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Carillon News

June 9, 2003
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Australian National Carillon

A recital given by Suzanne Magassy marked the 25th anniversary of the Australian National Carillon in Canberra on April 26, 1995. Originally known as the Canberra Carillon, it was dedicated in 1970 by Queen Elizabeth II who accepted the British Government's musical gift on behalf of the Australian people. The inaugural recital was played by John Douglas Gordon, Sydney University Carillonneur and later Canberra Carillonneur. Terry Vaughan's Lake Music was written for the occasion.

The program of the 1995 recital was a replica of the dedicatory recital including John Gordon's arrangements for carillon and Vaughan's Lake Music. British and Australian government officials were present for the celebration as was Mrs. Val Gordon, widow of John Gordon. A highlight of the festivities was the naming of the footbridge that links the lakeshore with Aspen Island on which the carillon stands. It is now known officially as "John Gordon Walk."

The National Carillon Management Committee was formed to administer the activities of the National Carillon beginning August 1, 1995. This committee consists of musicians as well as business and community personnel. The NCMC aims to be an innovative, communicative, public oriented, musically aware body, fostering interest and involvement in the National Carillon as a community asset and to support those it employs in presenting high musical standards, a wide variety of programming, and a flexible approach to all carillon activities. The NCMC is affiliated with Canberra Stereo Public Radio Incorporated. Suzanne Magassy is the chairperson of the committee and is the Artistic Manager of the National Carillon.

Carillon homily

The following homily was presented by Reverend Bob Wollard on June 4 at the rededication of the Wallace Carillon at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan:

"We are gathered here to rededicate the newly rebuilt carillon of Christ Church Cranbrook, and to enjoy some of the wonderful music that can be produced on it. I have great respect for those who play the carillon. As one who always played large instruments in my checkered musical career I have frequently felt sorry for myself as I struggled with the task of taking home my tuba home to practice, or to a performance (and secretly hated the piccolo players). That sense of "persecution" and hardship disappeared entirely when I met my first carillonneur. Not only can they not transport their instrument anywhere, but they must make do with a relatively few instruments in the whole country. And as if that weren't enough, they must also climb to the top of a tower to play! No wonder they're all so slim. (Maybe I should take up playing the carillon!)

"Bells have a long history in the Christian Church. They were first used, according to tradition as recorded in the Dictionary of Christian Lore and Legend, in the fourth century. They have had many functions: calling people to worship, tolling a death (the passing bell), and celebrating a joyful event (like the end of a war). More anciently, bells were used to put demons to flight; this because the sound of bells has, from very ancient times, been associated with the voice of God. Perhaps their sound is humankind's best effort to reproduce what they have heard when they have heard God speak.

"Bells are mentioned only rarely in Scripture. If, however, we associate them with the voice of God the references become too numerous to mention. They range all the way from God "thundering" from the mountaintop to God speaking to Elijah in a 'still small voice,' as some translations have it. The point of all these references to God speaking is, it seems to me, that God wants to be in communication with us. Sometimes in our praying (and presenting long lists of petitions as part of that undertaking) we forget that at least half of prayer consists of listening--listening for the voice of God.

"If the sweetness and beauty of the bells of this carillon can do no more than remind us that God wants to speak with us, that God's voice, in all its power and sweetness, awaits our hearing, it will have done a wonderful thing. Of course it does much more than that. It reminds us that God rejoices with us at happy times like weddings, and mourns with us when sadness comes at time of death. It reminds us in the beauty and complexity of its notes that listening for and to God may not always be simple, but it is always well worth whatever effort it requires. Whenever, then, we hear the sound of the bells of this carillon may we be reminded that God seeks to speak with us, and may be we attentive--to the carillon and to the voice of God as it comes to us in many, many ways with power and sweetness. Amen."

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