The carillon is an instrument which contains at least two octaves of bells arranged in a series and played from a keyboard similar to an organ or piano.

MSU’s carillon is held inside the John W. Beaumont Memorial Tower and consists of 49 bells.

For the summer series, carillonneurs from all over the state, and one from California, were asked to perform on specific recital nights.

On July 9, Helen Hawley from Grand Rapids played a collection of songs from the top of the John W. Beaumont Memorial Tower on the carillon.

Hawley said she has been playing the carillon for about 18 years and was inspired to begin playing because of a professor she had during her undergraduate years at the University of Kansas.

Hawley added she enjoys playing the carillon because if it's played well, the music can speak to people.

“There’s something about having those bells – that sound just rolling out and when you miss a note, there’s nothing you can do about it," Hawley said. "There’s no way to stop it."

Doctoral student in charge of overseeing the recitals Philip Rice said he thought about 50 more people came to the second recital solely because they heard the chime of the bells during the first recital and were curious.

Rice said the purpose behind the series to show people what the carillon can do since it is a very versatile instrument.

"It's a great way to get the community involved because it's Michigan so a lot of the year you can't really sit outside and listen,” Rice said.

Concert attendees are able to bring a lawn chair, blankets or even a picnic and sit outside the John W. Beaumont Memorial Tower while listening to the carillon recital.

Interdisciplinary humanities senior Spencer Perrenoud said the recital is a very low-pressure concert setting and relaxing.

He added the recital is a time to demonstrate the ability of the instrument at the top of the John W. Beaumont Memorial Tower.

“It’s cool to show (the carillon) off. It should be displayed because it’s a very interesting instrument,” Perrenoud said. “It deserves this sort of concert to show off how cool it is, there’s not very many of them.”

Following the recital, visitors are able to go on a tour of the John W. Beaumont Memorial Tower to see the carillon inside and how it is played.

On July 23, MSU’s carillonneur Ray McLellan will perform and one of the songs in the recital was written by Rice. The last recital of the series will be held on July 30.