Occasionally, you can hear the bells of Beaumont Tower ring music into the East Lansing air for a minute or so.
But starting at 6 p.m. today, you can hear world-renowned carillonneurs perform their bell tunes for more than 45 minutes.
The Muelder Summer Carillon Series, sponsored by MSU’s School of Music, has been going on since the bell’s restoration in the summer of 1996. The music event will continue at 6 p.m. every Wednesday for six weeks, rain or shine, and is free to the public.
Jacques Maassen, from the Netherlands, kicks things off tonight. He is the director of the Netherlands Carillon School and has won prizes and awards for his musical talents.
Carillonneurs from MSU and around the country will perform at Beaumont, in addition to directors and professors from European carillon schools. The musicians will be playing everything, from music of the 1700s to modern tunes.
“Generally people will play music composed for the carillons and music arranged for the carillons,” said Ray McLellan, the university carillonneur, who has been playing the carillon since 1989. “But I also want them to play one or two well-known songs.”
Some carillonneurs will perform popular oldies and songs from Broadway musicals, Food Security II staff member and carillon music fan Patricia Johannes said.
A carillon is a musical instrument with bells arranged like a piano and is played by a variety of touches. The carillonneurs hit the wooden keys of the carillon with loosely clenched fists. The harder they strike the bars, the louder the carillon will sound.
Currently, there are about 160 carillons in the United States, with 10 in Michigan. The musical art was developed in the 15th and 16th centuries in Western Europe and it continues to grow each year.
The MSU carillon consists of 49 bells, with the largest bell weighing about 2 1/2 tons and the smallest weighing 15 pounds.
“Someone once called it the original heavy music,” McLellan joked.
Carillon shows around the nation have traditionally been summer events because the pleasant weather allows people to sit outside and listen to the bells, Johannes said. She suggests attendees bring chairs, blankets and picnic items to the Beaumont series.
“If you haven’t experienced it before, it’s very different and very beautiful,” Johannes said. “It’s a wonderful family event.”
After the performances, Beaumont Tower will be open for tours, in which attendees can see the carillons and the inside of the tower.
Community relations senior NeShawndra Fikes said she loves hearing the bells of Beaumont Tower in the morning.
“I think they’re fascinating bells,” she said. “It brings a nice, comforting atmosphere to the campus.”
Sociology senior Jose DeJesus thinks the bells are unique and bring a sense of familiarity to campus. He also likes the area around the tower, where he can “chill.”
“(Beaumont Tower and the bells are) a great landmark and a great tradition for the campus,” DeJesus said.
