Recently we attended a very interesting talk given by Timothy Hurd, National Carillonist. The building is closed at present due to concerns about how it would perform in an earthquake.
One aspect of New Zealand’s National War Memorial is the 51 metre tall carillon tower which has Pukeahu (Mt Cook) as its backdrop.
At the end of WW1, the New Zealand government approved 100,000pounds for a National War Memorial. There was much discussion as to what this memorial should be, and in 1922 it was suggested that a carillon be built with bells of remembrance.
Although the government was not favour of this idea, the Wellington War Memorial Carillon Society was formed and the money was raised by public subscription to pay for 49 bells. The Society offered the bells to the government for inclusion in the National War Memorial.
Subsequently a competition was held to design the buildings of the War Memorial. Building commenced in 1931 and the Carillon was dedicated on Anzac Day 1932. Many attended the opening ceremony and the carillon bells were heard for the first time and also the Lamp of Remembrance on top of the tower was lit.
The Bells
Each bell has a name and inscription. One for example is dedicated to Leslie Beauchamp, brother of the writer, Katherine Mansfield. Some of the other bells bear the names of military units and particular battles. In 1926 Harold Beauchamp, who was the first president of the Wellington War Memorial Carillon Society, purchased on of the bells in memory of his son. The bell is named for the Flanders region of Belgium and where Leslie Beauchamp lost his life. The bell is inscribed ‘In Ever Loving Remembrance of Leslie Heron Beauchamp Only Son of Harold and Annie Burnell Beauchamp’. This bell is tuned E.
By Ballofstring - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77553688
When there was the opportunity for groups to fund particular bells in 1926, the bells were over-subscribed with 77 applications for the 49 bells. Wellington companions and businesses agreed to combine so that they could purchase the third largest bell. This bell, the Anzac bell marks the efforts of the ANZAC forces at Gallipoli. Three of the largest bells were used to represent the three main places of war - Gallipoli, Middle East and the Western front. The Anzac bell is inscribed ‘To the Glorious Memory of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps Gallipoli 1915. ‘The troops had preformed a feat which is without parallel.’ W. B. Birdwood, Lieut-General. Given by Wellington Business Houses’. This bell is tuned A#.
The bells were cast in Croydon, London by the firm Gillett and Johnston.
Bells for the National War Memorial Carillon in Wellington, after being unloaded at Kings Wharf, Wellington
National Library NZ
The original design allowed for 72 bells, however only 49 were initially installed. Timothy Hurd, the National Carillonist suggested in 1986 that the carillon be refurbished and as well as the refurbishment, a new clavier and additional bells were installed. 16 smaller trebles bells were added.
In 1995 more bells were added, four large bells and five smaller bells, and as a result, the carillon has 74 bells which means it is the third largest carillon in the world, by the number of bells and the combined weight.
The dedication and opening ceremony for the War Memorial in Wellington New Zealand in 1932.
By National Library NZ on The Commons - originally posted to Flickr as The dedication of the National War Memorial Carillon, Wellington, 25 April 1932, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6583105
A brief history of carillons
A carillon is a European tradition using tuned bells and is played from a clavier (a keyboard) that has a sensitive touch. The bells are played using the fist or with the feet on pedals. It is a percussion instrument.
The first known carillon is situated in the Beauvais Cathedral in France and the building dates from the 13C.
By Ballofstring - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77553692
In the United States, there are two large carillons, one at the Laura Spellman Rockefeller Memorial Carillon at the University of Chicago and the other is at the Riverside Church in New York City. Both contain bells that were cast at Gillett and Johnston. The University of Chicago carillon contains 72 bells using 100tons of bronze.
Most carillons are found in in Europe with about 320 in the Low Countries, about 200 in the rest of Europe, about 190 in North America and a number scattered throughout the rest of the world. There are no carillons in Italy at all.
References
National Library of NZ
NZ History website
PapersPast NZ