Learn about the large carillon with carillonist Jeff Davis at the University of California at Berkeley
Learn about the large carillon with carillonist Jeff Davis at the University of California at Berkeley
A discussion of the large carillon in Sather Tower at the University of California, Berkeley.
Displayed by permission of The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
Transcript
[Music in]
JEFF DAVIS: I remember, when I was 20 years old, I came up to this tower and up onto this belfry where we are now, and I heard the bells for the first time. And I remember looking out and saying, "You know, this would have to be the coolest job in the world." Many decades later, here I am. So for me this is like a perfect match.
I'm Jeff Davis. I'm the university carillonist at the University of California at Berkeley. When you push the key down, it pulls a wire down, and that wire is connected to a crank, which is attached to a roller bar that has a wire that goes up to the clapper on a bell. So, very simply, that's how it works. Originally there were only 12 bells, which is a chime, and the class of 1928, when they had their 50th-year reunion, decided at that point they would give the university a carillon instead of just a few extra bells. A 48-bell carillon was installed. Two members of the class of '28 were reading an article, and the article said, "Well, Berkeley should have a grand carillon, not just a concert carillon." And so the Chambers family donated funds to enlarge the carillon to its current 61-bell size.
[Carillon music]
If you have a carillon at a university, it's a no-brainer. You know, I thought, hey, we should be teaching. So when I came here I put a little sign up in the music building that said, "Bells, anyone?" It just grew and grew and grew, and now last semester I had 16 private students.
ALYSSA KEHLENBACH: The movement of the left foot from the A to the E, like, I think I only got it once.
JEFF DAVIS: Why was that?
ALYSSA KEHLENBACH: Jeff is really an amazing teacher. The way he makes you criticize yourself--I think that's the first time I've ever had someone do that. It was nice, 'cause I was, like, well, I did mess up here, and, like, I'm really nervous right now, and that's why I, like--usually I can play this part better. And that was the first time anyone has ever taught me that way, and it's been really helpful.
JEFF DAVIS: All the staff, all the students, all the faculty, the visitors--everyone shares this one thing: that's the bells. Celebrating centennial, it's got everyone abuzz. I'm enjoying the sense of community that's developed and--and the fact that the carillon's being brought out a little bit more in ways other than just daily music that we make.
[Music out]
JEFF DAVIS: I remember, when I was 20 years old, I came up to this tower and up onto this belfry where we are now, and I heard the bells for the first time. And I remember looking out and saying, "You know, this would have to be the coolest job in the world." Many decades later, here I am. So for me this is like a perfect match.
I'm Jeff Davis. I'm the university carillonist at the University of California at Berkeley. When you push the key down, it pulls a wire down, and that wire is connected to a crank, which is attached to a roller bar that has a wire that goes up to the clapper on a bell. So, very simply, that's how it works. Originally there were only 12 bells, which is a chime, and the class of 1928, when they had their 50th-year reunion, decided at that point they would give the university a carillon instead of just a few extra bells. A 48-bell carillon was installed. Two members of the class of '28 were reading an article, and the article said, "Well, Berkeley should have a grand carillon, not just a concert carillon." And so the Chambers family donated funds to enlarge the carillon to its current 61-bell size.
[Carillon music]
If you have a carillon at a university, it's a no-brainer. You know, I thought, hey, we should be teaching. So when I came here I put a little sign up in the music building that said, "Bells, anyone?" It just grew and grew and grew, and now last semester I had 16 private students.
ALYSSA KEHLENBACH: The movement of the left foot from the A to the E, like, I think I only got it once.
JEFF DAVIS: Why was that?
ALYSSA KEHLENBACH: Jeff is really an amazing teacher. The way he makes you criticize yourself--I think that's the first time I've ever had someone do that. It was nice, 'cause I was, like, well, I did mess up here, and, like, I'm really nervous right now, and that's why I, like--usually I can play this part better. And that was the first time anyone has ever taught me that way, and it's been really helpful.
JEFF DAVIS: All the staff, all the students, all the faculty, the visitors--everyone shares this one thing: that's the bells. Celebrating centennial, it's got everyone abuzz. I'm enjoying the sense of community that's developed and--and the fact that the carillon's being brought out a little bit more in ways other than just daily music that we make.
[Music out]