Side 1
1. Theme from Piano Concerto No. I
2. Barcarolle from Tales of Hoffman
3. Traumerei
4. Humoresque
5. Theme from Finlandia
6. Meditation from Thais
Side 2
1. Beautiful Dreamer
2. Cany Me Back to Old Virginny
3. Beautiful Isle of Somewhere
4. 0’ Sole Mio
5. Estrellita
6. Gypsy Love Song
For centuries, the music of the carillon has
been heard from lofty towers throughout
the world. Its musical sound has been an
important part in the community life of all
peoples. It has served to warn of danger; it
has sung the joy of a new birth; it has tolled
at death; it has expressed the emotions of all
people; and it has been the spiritual voice
calling the faithful to prayer and to the
church.
Thus, bells and carillons have long played
an important part in the life of the individual
and the community. However, the tone of
bells has remained the same for centuries.
Usually, when we hear the word "bell,” we
picture a traditional campaniform bell, whose
physical shape signifies almost as much as
does its plaintive tone. This shape was not
determined because it was decorative, but
because it was the only shape that could be
assumed by masses of bronze to permit the
creation of the plaintive and appealing tone
of the bell. The tuning of a bell differs from
the tuning of any musical tone source which
has truly been endowed by nature with its
series of partials. When man sought a tone,
it had to be different; it had to have the
capacity to serve as an alarm and as an in-
strument of the heavens as well. The creation
of this tone, sought by man. was finally
achieved through the campaniform bell
which has become established through cen-
turies of use.
But. for this reason, the music of the carillon
has always been in the same voice. There
could be no variation in the voicing of the
bells!
The United States, in keeping with modern
trends in the vital development of many
things, is also the home where research and
development of the carillon has continued.
Large cast-bell carillons are expensive and
require great towers. Skilled performers are
required to play these instruments, so natur-
ally their use is limited. These shortcomings
have made it impossible to install carillons
far and wide, throughout the United States,
and have thus kept many people from en-
joying the carillon.
Schulmerich Carillons, of Sellersville, Penn-
sylvania, have developed the modern caril-
lon. which exactly duplicates the tones of
the huge cast bells. A tuning accuracy is
realized that the cast bells would never
permit!
A variety of new tone colors was developed,
and when used in conjunction with the
original Schulmerich "Arlington”* Carillon,
a new instrument was born — the "Carillon
Americana”® Bells.
The Schulmerich "Carillon Americana”®
Bells instrument heard in this recording
consists of ten different sets of chromatically
tuned bells. From a master console resem-
bling that of a pipe organ (with two
manuals, a full pedal clavier and over fifty
stop tablets) the carillonneur performs in
much the same manner as an organist. The
various sets of bells appear at 8-foot and
4-foot pitches. Four expression pedals con-
trol the dynamic levels. A variable electric
tremulando control permits the artist to trill
either a single note, octaves, or chords.
The largest set of bells in the instrument is
the 61-note Flemish Bells, whose deepest
bass bell provides the same tone as a cast
bell weighing 40,000 pounds. Each set of
bells in the instrument has its own indi-
vidual timbre and each set of bells produces
its own series of strike tones, hum tones,
and overtones. In addition to using the indi-
vidual sets of bells in the carillon as separate
instruments, the performing artist may cre-
ate unlimited tonal effects by using them in
various combinations. The complete instru-
ment includes the following sets of bells:
Flemish Bells, English Bells, Harp Bells.
Celesta Bells, Quadra Bells, Tierce Bells.
Celestial Harp Bells and Chimes.
The "Carillon Americana” Bells, controlled
by a precision clock, may be played auto-
matically by the use of the Schulmerich
Deluxe "Auto-Bell”® automatic roll player,
which enables the carillon to be played with-
out the services of a musician. Desired selec-
tions can be prepared in advance using
perforated plastic rolls, which permit the
automatic use of the instrument at any time.
The familiar sound of the Westminster
melody followed by the correct hour strike
is also made possible through the use of the
automatic clock. The sequence can be sil-
enced during any hours or on any day or
days of the week.
In this album. Mr. Klein plays his own ar-
rangements of selections familiar to all.
Drawing on his vast experience and talent
as a composer and arranger, Mr. Klein de-
fied traditional techniques and explored the
unknown regions of carillon playing.
One of America’s best-known arrangers and
organists, Mr. Klein is also the composer of
many scores for radio, television and motion
pictures, and he has more than four hundred
other published compositions to his credit.
He has studied with Igor Stravinsky, Marcel
Dupre, Nadia Boulanger and Paul Hinde-
mith. among others, and has been soloist
with many outstanding orchestras. In 1958.
he was invited to appear at the Brussels
World's Fair, giving daily concerts on the
"Carillon Americana” bells.