EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State University School of Music will present its 2006 Muelder Summer Carillon Series for five consecutive Wednesdays beginning June 28 at Beaumont Tower.
All recitals, which will begin at 6 p.m., are free and open to the public; those who attend are welcome to bring a picnic and take a tour of Beaumont Tower after each performance. Beaumont Tower is located on the south side of the oval area on West Circle Drive on campus.
Here is the performance schedule:
- Ray McLellan, MSU carillonneur, June 28
- Dennis Curry, associate organist at Kirk in the Hills in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., July 5
- Suzanne Magassy, a carillonneur from Canberra, Australia, July 12
- Charles Dairay, a carillonneur from Orchies, France, July 19
- Linda Dzuris, a carillonneur from Clemson University, South Carolina, July 26
The summer carillon series was established in 1996 through the generosity of Milton Muelder, a former MSU educator, researcher and administrator, with the restoration and renovation of Beaumont Tower and the carillon.
There are only 170 carillons in North America, with 13 in Michigan. Originating in 15th-century Europe in what is now the Netherlands, Belgium and northern France, the carillon consists of at least two octaves of carillon bells arranged in chromatic series and played from a keyboard that permits control of expression through variation of touch.
The MSU carillon, located inside Beaumont Tower, contains 49 bells and is capable of playing the full range of literature composed for the instrument. The tower was a gift from John W. Beaumont, an 1882 alumnus of Michigan Agricultural College (now MSU).
“People love the relaxed atmosphere of an outdoor recital,” said McLellan. “They bring their blankets or lawn chairs. They picnic. I've seen people bring a gourmet spread. Children come. People bring their dogs.
“Beaumont Tower sits in such a lovely setting of majestic, old trees and green expanse.It's just a wonderful setting for an outdoor summer recital.”
For more information about the carillon, visit www.msu.edu/~carillon/; for more information about the MSU School of Music, visit www.music.msu.edu.
###
Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and engagement for 150 years