August 2023 Carillon Festival .
Utrecht is a beautiful old university city in the Netherlands about 30 miles south-east of Amsterdam. In August 2023 carillonists
(carillon players) came from over 11 countries from all parts of the world to
their triennial congress, held this time in Utrecht. One evening we listened to the carillon of the Dom Tower . The bells were
played by the City
Carillonist, Malgosia Fiebig, electronically combined with a solo recorder,
played by Erik Bosgraaf at the foot of the tower in the Square (the Domplein).
The sound designer/ composer/ engineer was Jorrit Tamminga. We heard two further
concerts from the Dom Tower.
The Domkerk (cathedral of St Martin) is a cathedral built in the Gothic style. The Dom Tower, an iconic building, the west tower of the cathedral, was built between 1321 and 1384, and is now 112.5 metres high with 466 steps. Here it is covered in scaffolding for renovation, but is still open for guided tours. The red and white are the ‘Utrecht colours’.
Imagine a tree lined square. A mobile carillon is parked. There is the hum of city traffic, and conversation in the bars surrounding the square, and from bystanders. It is early evening in Jankerkhof Square, with grey skies and rain threatening. Each guild from the participating countries sent a carillonist to give a quarter hour recital.
Click to hear a Polish Lady Playing the Carillon
Click to hear Michael Boyd playing an extract from Intermezzo No. 2 by Leen t' Hart.
Click to hear Scott Orr playing the ending of Chromatica No 10 ('The Autumn Leaves), written by Jonathan Bradley.
Click to hear a French Guild Member playing the Carillon
Click to hear a Scandinavian Guild Member playing an extract from Finlandia by Jean Sibelius.
Unfortunately, the recordings of the players
from France and Scandinavia are not of such good quality.
The group from the Carillon
Society of Britain and Ireland beside the mobile carillon in
Jankerkhof Square,
including Michael Boyd, Jonathan Bradley, Scott Orr, and the writer of this report, Tessa Fullwood with her husband John. The mobile carillon is from Douai in Northern France and was in Utrecht for the Festival.