*Location:

   City Hall
   Eagle Street at Washington Avenue
   Albany, New York, USA
   LL: N 42.65174, W 73.75486

Site locator map

*Carillonist:

   Amy Heebner   (C)
   1403 Delaware Turnpike
   Delmar, NY  12054-5407
   H: 518-768-2272   W: 518-474-4883
   E: AlbanyCarillon@yahoo.com
      AHeebner@nycap.rr.com
   - and -
   Charles Semowich
   51 Green Street
   Rensselaer, NY  12144
   H: 518-449-4756   W: 518-434-8036
   E: semowich@att.net
      semowich@gmail.com

   Se.1927  Jef Denyn (dedication)

*Contact:

   Friends of the Albany Carillon, Inc.
   Office of the Mayor
   City Hall, Suite 102
   24 Eagle Street
   Albany, NY  12207-1991
   T: 518-434-5100

*Schedule:

   Monday and Friday noon (Semowich),
   Wednesday noon (Heebner);
   summer series: 1pm Sundays Jun-Jul;
   various special events.

*Remarks:

   Originally 60 bells, including 13
   duplicate trebles.  For some years,
   only the lowest 35 bells were playable,
   and only from an ivory keyboard.
   New console extends to bass G in
   manual and pedal; these notes work on
   practice console.  All of the 1986
   bells were replaced in 1989.
   Two small 1927 bells mark the graves
   of Col. & Mrs. William Gorham Rice
   in Albany Rural Cemetery.

*Technical data:

   Traditional carillon of 49 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is G  in the bass octave
   Keyboard range:     A#C   /    A#C 25
   Transposition is down 3 semitone(s), i.e., from C to A 
   There are two missing bass semitones
   There is an identical practice console
   13 bells were recast or replaced in 1989
     by Taylor       
   Prior history:
     In 1986, the instrument was enlarged to 49 bells
       by Taylor      
       (0 bells remain from that work.)
     Previously, the keyboard was replaced
       by an unknown maker
       Keyboard range was:     C C 35/    NONE  
     In 1927, the instrument was begun with 47 bells
       by Taylor      
       (19 bells remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     A#A#  /    A#--  
       Transposition was down 3 semitone(s), i.e., from C to A 
   No auxiliary mechanisms known
   Tower details: 
     Height of console:                 40 meters above ground
     Height of lowest level of bells:   40 meters above ground
     Height of highest level of bells:  45 meters above ground
     Belfry openness:   .%
   Year of latest technical information source is 2020

This is one of only eight carillons which were originally equipped with Taylor's doubled trebles.

The carillon has its own Website, with a good photo and several pages of information.

A peace carillon page has photos and additional information.

The building's architectural style is the subject of a photo essay which includes several fine pictures of the tower from different perspectives.

A peace carillon page has photos and additional information.

The graves of Col. William Gorham Rice and his wife were originally marked with two Taylor bells from 1927.  Those were stolen, and have been replaced with two bells that were removed from the Albany carillon in the renovation of 1986.  The inscription on the center of the supporting bar reads "These Carillon Bells Mark the Grave of Partners in Marriage and in Making the Music of the Carillon Known Across the Continent."  There is a brief biography that mentions Rice's promotion of carillons. 

Where the initial phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Taylor bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the second phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Taylor bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the final phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Taylor 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.

The bass bell of this carillon is among all great bells in North America.

Index to all traditional carillons in NY.

Index to all tower bell instruments in NY.

Index to all peace carillons worldwide.

   This page was built from the database on 14-Oct-24
   based on textual data last updated on 2020/08/15
   and on technical data last updated on 2020/03/07