University of Arkansas)
Cassettes: Gothic G-49057/GC-49057 & Gothic G-49045
1.14mb		  

Garden Grove, Crystal Cathedral, California, USA
52 bells. Bourdon 55 cwt 3 qrs 26 lbs in C

 (Crystal Cathedral)

1.17mb		 i

Ghent, Belfort, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium
54 bells.

 ( none)

209Kb		 i

Gouda St Janstoren, Zuid-Holland,  Netherlands
50 bells.

 (Gouda)
12 in mono LP: U-7431/32 Petit & Frisen  

Green Bay, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wisconsin, USA
47 bells. Bourdon 47 cwt 16 lbs in C

 ( none )

1.14mb		  

Greenville, The Burnside Carillon, Furman
University Bell Tower , South Carolina, USA
59 bells. Bourdon 40 cwt 20 lbs in D

 (Furman University Bell Tower)

56Kb		  

Groningen, Martinikerk, Groningen,  Netherlands
52 bells.

 ( none)
BEIAARDEN VAN DE VELUWE Concert on Dutch carillons TMN 19991
177Kb		 i

Harderwijk, Grote Kerk, Gelderland,  Netherlands
47 bells.

 ( none)

1.93mb		  

Hartford, The Plumb Memorial Carillon, Trinity College, Conecticut, USA
49 bells. Bourdon 50 cwt in B

 (Trinity College)
Cassette: Musical Heritage Society MHC 9435X LP: 12 in mono Morse Music MM-1000
3.05mb		  

Lake Wales, Bok Tower Gardens, Florida, USA
57 bells. Bourdon 207 cwt 2 qrs 6 lbs in D#

(University of Florida)
CD: Ethnic B 6751  

Lisieux, Basilique Sainte Thérèse, Calvados, France
49 bells.

 ( none )
CD: Ethnic B 6751  

London, Regal Cinema Marble Arch, England
32 bell carillon by Gillett and Johnston for the organ.

 (© BBC  Radio 2)

549Kb		  

Milwaukee, Marquette University, Wisconsin,  USA
48 bells. Bourdon C

 (Marquette University)

1.05mb		  

Nieuwpoort, O.L. Vrouwetoren, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
67 bells.

 (Nieuwpoort, Belgium)
BEIAARDEN VAN DE VELUWE Concert on Dutch carillons TMN 19991
172Kb		 i

Nijkerk, Grote kerk, Gelderland,  Netherlands
49 bells.

 ( none)

141Kb		  

Rochester, University of Rochester, Hopeman Memorial Carillon, New York, USA
50 bells. Bourdon 12 cwt 2 qrs in A#

 (University of Rochester)

295Kb		  

Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, Tour de l'ancienne Abbaye, Nord, France
48 bells.

 (St Amand Carillon)

540Kb		  

San Diego, Fletcher Symphonic Carillon, Hardy Memorial Tower, San Diego State University, USA
50 bells.

 (SDSU)
i

Springfield, The Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, Illinois, USA
66 bells. Bourdon 133 cwt 4 lbs in F#

 (Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon)
CD: P 1996
150Kb		  

Sydney, University of Sydney War Memorial Carillon, New South Wales, Australia
54 bells. Bourdon 88 cwt 2 qrs 8lbs in G

 (University of Sydney Carillon)
BEIAARDEN VAN DE VELUWE Concert on Dutch carillons TMN 19991
175Kb		 i

Wageningen, Grote Kerk, Gelderland,  Netherlands
50 bells.

 ( none)
7 in stereo LPs: Vantage ABR-1027 & ABR-1032  

Wellington, National War Memorial Carillon, New Zealand
74 bells. Bourdon 246 cwt 5lbs

 (National War Memorial Carillon)


Revised: 07 March 2007 (pat)