MOSKVA - DM : RUSSIA

*Location:

   Zvonnitsa (Gatehouse tower)
   Danilov (St.Daniel) Monastery
   Danilovskiy Val ulitsa
     at Danilovsky pereulok
   Moskva (Moscow), Russia
   LL: N 55.71126, E 37.63070

   Harvard University
   Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

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*Player:

   (Various)

*Contact:

   St.Daniel Monastery
   115191, Moskva, Danilovsky Val, 22
   T: (095)961-14-80
   E: kanz@msdm.ru

*Schedule:

   Several times daily, for matins and
   vesper services.

*Remarks:

   Before the Revolution, there may have
   been as many as 34 bells here.
   In 1930, an American bought 18 from
   the Bolsheviks for Harvard University,
   leaving the tower empty.  Restoration
   in May 1985 collected bells (also
   reported as 11 or 15 in number) from
   destroyed churches of several regions
   of Russia, mostly cast in Yaroslavl by
   the Olovianishnikovs in the 19th c.;
   largest 3.5 tons, 1890; details absent.
   In 2008, the old bells at Harvard were
   repatriated; variouly dated from 1692
   (by Fyodor Motorin) to 1907,
   most were cast in Moscow at the
   N.D.Finlyandsky Works.
   (See  CAMBRIDGE,  USA - MA  in 'Chimes'
   section of North America).

*Technical data:

   Zvon of 35 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is G  in the bass octave
   Transposition is not applicable
   Keyboard range:     ZVON  /    ----  
   The instrument was enlarged in 2008
     by the maker cited in Remarks above
   Prior history:
     In 1985, the instrument was begun with 17 bells
       by the maker cited in Remarks above
   Year of latest technical information source is 2008

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

*Links:

The English section of the Website of the Monastery contains a special section on the bells, including history, recordings, etc.  A photo gallery includes pictures of several towers.

Photo of a group of Harvard visitors to the belfry of the monastery, showing the disposition of the bells of the zvon.

Description of the Danilovsky/Harvard bells, , one page out of a large English-language Website which presents the history of the Danilov Monastery and its bells, of the transition to Harvard, of the closure of the monastery and its eventual reopening and restoration, and of the repatriation of the Harvard bells through exchange with newly-cast replicas.

Page of photos of the replacement bells for Harvard (new bass is 14 tons, at the ceremony of blessing outside the Danilov tower, wherein hang the gathered substitute bells used here for 20 years.

A Wikipedia article about the Monastery describes its history and has two photos (but neither shows the bell tower).

Blog article on Harvard/Danilov bells, and history of Charles Crane, with YouTube DVD

History of the Danilov/Harvard bells, and report of a witness to their return.

History and return of the bells, with clickable photo of cleaned-up bass bell

Since this instrument is by an assortment of founders, none of whom was a primary contributor, there is no foundry index entry for it.

Where the bass bell of this zvon ranks among all great bells in Russia.

Ranking among all European non-traditional carillons by pitch (weight).
Ranking among all European non-traditional carillons by size (number of bells).
Ranking among all European non-traditional carillons by year of completion.

Where the bass bell of this zvon ranks among other great bells in Russia.

Index to all tower bell instruments in Russia.

*Status:

   This page was built from the database on 13-Nov-08
   based on textual data last updated on 2008/10/02
   and on technical data last updated on 2008/06/30

Explanations of page format and keyboard range are available.

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