ALFRED : USA - NY

   Davis Memorial Carillon

*Location:

   Alfred University
   (south campus)
   Alfred, New York, USA
   LL: N 42.257, W 77.791

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*Player:

   Laurel Buckwalter,   (C)
     University Carillonneur
   5744 East Valley Road
   Alfred Station, NY  14803-9721
   H: (607)587-8090   W: (607)871-2234
   F: (607)871-2587
   E: FBuckwal@Alfred.edu

   1937    Henry Wesson
   1938 ded. Kamiel Lefévere
   1937-68 Dr.Ray W. Wingate   (1886-1968)
   1969-76 (students)
   1977-94 Joanne Droppers   (C)

*Contact:

   Performing Arts Office
   Alfred University
   Alfred, NY  14802-1232
   T: (607)871-2562
   E: performs@alfred.edu

*Schedule:

   Mon,Wed,Fri 1230-1245;
   Saturday 1600-1630;
   summer series 7pm Tue in July (guests)

      The latest summer schedule of recitals and recitalists

*Remarks:

   Entire tower from 1937 was replaced
   in the 1953 enlargement; this was
   significantly remodelled in 1983.
   Original installation contained 18
   bells apparently by P. Hemony, 1674;
   16 (later 12) apparently by J.du Mery,
   1737; one apparently by A. van den
   Gheyn, 1784; reportedly all collected
   (and some retuned) by O. Michaux,
   Louvain, Belgium; thus this was thought
   to be the only pre-19th century
   carillon in North America.  However,
   investigations c.2003 confirmed old
   suspicions that the "Hemony" bells (at
   least) were forgeries made by Michaux
   (or Michiels) using plaster casts of
   bells which existed elsewhere.  One
   original bell (broken) was replaced in
   the 1953 enlargement, and the two
   smallest originals ("DuMery") were
   replaced in the 1977 enlargement.
   Meeks, Watson & Co. replaced top 20
   in 2006; dedicated 10 June.

*Technical data:

   Traditional carillon of 47 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is D  in the middle octave
   Transposition is up  2 semitone(s)
   Keyboard range:     C C   /    C G   
   There are two missing bass semitones
   There is a non-identical practice console
   20 bells were recast or replaced in 2006
     by Meeks,Watson
   Prior history:
     In 1977, the instrument was enlarged to its present size
       with bells made by Petit & Fritsen
       (0 bells remain from that work.)
     In 1953, the instrument was enlarged to 43 bells
       by Petit & Fritsen
       (8 bells were added in and/or remain from that work.)
     In 1937, the instrument was begun with 35 bells
       by the maker cited in Remarks above
       (19 bells remain from that work.)
   Year of latest technical information source is 2006

Additional information on the technical history of this instrument can be found in a database printout.

*Links:

On the university Website, a page on the Davis Memorial Carillon provides a picture of the tower and describes the instrument's history.  A press release gives details of the confirmation of the forgery of the "Hemony" bells.

The initial phase of this work, being apparently from multiple founders, is not indexed.
Where the second phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Petit & Fritsen bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the third phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Petit & Fritsen bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the final phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meeks & Watson bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.

Ranking among all North American traditional carillons by weight.
Ranking among all North American traditional carillons by size (number of bells).
Ranking among all North American concert class carillons by age.

Index to all traditional carillons in NY.

Index to all tower bell instruments in NY.

*Status:

   This page was built from the database on  5-Nov-07
   based on textual data last updated on 2007/09/12
   and on technical data last updated on 2007/11/01

Explanations of page format and keyboard range are available.

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