Carillon Visits

SUM has a world-class musical instrument, but it’s hidden. What kind of music does it provide? Heavy Metal. The bourdon, or largest bell itself, is 4,730 pounds.

Chuck and Peggy Foreman generously donated the organ and the 55-bell carillon in 1986. Carl Coppersmith and Bob Klotz worked with the Verdin Company to install the bells. The carillon is played from a keyboard; there is no automatic mechanism. If you hear the bells, it is because someone is playing them. Our carillonneur was Dan Kehoe for many years when he was not playing at Trinity College. He still returns from North Carolina for Memorial Day. He taught several young students here before moving. In 2016, and ending with the pandemic, David Maker offered classes in change ringing and carillon playing.

Our best player today is Asher Scarlato. It has probably been him if you have heard bells after a service. He is self-taught, having only two opportunities to study with Dan Kehoe on the last two Memorial Days.

SUM hosts the Yale Guild of Carillonneurs every other year as they experience a few sites beyond their Harkness tower. This year, they came to play on November 2nd (see photo above). To return the favor, Bob Miorelli, Asher Scarlato, and I visited Yale and had the opportunity to play there. Ellen Dickinson teaches there and has been key in the Yale Guild and the National Guild of Carillonneurs in North America. You might remember Ellen as the music director of SUM in the 1990s, playing organ and handbells.

Bob Shea

Below is a video of Isaiah Suchman from the Yale Guild of Carillonneurs playing the Carillon.