CARILLON
New! Sample Carillon music available.
A carillon is a musical instrument consisting of at least two
octaves of carillon bells arranged in chromatic series and
played from a keyboard permitting control of expression through
variation of touch.
Its keyboard, sometimes called a clavier, is made of long, thin batons, which are depressed with one’s closed fist. It also has pedals for playing some of the bells.
Carillon bells have a cup shape and are cast in bronze. They are hung stationary and bolted to steel or wooden beams; only the clappers move. The clappers are connected by mechanical linkages to the keys of the keyboard. The carillon at Bok Tower Gardens consists of 60 bells ranging in weight from 16 pounds to nearly 12 tons.
There are four carillons in Florida, nearly 200 in North America and about 400 in Europe.
There have only been three carillonneurs at Bok Tower Gardens. The Sanctuary’s first carillonneur was Anton Brees, serving from 1928 until 1967. Milford Myhre was the second carillonneur, serving from 1968 to 2004. William De Turk is the third carillonneur, appointed in July 2004.
William De Turk
William De Turk was appointed director of carillon services of Bok Tower Gardens, effective July 1, 2004. He was assistant carillonneur and librarian since 1993. A native of the Philadelphia area, he received a bachelor of music degree cum honore from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, and master of music degree in organ performance from the University of Michigan, where he studied the carillon with Percival Price, university carillonneur and noted campanologist. In 1974, he was invited to be come the first carillon scholar at the Bok Singing Tower and worked for one year with Milford Myhre.
De Turk was carillonneur (1981-87) for the University of Michigan and hosted the 1986 World Carillon Congress, the first held in North America. Activities in The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America include four years as president and archivist since 1972.De Turk has performed recitals throughout the United States and in Canada and Europe. His interest in research in the field of carillons and bells has resulted in 11 published articles. Honors include the Berkeley Medal from the University of California at Berkeley for distinguished service to the carillon and a plaque and bell for his extraordinary contribution to the art of the carillon at the combined 12th World Carillon Federation Congress and 39th International Carillon Festival in Springfield, Ill. In 2001 he played the closing recital for the 59th Congress of the GCNA. In 2002 he performed in Denmark and for the 13th International Carillon Congress in Cobh, Ireland.
Lee Cobb
Lee Cobb was appointed assistant carillonneur at Bok Tower Gardens in August 2005. Cobb will perform recitals on the 60-bell Singing Tower and will be the librarian of the Anton Brees Carillon Library.
Cobb is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated with a bachelor of music degree in organ performance in 1989 from Indiana University, where his interest in the carillon began. Further carillon studies were with Stephen Knight at Samford University in Alabama and Dr. Linda Dzuris at Clemson University in South Carolina.
In 2003, Cobb received a master of music degree in organ performance from the University of Florida, and is pursuing a Ph.D. While at the University of Florida, he held the graduate assistantship in carillon, performed recitals regularly and worked towards developing a recital series. Cobb also was actively involved in creating print, audio-visual and Web cast educational carillon materials. In 2004, he became a Carillonneur Member of The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America.
Cobb has served numerous churches as organist and choirmaster, is an accomplished tenor soloist and conductor, and a commissioned and published composer.
Milford Myhre
Milford Myhre retired in June 2004 after 36 years as Sanctuary carillonneur. His musical training was obtained at the University of Nebraska, the University of Michigan and briefly at the Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn” in Belgium. His carillon mentors were Ronald Barnes, Staf Nees and Percival Price. He has performed recitals in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand and many of his carillon arrangements have been published. During his distinguished career of more than 50 years, he served as president for both the GCNA and the World Carillon Federation. Honors include the Berkeley Medal, honorary membership in the GCNA and Guilde des Carillonneurs de France, and an honorary doctorate from the University of the South in Tennessee.
Two CD recordings by Myhre are available at the Tower and Garden Gift Shop, “A Carillon Recital at the Bok Singing Tower” and “Christmas Carillon from Bok Tower Gardens.”
The Anton Brees Carillon Library
The Anton Brees Carillon Library is the largest and most comprehensive carillon library in the world. It was established in 1968 and named after the Sanctuary's first carillonneur, Anton Brees. Concentration is on the carillon: books, periodicals, recital programs, music scores, recordings, slides, photographs and vertical files. Related subjects include bells, chimes and bellfounding.
The Library includes the archives of Ronald Barnes, Arthur L. Bigelow, Anton Brees, Melvin C. Corbett, Raymond Keldermans, Rémy Müller, Daniel Robins, Ira Schroeder, Harold B. Simons and J. Lewis Smith.
Search the Anton Brees Carillon Library Database. Note: enter "Anton Brees" for library name. No password needed.
The Library also houses the Bok Tower Gardens Archives and the Archives of The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America.
Inquiries should be made to Lee Cobb, Assistant Carillonneur/Librarian, at lcobb@boksanctuary.org
Carillon Music
Excerpt from Serenade II by Ronald Montague Barnes (1927-1997)
Movement I "Sonnerie"
Performed by Milford Myhre
Copyright Guild of Carillonneurs in North America.
