Embrace UT’s Bell Tower

As we stroll by means of campus or swiftly scurry to our subsequent class, the UT Tower sometimes rings its bells with well-known melodies. 

The tower bells are often known as the Carillon: a multi-belled pitched percussion instrument that’s performed equally to a keyboard. As gamers foster musical connections with the carillon, every key rings a big bell within the tower. 

Each echoing hymn that resonates by means of campus reminds us of our collective values and traditions. Consequently, college students and college ought to take a second to hear, respect and replicate on College traditions that permeate by means of the UT Carillon.

Formally named the “Kniker Carillon,” the UT Carillon is operated by the UT Guild of Carillonneurs. The guild consists of scholars who keep common ringing schedules, facilitate group music training, oversee pupil curiosity within the Carillon and carry out at formal College features. 

“I discovered what a Carillon was the summer time earlier than my freshman yr,” mentioned Gia Cabacungan, biology junior and the Director of the UT Guild of Carillonneurs. “I wish to play online game songs. My favourite tune to play is the fairy fountain theme from Legend of Zelda. (Taking part in the tune) on the Carillon is admittedly quick and enjoyable to sort (play) up and down the instrument.”

From college traditions just like the “Eyes of Texas” and Baroque items to the fashionable classics of “Dangerous Romance” and “The Remaining Countdown, college students, college and our fellow Austinites hear a various vary of songs from the bells.

“Typically the Eyes of Texas or random songs (are performed) within the night, which is kind of enjoyable and entertaining,” mentioned electrical and laptop engineer freshman Arjun Bala-Metha. “The bells oftentimes brighten up my day once I’ve had a really tiring day.”

The Kniker Carillon is the biggest in Texas – making it our state’s flagship bell instrument. As college students of the guild put together to play their weekly night concert events, they trek up the steps to the UT Tower’s south entrance. After heading up in direction of the twenty-seventh flooring, college students wind upwards till they attain a compact carillon room. This room is engulfed by the monstrous instrument close to the clock face.

The carillonneurs additionally play items tuned to the season or attentive to present occasions.

“The primary carillonneur, who was right here earlier than all of us, was Tom Anderson,” Cabacungan mentioned. “He performed from 1967 to 2013, till his dying. He had a routine … he would play Christmas carols round December. A few weeks in the past, after the capturing in Michigan, certainly one of our members went up and performed their alma mater tune. It’s good to have these tributes to tragedies and reveals of respect.”

The UT Bell Tower solidifies the College’s legacy – and all college students can get entangled. 

“Lately we had much more curiosity as a result of we’ve been getting much more reputation,” Cabacungan mentioned. “The plan for this upcoming yr is that we’ll ship out an curiosity Google Varieties with a hyperlink on our social media. We fill spots when folks graduate.”

The bell and ringing will stay for many years to return. You’ll keep in mind them now, simply as you’ll while you’re again many years later. For college students, college, dad and mom and alumni: the subsequent time you hear our carillon bells ring, take a second to internalize our steady historical past. 

Take a second to hear. Take a second to replicate. 

Wan is a civil engineering and Plan II freshman from Houston, Texas.