Davis Memorial Carillon

*Location:

   Alfred University
   Action Drive (south campus)
   Alfred, New York, USA
   LL: N 42.25427, W 77.78673

Site locator map

*Carillonist:

   Laurel Buckwalter,   (C)
     University Carillonneur
   5744 East Valley Road
   Alfred Station, NY  14803-9721
   H: 607-587-8090   W: 607-871-2234
   F: 607-871-2587
   E: FBuckwal@Alfred.edu

   1937    Henry Wesson
   1938 ded. Kamiel Lefévere
   1937-68 Dr.Ray W. Wingate   (1886-1968)
   1969-76 (students)
   1977-94 Joanne Droppers   (C)(d.2018)

*Contact:

   Performing Arts Office
   Alfred University
   Alfred, NY  14802-1232
   T: 607-871-2562
   E: performs@alfred.edu

*Schedule:

   Mon,Wed,Fri 1230-1245;
   Saturday 1600-1630;
   summer series 7pm Tue in July (guests)

*Remarks:

   Entire tower from 1937 was replaced
   in the 1953 enlargement; this was
   significantly remodelled in 1983.
   Original installation contained 18
   bells apparently by P. Hemony, 1674;
   16 (later 12) by Joris du Mery, 1737;
   one apparently by A. van den Gheyn
   1784; reportedly all collected (and
   some retuned) by Omer Michaux,
   Louvain, Belgium; thus this was thought
   to be the only pre-19th century
   carillon in North America.  However,
   investigations c.2003 confirmed old
   suspicions that the "Hemony" bells
   were forgeries made by Michaux
   (or Michiels) using plaster casts of
   bells which existed elsewhere.
   The duMery bells have been traced to
   St.Salvatorkerk, Harelbeke, Belgium.
   One original bell (broken) was replaced
   in the 1953 enlargement, and the
   two smallest duMery originals were
   replaced in the 1977 enlargement.
   Meeks, Watson & Co. replaced top 20
   in 2006; dedicated 10 June.

*Technical data:

   Traditional carillon of 47 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is D  in the middle octave
   Keyboard range:     C C   /    C G   
   Transposition is up  2 semitone(s), i.e., from C to D 
   There are two missing bass semitones
   There is a non-identical practice console
   20 bells were recast or replaced in 2006
     by Meeks,Watson 
   Prior history:
     In 1977, the instrument was enlarged to 47 bells
       by Petit & Fritsen
       (0 bells remain from that work.)
     In 1953, the instrument was enlarged to 43 bells
       by Petit & Fritsen
       (8 bells were added in and/or remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     G G#38/    C G   
     In 1937, the instrument was begun with 35 bells
       apparently by the makers cited in Remarks above
       (19 bells remain from that work.)
       Pitch of heaviest bell was A# in the middle octave
       Keyboard range was:     C C   /    ----  
       Transposition was up 10 semitone(s), i.e., from C to A#
   Auxiliary mechanisms: S3    
   Tower details not available
   Year of latest technical information source is 2006

On the university Website, a page on the Davis Memorial Carillon provides a picture of the tower and describes the instrument's history.  A press release gives details of the confirmation of the forgery of the "Hemony" bells.

A Waymarking page for these bells has 4 photos of the tower.

The initial phase of this work, being apparently from multiple founders, is not indexed by foundry.
Where the second phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Petit & Fritsen bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the third phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Petit & Fritsen bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the final phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meeks & Watson 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 NY.

Index to all tower bell instruments in NY.

   This page was built from the database on 14-Oct-24
   based on textual data last updated on 2018/09/10
   and on technical data last updated on 2013/08/09