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New Bells for York Minster
Published Friday 4th April 2008 by Alix Peacock
York Minster will become the first cathedral in England to have a carillon of bells with the arrival of a further twenty-four small bells on Friday 4th April. These will be added to the existing “Nelson Chime” that is played to announce Evensong around 5 pm each day, giving a carillon of 35 bells in total (3 chromatic octaves). The new bells have been cast at the Loughborough Bell Foundry of Taylors, Eayre & Smith, where all of the existing Minster bells were cast. The new carillon is a gift to the Minster. Once installed it will be the first new carillon in the British Isles for forty years. Before Evensong each evening, hymn tunes are played on the bells. But on certain occasions anything from Beethoven to the Beatles may be heard.
The bells will be played by a carilloneur using a baton clavier sited in the ringing chamber which is below the bell chamber in the south west tower. A group of volunteers is being trained in readiness for its installation. The baton clavier is played by the carilloneur using both hand batons and feet pedals that look like a church organ pedal board.
The chiming of tunes on the Minster bells dates back to the building of the present cathedral’s towers in the mid 15th century. Chiming fell out of fashion during the 17th century and eventually the Minster’s chiming machine was removed in 1750. In 1989, 11 chime bells were installed above the ringing-peal in the Minster’s South West Tower, which has enabled the playing of tunes once again. With only eleven notes, the range of tunes was limited. The installation of a further 24 bells will mean that almost any tune can be played.
The Revd Canon Jeremy Fletcher, Canon Precentor at York Minster said “The revival of chiming at the Minster has added to the sounds of York in recent years. We are delighted that York will be gaining a splendid carillon and hope that the quality and variety of the music played will add further to our worship and mission.”
It is hoped that once the carillon is completed it will provide another link between the Cathedral and the City for all to enjoy. York will then join all the major cities of Northern Europe in having a carillon adding to the ambience of the City centre.