Duff-Armington Memorial Carillon

*Location:

   Old Main Building
   Westminster College
   Maple and South Chestnut Streets
   New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, USA
   LL: N 41.11976, W 80.33208

   Over flat roof to tower door; spiral
   iron stair to keyboard room and belfry.

Site locator map

*Carillonist:

   Mitchell Stecker,
     College Organist & Carilloneur
   T: 724-946-7019
   E: steckem@westminster.edu

   1978-2007 Raymond H. Ocock   (d.)
   Dr. Paul M. Musser
   Debra L. Johnson   (C)
   20??-24 Paula A. Kubik,   (A)
     College Organist/Carillonist

*Contact:

   Department of Music
   Westminster College
   New Wilmington, PA  16172-0001
   T: 800-942-8033
   E: infodesk@westminster.edu
      music@westminster.edu
     & via Webform at westminster.edu

*Schedule:

   Mon Wed Fri 1200-1230;
   occasionally for special events;
   summer concert series

*Remarks:

   Originally Duff Memorial Chime, using
   notes 4-15 of a 16-note chimestand
   with 4 pedals (unused).
   First expansion in memory of Katherine
   Stewart Armington; previous report
   of replacement of four bells in this
   expansion was incorrect.
   New trebles installed Summer 2006,
   filling spaces in existing keyboard,
   were donated by Class of '56 for their
   50th anniversary.
   Elsewhere on campus (formerly in tower)
   is the Victory Bell, by Fulton
   (Pittsburgh PA), rescued from the fire
   which destroyed the original Old Main.

*Technical data:

   Traditional carillon of 42 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is A# in the middle octave
   Keyboard range:     C G   /    C G   
   Transposition is up 10 semitone(s), i.e., from C to A#
   There are two missing bass semitones
   The presence or absence of a practice console is unknown
   The instrument was enlarged in 2006
     with bells made by Petit & Fritsen
   Prior history:
     In 1978, the instrument was enlarged to 35 bells
       by Petit & Fritsen
       Keyboard range was:     C C   /    C G   
     In 1935, the instrument was begun with 12 bells
       by Meneely/Wvlt
       Keyboard range was:     C E   /    ----  
       There were two added semitones
   No auxiliary mechanisms known
   Tower details not available
   Year of latest technical information source is 2006

A small sketch of the bell tower is on the home page of Westminster's Website, and there is a photo under Old Main on the Virtual Tour. 
The carillon is mentioned in several places as part of the music curriculum, and in relation to the fundraising for the recent expansion, but it is nowhere described.

A YouTube documentary video (8:20) about the bells includes a brief view of the Victory bell on top of the carillon frame (at 1:04).  At 1:15 is a brief view of an old photo of the chimestand - 12 notes in slots 4-15 of a 16-note chimestand; slots 1-3 have dropped keys, and below are slots for four pedals, though only 1 & 4 are occupied, and both are dropped.  Includes footage of Dr. Paul Musser.  Carillon keyboard has 7 dropped keys at top (4 white, 3 black), and dropped keys for 2 missing bass semitones; so the video must predate the 2006 expansion.

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 Petit & Fritsen 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 traditional carillons by year of completion.

Other medium carillons with similar keyboard ranges.

Index to all traditional carillons in PA.

Index to all tower bell instruments in PA.

   This page was built from the database on 14-Oct-24
   based on textual data last updated on 2024/08/28
   and on technical data last updated on 2006/02/05