Profile: Wiesbaden, Germany
The Evangelical Lutheran Market Church in Wiesbaden, Germany, was built in 1853-1862 as the "Cathedral of Hessen-Nassau." In neo-gothic style and with a three-nave basilica form, the church was built of brick with red sandstone steeples, with Schinkel's Werder church in Berlin as a model. The architect was Carl Boos. The center steeple is 300 feet high, while the side narthex steeples are 190 feet and the sanctuary steeples are 240 feet.
The Grand Organ was built in 1863 by E.F. Walcker. It was rebuilt and enlarged in 1929, 1938, 1970, and 1982 by Walcker, Sauer, Oberlinger. The Choir organ was built in 1970 by Oberlinger. Both organs can be played from one four-manual console, thereby controlling the total of 125 ranks.
The carillon in the center steeple of the Marktkirche of Wiesbaden was built by the Royal Eijsbouts Bellfoundry in Asten, The Netherlands, in 1986. Four of the five swinging bells cast by the Rincker bellfoundry in 1962 were integrated into the new carillon which consists primarily of 45 new Eijsbouts bells. The bourdon sounds C and weighs nearly 4800 pounds; the lightest bell is 28 pounds. The Wiesbaden carillon is one of only about 30 such instruments in Germany.
Hans Uwe Hielscher is organist and carillonneur of the church, and Thomas Frank is assistant carillonneur. The carillon is played every Saturday at noon, during the weekly market. Visits to see the keyboard room and the bells may be arranged through either carillonneur at (0611) 30.34.30.
Profile: Carillon Beach
Carillon Beach is a gated community in Panama City Beach, a coastal city in Florida's panhandle. The focal point and namesake of the community is a carillon that hangs in a 50-foot tower that stands just one block from the Gulf of Mexico. The carillon, installed in 1993, is the fourth in the state of Florida, following those at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, the University of Florida in Gainesville, and the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Clearwater. Carillon Beach is still being developed and will have over 300 homes.
The 35 bells were cast by the Petit & Fritsen Bellfoundry in Aarle-Rixtel, The Netherlands. The tower and carillon were designed by Richard M. Watson of Meeks, Watson & Company of Georgetown, Ohio, following sketches prepared by Carillon Beach architect Lloyd Vogt. The clappers, bell fittings, action, electric control equipment and tower steel were fabricated by the Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. Petit & Fritsen made the electric strikers, and Meeks, Watson & Co. bouilt the manual playing console. All bells are playable from the manual playing console with batons for hands and feet. Fourteen of the bells can be programmed by an automatic playing system which also sounds the Westminster quarters and the hour strike.
With a bourdon sounding middle C and weighing only 583 pounds, the instrument transposes up an octave which results in a light, clear sound suited to the relatively low placement of the bells in a smaller, open tower. The three-octave range is chromatic with the exception of the two lowest semitones (C# and D#). The carillon is owned by the Carillon Beach Institute. Beverly Buchanan was appointed Resident Carillonneur on August 1, 1996. She plays one or two concerts weekly and on some holidays. Tours are given following concerts and by appointment. Visitors are welcome to call 904/234-5600 to ascertain concert times and arrange for a tour.
