Dutch Carillon News Newsletter from the Netherlands Carillon Center

Number 1 - April 2010 Preface It is difficult to imagine anything more generally known to the ear, and yet almost complete hidden from the eye, than bells and carillons. We carilloneurs share the fate of our instrument. Whilst Dutch people are familiar with singing towers, and even tend to love them, it comes as a revelation to most of them when they see a carilloneur at work. This in itself needs not to be a problem. But what if this obscurity leads to indifference? What if the carillon is loved and yet taken for granted? Since its foundation in 1953 the Netherlands Carillon School has proved a formidable tool to saveguard the rich tradition of the carillon in the Low Countries. Its ongoing education of young people assured the instrument its position of a living heritage in many Dutch towns. Also the school attracted many foreigners, who in some cases were able to plant new branches of the old art in their home countries. Next to the school, and related to it in many ways, stands the Netherlands Carillon Center (Beiaardcentrum Nederland, BCN). It acts as ‘city carillonneur’, organizing the tower music of Amersfoort. Also it serves as a centre of knowledge about bells, carillons and carillon-playing, and it is the most important publisher of carillon music. All activities are meant to support the Carillon School, and further the art of the carillon. It goes without saying that promotion is essential, and nowadays having a well designed website is central. Our website has been ‘in the air’ for some time now. The webshop proves successfull. The next step is the electronic newsletter that you have before you. It will be sent two or three times a year to those interested in the carillon and its music. Its goal will be simple: keep you in current about our activities, such as concerts on the Amersfoort towers, and new editions of carillon music. It may remain as simple as that, but it may also grow and flourish. We shall consider it sucessfull if it contributes to a greater visibility of the somewhat hidden art that we all love and cherish. Henk Verhoef president of BCN

Continuation on ‘Composer’s portrait’ devoted to Daan Manneke

November 8 composer Daan Manneke celebrated his 70th birthday. In order to celebrate this memorable event, a musical festival was organized in which various vocal and instrumental compositions were performed. Of course the carillon was given an important role. Already on July 22 Bauke Reitsma and David van der Vlies – two former students of the Netherlands Carillon School – gave Manneke’s music a prominent place in their summer recital on the Tower of Our Lady in Amersfoort. They also played at the final concert of the festival, organized on the very day, Sunday November 8, at the Tower of Our Lady in Breda. Wednesday October 28 the Netherlands Carillon School organized a ‘composer’s portrait’ devoted to Daan Manneke. The composer himself was

present, next to Jacques Maassen (former director of the school and city carillonneur of Breda). The latter gave a lecture in which he illustrated the compositorial techniques of Manneke and put the carillon compositions in the context of his other compositions, for voices as well as instruments. Wednesday 28 April there will be a sequel. Again the day will consist mostly of master classes. It will be conlcuded by a recital, during which the music that earlier that day was prepared at the practice console, will be played at the Eijbouts-carillon of the Amersfoort tower. Manneke’s newest work, the ‘Tweede Antwerpse Toccata’, will be on the programm. If you like to attend the master class send an e-mail to: info@nbs.hku.nl

Composing for the carillon; meeting of the GeNeCo in Amersfoort Saturday March 13 twelve members of the Dutch Guild of Composers (GeNeCo) visited the Netherlands Carillon School in Amersfoort and the Amersfoort tower. Theme of the excursion was ‘composing for the carillon’. First Henk Verhoef (carillon teacher at the school) gave a workshop, to introduce the instrument, its sound and its playing technique. Then Mathieu Polak, composer and teacher for amateur students at the Netherlands Carillon Center, shared some of his experiences with those present in a lecture entitled ‘Composing for the carillon seen from a methodological point of view’ (for a download of the text see www.carilloncenter.com). At the end of the afternoon there was a recital with Dutch carillon music, given by teachers and (former) students of the Carillon School. The participants joined the carillonneurs in their climb to the playing cabine of the tower, in order to experience the sound of a real time carillon. Bauke Reitsma played 'Antwerpse Toccata' (Daan Manneke) and ' De Toren' (Louis Andriessen). Jungeun Kim (South-Korea) played Jurriaan Andriessen’s 'Les Cloches des Clochards', after which Henk Verhoef performed Albert de Klerk’s 'Sweelinckfantasie' and 'Reflexies' by Jacques Maassen. Mathieu Polak concluded the programm with one of his compositions, 'School Bell Overture'. No doubt this day will inspire the members of the GeNeCo to enrich the carillon repertoire.

Carillon lessons for amateurs The Netherlands Carillon Center offers amateurs an opportunity to take lessons in carillon playing. A special method is designed, that concentrates on playing ‘manualiter’ (by hands). The lessons are given by Mathieu Polak. After a first introduction, including a try-out lesson, the student determines how many lessons he or she wants to take. It is possible to buy a ticket for five or ten lessons, that can be planned as the student wishes. If desired, one can subscribe for practice hours either at the practice consoles of the Carillon School, or at the Amersfoort Belgenmonument. The lessons are given at the Carillon School or at the Belgenmonument. The first lessons will be about basic technical skills. The manual thereby emphasizes playing by hands. After the first stage attention shifts to playing by feet, and to coordinating hands and feet. Four times a year (on Saturdays) students can participate in group lessons. At the end of the afternoon advanced students, guided by their teacher, can play during the market recital at the Amersfoort Tower of Our Lady. Those interested can ask for a free try-out lesson. Regular lessons are one hour, at € 37,50 per lesson. Interested? Give a call or send an e-mail to: Netherland Carillon Center Grote Spui 11 3811 GA Amersfoort +31 (0)33-4752638 info@beiaardcentrum.nl

The sound of bells in carillon town Amersfoort Every summer the Netherlands Carillon Center and the Netherlands Carillon School organize a series of carillon concerts in Amersfoort. This year is no exception. There will be five concerts on the Tower of Our Lady, every other week on Wednesday at 20.00 h. According to the tradition the first concert is given by students who graduated that year, and serves as a prelude for the festive presentation of the certificates at the school. Every year a number of guest carillonneurs give a recital. This year Carlo van Ulft (Centralia, Illinois) will be one of them. Also the professors at the Carillon School, Frans Haagen and Henk Verhoef, will give a concert. All concerts are rung in ten minutes before time by the Amersfoort Bell Ringers Guild. Programs are always to be found at the entrance door to the tower. With the Amersfoort Guild (www.gildeamersfoort.nl/belgenmonument) the Netherlands Carillon School organizes a yearly series of four ‘walking concerts’ at the Belgian Monument (Belgenlaan). The monument was given by Belgium after the First World War, as a token of gratitude that the

country’s refugees had been taken care of in the Netherlands. At 14.00 h. one of the Guild’s guides introduces the strollers into the history of the monument. Then, from 15.00 to 16.00 h. one of the students of the Carillon School plays a recital, after which listeners can climb the tower. The carillonneur is there to explain the visitors everything about his instrument, his trade and the school. Programs are available, and there is no admission fee. More information about the summer concerts will soon be published on the website of the Netherlands Carillon School: www.carillonschool.com.

New editions from the Netherlands Carillon Center

Kamper Beiaardboek 2 / Frans Haagen Woodworms interfere in Frans Haagen’s life as city carillonneur of Kampen for three years now: the Nieuwe Toren is in restoration, and the bells can not be played. Haagen of course doesn’t stand idly by, but devotes the free hours to making arrangements for carillon. Some years ago the first Kamper Beiaardboek appeared, with sonatas for keyboard by Hendrik Focking (1747-1796). The second Kamper Beiaardboek continues this line, with a selection of keyboard sonatas by various composers, all born c. 1700, and all working in various parts of Germany. John Agrell (1701-1765), born in Löth (Sweden), was violinist and harpsichordist in Nürnberg. Next to Giovanno Frederico Doles (1716-1797) and Christofforo Nichelmann (1717-1762), both students of J.S. Bach, are represented. If violinist, keyboardist and pedagogue Georg Simon Lelei (1725-1781) would have heard how well his Partita sounds when adapted to the bells, he surely would have written not only a 'Klavierschule' and a 'Violinschule', but also a ‘Glockenspielschule’.

Tweede (2th) Antwerpse Toccata / Daan Manneke Daan Manneke composed this work in the last months, during long winter evenings. It will have its premiere on 10 April, at the annual meeting of the Dutch Carillon Guild. where it will be played by Rien Donkersloot and Jungeun Kim (South-Korea), both students at the Netherlands Carillon School. The piece is a sequel to the (first) Antwerpse Toccata, composed by Manneke for the World Carillon Congress in Groningen (July 2008). Like the first, the second Toccata is based on melodies from the Antwerp Songbook (1544).

Glimmer of Globe en Two Dances / Hans Bakker To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the famous Hilversum town hall Hans Bakker made two compositions for the carillon, Two Dances and Glimmer of Globe, and a piece for carillon and saxophone ensemble, Ambiente Global. The compositions are a sign of gratitude, given by the Globe Centrum voor Kunst en Cultuur (Globeck) to the city of Hilversum, for making the town hall available for a musical and artistic week end in which also two carillon recitals were given. Two Dances (Dudok Samba and Globe Rag) sounds joyous, but asks for a virtuoso player. Glimmer of Globe is a set of unorthodox variations on a Russian folk song. The piece is an homage to the town hall’s architect W.M. Dudok and it is dedicated to the inhabitants of Hilversum and their carillonneur Freek Bakker. At the last concert of the weekend Hans Bakker presented his compositions to the mayor of Hilversum – Ernst Bakker – in the presence of carillonneur Freek Bakker. The first movement of Ambiente Global can be downloaded at www.hansbakkermusic.com.

All four new editions are available on Saturday April 10 (annual meeting of the Dutch Guild of carillonneurs) at the book stand. They can also be purchased via the BCN-webshop, www.carilloncenter.com.

Carillon music for sale at the annual meeting of the Dutch Guild of carillonneurs At the annual meeting of the Dutch Guild of carillonneurs, April 10, 2010 in Vleuten, the Netherlands Carillon Center will have a stand where you can buy scores, books and cd’s. There will be a full catalogue of the assortment for consultation. Also we will have a good supply of the more recent publications on hand. If an issue is not present or sold out, a copy will be sent to you in a few days time. If you would like us to take specific items to Vleuten, you can order them here. In the field ‘Delivery method’ choose [‘customer pickup’]. Don’t hesitate to take a look at www.carilloncenter.com

New in the webshop! From now on you can download scores taken from some of our albums. Click here to browse through the assortment

The ring of seven bells Every first Saturday of the month they gather just before noon: the Amersfoort Bell-ringers Guild. From 12.00 to 12.15 p.m. they ring the bells, choosing patterns in view of the season, the liturgical calendar or the month that has just begun. Based at the Netherlands Carillon School master ringer André Kukolja designes the ringing schemes. He also coordniates practical matters. Saturday March 6, 2010 the month was rung in using the following patterns: 1. Eb1-G-Bb. Motif taken from the 1st movement of ‘The Spring’ by Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741); 2. Eb1-G-Ab-Bb. Motif taken from the song 'Est-ce Mars?', referring to the Roman god after whom our third month was named. Coming Saturday April 3 the ringing will refer to Holy Saturday, the day on which Christians remember the death of Christ. An old legend wants it that the bells go to Rome on Maundy Thursday, to return in the evening of Holy Saturday for the Vigil of Easter. Since we expect the bells of Amersfoort to take the old story not too literally, and to remain in their seats, we made a scheme for that day, be it a sober one: 1. C1. The tolling of the death bell; 2. C1-Ab. The opening motif (minor sixth) of the moving aria ‘Erbarme dich’ from St. Matthew’s Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750); 3. Ab-G. A complaining musical motif, called 'seufzer' (litterally: ‘sigh’); 4. C1-Eb1. The minor third. The Amersfoort ring of seven bells has the following bells: C1, Eb1, G, Ab, Bb, C2, Eb2. It is rung on festive days, such as Queen’s day. On the annual Commemoration of the Dead (May 4) the largest bell (‘death bell’) is rung. This year the Guild will present itself at the National Bell Ringers Day: a new initiative that is planned in Breda on May 8. Like former years the guild will also ring in the summer carillon concerts at the Tower of Our Lady. For further information about the Amersfoort Bell-ringers Guild see http://zevengelui.nl.

Editorial staff Bauke Reitsma Gea van Veen Texts Hans Bakker Mathieu Polak Bauke Reitsma Gea van Veen Henk Verhoef Translation into English Henk Verhoef Layout Simeon Bodden Gea van Veen Publication The Netherlands Carillon Center Postbus 758 3800 AT Amersfoort Netherlands info@beiaardcentrum.nl www.carilloncenter.com If you do not wish to receive this news letter any more, please click here