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Carillon News

April 1, 2003
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News from Belgium

Belgian Carillon School dubbed "Cultural Ambassador"

Minister of Culture Hugo Weckx announced the list of Flemish
Cultural Ambassadors, naming primarily musicians for the task of carrying the
reputation of Flanders abroad. Twenty-four musical projects were recognized
with this distinction which carries a cash award. Honored were notable groups
such as I Fiammingi, the Walter Boeykens Ensemble, Philippe Herreweghe's
Collegium Vocale, the Ensemble Currende, Jos van Immerseel's Anima Eterna, and
the Royal Carillon School "Jef Denyn" of Mechlin.

Although the director of the School, Jo Haazen, was
nominated by the City Council to become a Cultural Ambassador in October 1995,
Haazen encouraged Minister Weckx to honor the school first with this
distinction. "I hope that you will seriously consider the Royal Carillon
School 'Jef Denyn', that will soon celebrate its 75th anniversary and as the
first carillon school in Flanders and in the world has more than proven its
significance, as a candidate for the cultural ambassadorship in 1995."
(5/30/94)

The nomination was made, and the official proclamation came
on Friday June 16, 1995 in the Marquis Building in Brussels. The beautiful
Eijsbouts mobile carillon was rented for the occasion and played by Jo Haazen.
During a formal ceremony, charters were presented to the representatives of
each organization. Also in attendance from the Carillon School were Jean van
der Sande, president of the Board of Directors; Viviane Vanroy, secretary; and
Rien Aarssen, president of the student organization "Campana."

The text of the charter reads: "FLEMISH GOVERNMENT:
Considering that valuable cultural projects with a strong international
reputation witness in an original manner the historical wealth and the current
creativity of the Flemish culture, and that they contribute to the emanation of
the Flemish openness and identity,

Considering that the hereafter named enterprise adheres to
the abovenamed criteria, we have decided to appoint:

THE ROYAL CARILLON SCHOOL "JEF DENYN", Mechelen as
Cultural Ambassador of Flanders 1995."

Grants totalled 102 million Belgian Franks, 79 million from
the Ministry of Culture and 23 million from the Ministry of Economics.

Colloquium on a Universal Standard Keyboard

On Saturday February 25, 1995 a forum was held in the
Mechelen Cultural Center on the development of a universal standard in order to
promote scientific research toward the unification of carillon keyboards.

Panel members included Dr. André Lehr, campanologist
and director of the National Carillon Museum in Asten; Foeke De Wolf, president
of the Dutch Carillon Guild; Jo Haazen, director of the Belgian Carillon
School; Loek Boogert, president of the World Carillon Federation; Jos
D'hollander, representative of the Flemish Carillon Guild; and Mr. A. Voet,
ergonomist and instructor at the Mechlin Industrial College "De
Nayer." Dr. M. Heremans, Professor at the Catholic University of Louvain
la Neuve, presided.

An ingenious apparatus had been constructed in the workshop
of the National Carillon Museum in Asten which permits experimentation with the
keyfall of a carillon keyboard. Sophie Heremans of Louvain demonstrated,
playing the keyboard with a reduced keyfall. It was called a
"Hazeleerklavier" with regard to collaborators Haazen and Lehr.

After a short introduction by Mr. F. Nobels, Councilor of
Culture, members  of the panel
spoke. It was observed that there have been numerous "standards"
through history, and currently the foremost examples are the American and
North-European standards. The director of the Belgian Carillon School strongly
defended the idea of a "universal standard" such as already exists
for the piano. The purpose is to promote uniformity in the whole world.
Carillonneurs must not resist this progress. Moreover he pleaded for a shorter
keyfall if this will lead to a more fluent, beautiful, and refined playing
technique without loss of the control of nuance. The law of physics was pointed
out that shows that the best result is attained through a minimal use of
energy, technically and artistically, a law that all carillonneurs will need to
take into account sooner or later.

Schools Unite

The Board of Directors of the Belgian Carillon School has
prepared a cooperative agreement which will link the Saratov State Conservatory
in Russia with the Belgian School, permitting exchanges between the schools.
The Russian bell tradition is taught at the Saratov Conservatory as a part of
the Folklore Department, guided by Professor Alexander Jareschko.

As a part of a ministerial decree on art education, the final
touches were put on a cooperative agreement between the Belgian Carillon School
in Mechelen, the Flemish Music Conservatory in Antwerp, and the Lemmens
Institute in Louvain. This will make professional training possible for
carillonneurs pursuing studies at the other institutions and will be called the
"Master of Music, Carillon Major." All technical carillon courses
will be taught at the Mechelen School by specially appointed guest professors.