The GVSU community is invited to enjoy a live Tuesday noon recital on the Cook Carillon to commemorate this fall's fifth anniversary of the installation and dedication of the instrument on the Allendale Campus. The event is also aimed at raising awareness of the new Beckering Family Carillon being installed on the Grand Rapids Campus.
The carillon is an unusual instrument. Its massive bells are connected by cables to a set of levers below, configured like a piano keyboard. A carillonist strikes the levers with the heel of the hand and can add dynamics to the sound depending on how hard the levers are struck.
Grand Valley has established one of the nation's most successful summer carillon concert series, with some of the world's finest performers from Europe and the U.S. playing free concerts on Sunday evenings.
When the Cook Carillon isn't being played by a live musician, a computerized system takes over.
For Tuesday's recital, University Carillonist Julianne Vanden Wyngaard will be joined by Associate Carillonist Barbara Kindschi and student Jason Buckely in a concert that will feature music ranging from Beethoven to American folk songs. Free refreshments will be provided.
