SYDNEY'S CAEILLON

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 24, 30 January 1928, Page 11

SYDNEY'S CAEILLON

READY FOR ANZAC DAY Details of the preparations which are being made for the reception and erection of the carillon of 49 bells for the University of Sydney, which will form the University's war memorial, were made available last week, following receipt of a cablegram from London announcing that the carillon would be shipped by the Port Gisborne on 26th January (states the "Sydney Morning Herald"). It is anticipated that the installation of the bells and their mechanism in the University tower will be completed by 25th April (Anzac Day), when it is hoped the inauguration ceremony will take place. The tower is now being prepared to receive the carillon. Unless something unforeseen happens the tower will be ready for the bells on Ist March. It is estimated that the work of building the frame within the tower, the lifting of the bells into position, and the assembling of the action, the keyboards, and the automatic player, will occupy from four to five weeks. The carillon has been subjected to an elaborate test before shipment. Under the original agreement with the makers (Messrs. John Taylor and Co., of Loughborough), it was expected that the would be completed about the end of last July or early in August. But the bells were not ready before 12th December, and were tested on 14th December. The testing committee reported by cable very favourably. A talented young English carillomst (Mr. Bryan Barker) has been appointed to visit Sydney in advance of the inauguration, in order that he may familiarise himself with the installation, and not only play the carillon as it deserves to be played, at the first recital, but keep it in use for a series of recitals extending over some weeks, and give lessons to competent musicians who may desire to study the technique of the new instrument, with a view to making themselves carillonists. It will not be necessary for the carillon itself to be sounded while the lessons are being given. There will be few, if any, carillons in the world which will have as complete a playing equipment as that of Sydney. The executive committee has provided a duplicate keyboard, such as can be played with the same technique as the organ, and an automatic player, on the principle of the well-known "player-piano."