*Location:

   Ellis Tower
   Main Hall
   University of Montana
   (formerly Montana State University)
   Missoula, Montana, USA
   LL: N 46.86014, W 113.98387

Site locator map

*Carillonist:

   Barbara Ballas
   E: 31ballas@gmail.com

   18Oc1953 ded. Kamiel Lefevere
   1953-69 (unknown)
   1969-92 John C. Ellis  (d.1992)
   19??-2011 Nancy J. Cooper

*Contact:

   School of Music
   University of Montana
   Missoula, MT  59812
   T: 406-243-4970
   E: griz.music@umontana.edu

*Schedule:

   Tue-Fri noon

*Remarks:

   1977 playing keyboard by Verdin.
   Tower named in 1992 in memory of
   John C. Ellis.  Practice keyboard by
   Verdin, 1993, 53 notes.

*Technical data:

   Traditional carillon of 47 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is F  in the middle octave
   Transposition is up  5 semitone(s)
   Keyboard range:     C C   /    C C 23
   There are two missing bass semitones
   There is a non-identical practice console
   The present keyboard was installed in 1977
     by the maker cited in Remarks above
   Prior history:
     In 1953, the complete instrument of 47 bells was installed
       with bells made by vanBergen   
   Auxiliary mechanisms: H     
   Tower details not available
   Year of latest technical information source is 2005

Additional information on the technical history of this instrument can be found in a database printout.

On the university Website, the search facility will turn up numerous news articles about the carillon, but not a replacement for a former page about the history of Main Hall, which included a description of the carillon, nor for a related page which had a photograph of some of the bells.  Warning--the campus map faces east, not north!  (The downloadable version does have a properly oriented compass rose.)  A campus postcards facility includes a variety of photos of Main Hall.
Article about the carillon - history, inscriptions, etc.; with one photo

News article about the present carillonist

A long series of photos by Bill Haygood includes many of these bells but also some surprises.

Video article on resumption of playing after a semester's silence while seismic reinforcement was added to the tower

Video article on the carillon

Where this work lies in the sequence of output of the vanBergen bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.

Ranking among all North American traditional carillons by weight.
Ranking among all North American traditional carillons by size (number of bells).
Ranking among all North American concert class carillons by year of completion.

Other concert carillons with similar keyboard ranges.

Index to all traditional carillons in MT.

Index to all tower bell instruments in MT.

   This page was built from the database on 29-Jul-22
   based on textual data last updated on 2022/07/29
   and on technical data last updated on 2005/03/04