The iconic sounds emanating from the Charles Baird Carillon will be noticeably absent this summer as essential maintenance work gets underway. The musical beacon housed within Burton Memorial Tower is undergoing a comprehensive upgrade, ensuring its harmonies are both playable and sustainable for years to come.
Starting May 22, crews began the meticulous task of removing 26 out of 30 clappers, the swinging metal elements critical to bell sound production. With four clappers remaining—each exceptionally hefty, including one nearly tipping the scales at 1,000 pounds—a significant operation involving a 50-ton rough terrain crane is slated for August to complete their removal just ahead of new installation.
During this period, access to the bell tower’s carillon chamber will be restricted, and the familiar chimes will pause until the restoration concludes in August, when performances are expected to restart.
This significant project aims to enhance the playability of this celebrated musical landmark, safeguard performers against potential injuries, and ensure its preservation. The clappers being replaced are remnants of a 2011 renovation, which introduced pieces so heavy they compromised performance ease and led to mechanical issues and injuries.
University carillonist Tiffany Ng, also an associate professor of music at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, expressed that the prior clappers were “experimental prototypes of such extreme heaviness that they impeded playability, led to broken keys and performance injuries, and dissuaded students and professionals alike from playing and teaching on the Baird Carillon.”
Ng highlighted the benefits of the new design, stating that the clappers will adhere to industry-standard weights, making the carillon more manageable to play without sacrificing sound quality. She shared, “As university carillonist since 2015, I have sustained multiple repetitive strain injuries over the years from the Baird Carillon’s experimental clappers, and students and affiliate performers have sustained injuries as well. Cumulatively, such injuries can cut a carillonist’s career short.”
With 53 bronze bells, the Baird Carillon, located in Burton Memorial Tower on Ingalls Mall, ranks as the third heaviest carillon globally. It boasts a vast range, from its 12-ton largest bell to its petite 15-pound counterpart.
Josh Meeks of Meeks, Watson & Co., tasked with the removal and creation of the new clappers, explained that crafting these components is a detailed process. It involves designing clappers specifically for each bell, manufacturing their shanks, casting the clapper balls, and ensuring smooth operation before painting and installation.
The new clappers, according to Meeks, will be adjusted closer to the bell walls, enhancing control for performers.
Ng is enthusiastic about the musical possibilities this project will unlock, allowing for a broader spectrum of works to be played from Burton Tower. She explained, “The weight of the current clappers has ruled out the performance of various parts of the carillon repertory, including Richard Giszczak’s virtuosic arrangement of ‘The Victors,’ arranged in 1998 for the Baird Carillon.” Ng added, “So, we are excited to start playing a fuller range of carillon repertoire for Central Campus in the fall, including ‘The Victors’!”
