THE 55TH CONGRESS OF THE GUILD OF CARILLONNEURS IN NORTH AMERICA

University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas,
June 4-7, 1997

THE UNIVERSITY AND
THE CARILLON

The University is home to some 28,000 students and 2,000 faculty and staff.  The picturesque campus is situated atop Mount Oread overlooking the Kansas and Wakarusa river valleys to the north and south.

Central to the campus and the Congress's activities is the World War II Memorial Campanile and Carillon. The 120-foot Campanile, built of native Kansas limestone, contains a 53-bell carillon cast in 1950 by the John Taylor Company of Loughborough, England. The Bourdon, or heaviest bell, weighs 13,440 lbs and sounds the note F#. The carillon, dedicated on May 27,1951, was rededicated on April 26,1996, following a total renovation made possible through the generosity of Joan and Keith Bunnel, honorary members of the GCNA. The renovation was completed by the Verdin Company and Meeks & Watson.

CONGRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Social Activities

• Tuesday: welcoming recital and reception at the Campanile, hosted by Meeks & Watson
• Wednesday: candlelight buffet at the Museums of Natural History and Anthropology, hosted by John Taylor Bellfounders
• Thursday: The annual Verdin Pizza Party at the restored Liberty Hall in downtown Lawrence
• Saturday: Congress banquet, hosted by Royal Eijsbouts Bellfounders
• Also an ice cream social hosted by Schulmerich.

   

Recitals

Featured recitalists:

• Robert Byrnes
• Don Cook
• William De Turk
• John Gouwens
• David Hunsberger
• Karel Keldermans
• Brian Swager
• Sally Slade Warner
• Congress host Albert Gerken.

Several recitalists featured carillon works of former KU composers and special guests Ronald Barnes, Roy Hamlin Johnson, John Pozdro and Gary C. White. In conjunction with their presentations during the Congress, William De Turk featured works of Barber, Menotti and Rota, and Brian Swager included selections of Baroque music arranged for carillon.

Winds of Autumn, a three movement work by John Pozdro, commissioned by The GCNA, and

Winter Fanfares by Roy Hamlin Johnson, commissioned by the KU Department of Music and Dance,

Presentations

• The KU Carillon-A Brief History, Mark L. Holmberg, Associate Professor, University of Kansas
• KU Influences and Early Attempts at Composing for the Carillon, Roy Hamlin Johnson
• Cyril lohnston: Innovative Bell Founder, Karel Keldermans
• Baroque Performance Practice, (a continuation from the previous year), Brian Swager
• Barber, Menotti, Rota: Carillon Composers in Residence, William De Turk
• Russian Campanology, Edward Williams, Associate Dean, Penn State University
• Use of Cup-shaped Bells Cast by Whitechapel, George Gregory
• Carillon Music that Meets Pedagogical Needs, Don Cook
• Playing Safely: Preventing Stress and Strain, Andrea McCrady, M.D.
• New Carillons at The University of Michigan and Carillon Beach Institute, Margo Halstead and Beverly Buchanan.

   

Workshops and master classes

• A pre-congress computer workshop explored various music writing programs available today along with demonstrations of software. The session was offered by Dr. Deron McGee, Assistant Professor of Music Theory, University of Kansas.
• Master class in performance, conducted by Milford Myhre and Ronald Barnes.
• Master class in composing, conducted by John Pozdro.
• Master class in arranging, conducted by Sally Warner.

   

Other Activities

Organ recital on the recently dedicated Wolff concert organ in the new Bales Organ Recital Hall and tours of the Reuter Organ Company.

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Created 7/2/96; last revised 2007/07/01