Century Tower Carillonneurs

Tall and proud in the heart of campus stands the historic Century Tower, and encased in brick tolls its 61 bell carillon. Although the musical chimes from the bells are a staple for students in passing as a time-keeping tool or for those who stop to listen, what goes on inside the tower remains shrouded in mystery. That’s not the case for every student, however.

Image UF College of the Arts Website

For the fall 2022 semester, UF’s Carillon Studio consisted of ten students. Each of them auditioned and attended classes, dedicating themselves to continuing the long tradition of playing the bells. Beth Blair, a 3rd year nursing major, shared that she always admired the bells but slowly began to notice that she would hear the same songs being played. “But each time the songs were played, they were a little stylistically different. That led me to believe that it wasn’t a prerecorded melody.” Blair set up an audition immediately after her discovery. The ten carillonneurs— the proper term for someone who plays this instrument— signed up weekly to climb the tower for its daily afternoon and evening concert of the bells.

Image from UF College of the Arts Website

“I get to the tower about 20 minutes before I play,” began Katie Mann, a 3rd year international studies and Arabic double major and carillonneur. She practiced for a bit at chimes located at the base, then she started the journey up. “It is 11 stories. There is no elevator.” Once at the top, Mann’s routine continued: “I open the hatch to hear the bells better, turn off the 15-minute chime, adjust the bench…. I start playing a minute before my scheduled time,” she explained, for the “factor of surprise.” Mann played the bells for about 10 minutes before returning the tower as she found it and descending. The bells themselves are played by the carillonneurs using their hands and feet to strike wooden batons, each corresponding to bells inside the chamber. This results in the concerts heard around campus.

The Studio posted their daily recital schedules to their social media platforms. Despite this, their online presence is small, and many misconceptions still surround the tower. A big misunderstanding is that the carillonneurs can play whatever they want. Copyright laws may impose their limitations, but Blair’s favorite pieces to play are her own arrangements. “It’s a rewarding experience to see something you spent hours with from the manuscript paper and then putting it in the tower.” She looks forward to playing songs special to UF, like the Alma Mater, in the future. Another misconception is what’s inside – almost nothing. “There is a wifi router at the top, so we carillonneurs get the best homework done in the tower,” Blair said. Mann adds that even the view from the top isn’t good either, “but it’s homely nonetheless,” she said.

Image from Traxon Technologies Website

Their talents didn’t stop with only playing Century Tower’s carillon. According to 2nd year APK major Charleigh Baab, the studio frequently travels in and out of the state to play other carillons. “My favorite memory is getting to play the bell tower at Clemson and getting to climb up above their playing chamber to view and touch their bells,” she said. The Studio hosted its annual Halloween and holiday concerts in October and December in the fall of 2022.