History and Culture by Bicycle Part 210: CAST IN BRONZE

Cast in Bronze is an amazing performance of beautiful music. The music is performed on a 4 ton instrument called a Carillon. The Carillon dates back to 1480. It is played from a modified keyboard with the fists and feet. Carillon's were usually located in in lofty bell towers throughout the world. Hidden from site, the instrument and its player became one of the world's best kept secrets.

History:
Thirty-five years ago, a modern carillon, consisting of 35 bronze bells and a mobile frame was built by a Dutch bell foundry and sent to America. For the first time in history the rarely-seen European art of carillon could be brought to audiences.

This modern carillon was purchased in 1992 by Frank DellaPenna, Master-Carillonneur graduate of the French Carillon School. Mr. DellaPenna is a gentleman who chooses to remain anonymous and has been given new life by his dream of sharing the beauty of the carillon by combining it with other musical instruments. He has come to realize his life-long dream could finally be accomplished.

Created in Flanders (an area of northern Europe now occupied by the Netherlands, Belgium and northern France) as early as 1480, the carillon provided a musical voice to bell towers to raise the spirits of the residents. The bells, usually 23 or more, are hung in a stationary manner and the clappers are connected to a mechanical keyboard with wire and levers and played with fists and feet. Carillon playing requires musical dexterity, strength and endurance. Cast in Bronze is the first 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.

Most carillons that are still functional and have nto fallen into disrepair are 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 for future generations.

This blog author had the pleasure of hearing and seeing the carillon played in Sioux City at the annual Rivessance Festival, held in Riverside Park. The haunting beauty of this musical instrument is something that cannot be described but has to be heard and felt. In all honesty not even the CD the blog author purchased does the live performance justice and leaves those that are able to personally hear, see and feel the instrument played live wanting for more.

the setting for the carillon and the artist, Frank DellaPenna, could not have been better in Sioux City. Riverside Park is on the banks of the Big Sioux river with the beautiful bluffs of the Loess Hills as a back drop. The music could be heard all over hte festival grounds outside in other areas of the park. The Loess Hills were certainly alive with the sound of music on October 2nd and 3rd, 2010.

Link with the BIO and more information on Cast in Bronze and the carillon:
Cast in Bronze

Enjoy the photos: