Carillon and Bell Culture in the Low Countries - Volume 3, Issue 1, 2024

Let’s return to the Ancien Régime and discover the true source of the French Encylopaedia chapter on Bells and Bell Founding. It will be determined that the invaluable campanological legacy of Jeremy de Roujoux, French country priest and lifelong bell founder, has endured centuries. What influential role did he have on the art of casting bells in France, in Europe, and in the world since the publication of his treatise in 1765? How did his refined understanding of harmonics overwhelm the accepted bell tonalities since Mersenne? Conclusive evidence will highlight the work of this figure of the Enlightenment.

The theory and practice of diversity are often at odds with one another. This paper examines the particular case of ‘global carillon songbooks’, collections of musical works from around the world that have been adapted for carillon performance. A multilayered analysis of these books reveals distinct relationships between their construction—works chosen, extramusical text, and adaptational choices—and their position within the ever-shifting paradigm of carillon culture. Empirical results from three audience surveys further contextualize these initiatives’ relationship with carillon listeners and broader musical trends.