AMERICA’S INTENSE INTEREST IN SINGING TOWERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12465, 5 June 1926, Page 11

AMERICA’S INTENSE INTEREST IN SINGING TOWERS.

British bell-founders are being kept very busy with orders of carillons from America. “America’s interest in the carillon to-day is properly characterised as ‘intense,’ ” wrote Mr William Gorham Rice in a recent issue of “The New York Times Magazine.” “Nor is it strange that so- keen an interest should exist. The carillon-, new to our people, yet, nevertheless, a fully developed majestic musical instrument, has revealed unexpected domains of sound and awakened thousands to the power and

From the Carillon will come the memorial music of the greatest masters, but it will also give the melody of thanksgiving for victory—just as the soldiers who died would have wished. The carillon will bring them into the life of the community for which j they gave their all.

beauty of attuned bell music. The number of singing towers increases steadily. “The carillon, it must be borne in mind, is not a chime. Much less is it a ring or peal. The carillon surpasses the chime, ring or peal, much as the cathedral organ surpasses the child’s one-fin-ger toy piano. It is a complete musical instrument. “The carillon already has earned its '-'lace in literature. Its range, beauty and appeal have been noted abroad for many year?. Robert Louis Stevenson in his ‘Oise in Flood,’ heard the sweet sounds in Belgium and exclaimed, ‘We thought we had never heard bells speak so intelligently.’ Arnold Bennett calls the music ‘magic from the, skies,’ and our own London Longfellow eighty vears ago wrote in his ‘Belfry of Bruges’ of this unique music.

“There is every indication that in two years time this country will have twice as many carillons of large and compass and perfect tune as arfe to be found in either Belgium or the Netherlands.

“Even before the New YqA carillon of 53 bells is moved to £3 new home uptown, Ottawa, Canada, will have equally noble belhi in a tower already constructed at a height no less. The fifty? three bells of this memorial crowning the Victory Tower of the new Houses of Parliament will be slightly heavier than those in the Park avenue* Nevy York, carillon.”