A few years ago, I was in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, when they were holding their annual Musikfest — we have some old family friends who live there — and we heard this astonishing music, coming from an astonishing machine, played by an astonishing character, a sort of Phantom of the Opera, dressed in black and wearing a gold phoenix mask.
He was the Spirit of the Bells, and he was playing a carillon, one of the few left in existence:
In 1480, a musical instrument of cast bronze bells was created and became known as the carillon. It is played from a modified keyboard with the fists and feet. Located in lofty bell towers throughout the world, the instrument and its player were hidden from sight making the carillon one of the world’s best kept secrets. Thirty-five years ago, 35 bronze bells were placed on a mobile carillon frame by a Dutch Bell Foundry and sent to America. For the first time in history, the rarely-seen European art of carillon playing could be brought to audiences. Eventually, this carillon was purchased in 1992 by a gentleman who chooses to remain anonymous and given new life by Frank DellaPenna, Master-Carillonneur graduate of the French Carillon School. DellaPenna’s life long dream of sharing the beauty of the carillon by combining it with other musical instruments could finally be accomplished.The carillon was created in Flanders (an area of northern Europe now occupied by the Netherlands, Belgium and northern France) about five centuries ago to provide a musical voice to bell towers to raise the spirits of the residents. The bells (23 or more) are hung in a stationary manner and the clappers are connected to a mechanical keyboard played with fists and feet. Carillon playing requires musical dexterity, strength and endurance. Cast in Bronze is the first and only transportable carillon in the U.S. and the only full time musical act in the world which features the carillon.
Today, many carillons have fallen into disrepair or are simply no longer played because of lack of funding or interest.
Those carillons that can still be heard are all funded by government agencies, institutions or through an endowment fund provided by a generous benefactor.
Cast in Bronze is the only musical act in history utilizing the carillon that sustains itself solely by live performances and recording sales. It receives no financial assistance from any other source.
The creator of Cast in Bronze hopes that his one man crusade will preserve an instrument and art form from extinction.