Hopeman Memorial Carillon

*Location:

   Rush Rhees Library
   River Campus
   University of Rochester
   Library Road
   Rochester, New York, USA
   LL: N 43.12858, W 77.62847

Site locator map

*Carillonist:

   Carson Landry   (C)
   E: carson.landry@rochester.edu

   1930-?? John Rothwell Slater
                         (1872-1965)
   ??-?? Arthur Satz   (d.2024)

   9De1973 ded. Arie Abbenes
   1973-89 David T. Caldwell   (C)
   1995-2003 Daniel Harrison
   2006-08 Tiffany Ng   (C)
   2008-24 (volunteers)
   20??-24 Doris Aman
     and UR Carillon Society

*Contact:

   James Warlick
   Music Performance Programs
   1-339 Dewey Hall
   River Campus Station
   Rochester, NY  14627-0052
   T: 585-273-5157
   E: jwarlick@ur.rochester.edu
   - or -
   River Campus Music Department
   Department of Music
   University of Rochester
   1-339 Dewey Hall
   P.O. Box 270052
   Rochester, NY  14627-0052
   - or -
   Rush Rhees Library
   University of Rochester
   755 River Road
   Rochester, NY  14627-0055
   T: 585-275-4461

*Schedule:

   Weekdays 1345-1400 in term
     (students and faculty);
   summer series: 7pm Mon in July (guests)

*Remarks:

   1973: The 6 smallest Meneely bells went
   to Christ Church, Rochester; another
   was given to the Hopeman family as a
   memento (and later sold at an estate
   sale).  Other old bells were cut up in
   the tower for removal, and sent to
   Eijsbouts for casting the new bells.
   Practice console in Spurrier Hall.
   2017: rehung by M&W, with new clappers.
   Second practice console in Dewey Hall,
   not identical to playing console.

*Technical data:

   Traditional carillon of 50 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell (excluding sub-bourdon) is A# in the middle octave
   Keyboard range:     C C 48/(G) A#C 26
   Transposition is up one octave
   There are two missing bass semitones
   There is an identical practice console
   The whole instrument was installed in 1973
     with bells made by Eijsbouts        
   Prior history:
     In 1956, the instrument was enlarged to 19 bells
       by Petit & Fritsen
       (0 bells remain from that work.)
       Pitch of heaviest bell was A# in the bass octave
       Keyboard range was:     A#G   /    NONE  
       Transposition was nil (concert pitch)
       There were six added semitones
     In 1930, the instrument was begun with 17 bells
       by Meneely/Wvlt    
       (0 bells remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     A#F   /    NONE  
       There were five added semitones
   Auxiliary mechanisms: E     
   Tower details not available
   Year of latest technical information source is 1973

The University Website has a multi-page section about the carillon.
Some of the following pages may also survive:
History, with photos of the chime and bells before installation.  (As of March 2026, some of the links in that page are broken.)
The University Website has a section about the carillon and a page about the Sesquicentennial Chime (clock tune, with audio clips).  There are also downloadable PDFs with additional information, photos, etc.  A page on the Library building briefly tells about the carillon and offers an audio clip.

YouTube video (15:15) about the carillonist behind the University of Rochester’s bells

News article (Nov'17) on restoration work in progress by Meeks & Watson; with 9 photos of work in belfry by Josh Meeks & Bill Morris.  32 trebles removed to the M&W workshop for new clappers & mounting bolts, while the largest 18 were refurbished in the tower.

The carillon has a Facebook presence.

The University's online newsletter had a front page photo of Tiffany at the keyboard, with a link to an article about her and the carillon.

Waymarking page, with 6 photos in the gallery.

Where the initial phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meneely (Watervliet) bellfoundry.
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 final phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Eijsbouts 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 29-May-26
   based on textual data last updated on 2026/03/25
   and on technical data last updated on 1976/12/31