Guild of Carillonneurs rings out over Concord

ATHENS, WV (WVNS) — A guild of musicians, the 81st Guild of Carillonneurs in North America Congress (GCNA), is calling Concord University home for several days.

The sound of bells rang out over Concord’s campus, clanging from the bell tower at the Marsh Administration Building on June 5, 2024.

The instrument exuding this music is a lesser-known keyboard instrument called a “carillon.” A carillon has at least 23 bells and is played using a keyboard made of pegs. These pegs control the cables attached to the bell’s clappers.

Jesse Ratcliffe is the co-host of this year’s congress and a Concord alum. He said that the possibilities for the carillon are endless.

“The carillon is not an instrument that has a lot of well-known original pieces. Like the organ, you think of Bach’s Toccata in D Minor, Beethoven with the Fifth Symphony,” said Ratcliffe. “There’s not a lot of iconic pieces for the carillon, but the carillon is a keyboard instrument, so that means if you can hum it, you can go up to the bell tower and you can play it.”

The congress lasts until June 8, 2024 and has an absolutely jam-packed schedule.

Events include exam recitals for potential new members, recitals from notable carillonneurs, and even a huge banquet for the attendees in Concord University’s ballroom.

Among the attendees was Janet Tebbel, Vice President for the GCNA. She said she is excited for her turn to play the Marsh Memorial Carillon.

“Amazing! The hosting has been great [. . .],” said Tebbel. “And this is a gorgeous instrument. I can’t wait to play it.”

Tebbel said one piece of their music is in memory of a guild member who passed away just three months prior.

Members of the guild have travelled from across the country to get a chance to hear the music from this instrument and take a turn of their own playing. Musicians had to travel to play this instrument because each one of the bells weighs several hundred pounds.

Ratcliffe said the largest bell in Concord’s carillon weighs around 4 thousand pounds.

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