Inside Iowa State
June 11, 1999
Carillonneurs to meet at ISU this month
by Anne Dolan
The first of the "bells of Iowa State" are 100 years old this year, and as part of the anniversary celebration, Iowa State is hosting the 57th Congress of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America June 16-19.
About 130 musicians from around the country -- and even a few foreign countries -- will attend, according to Tin-Shi Tam, ISU carillonneur and organizer of the conference.
The four-day event includes business meetings, workshops on carillon playing techniques and principles of carillon renovation, presentations on writing music for carillon, and discussions on fund raising and publicity.
The conference also will include free daily concerts, typically in the evening. (A complete schedule of the public recitals is below.) Tam said the carillon will be in use during much of the week of June 14, particularly from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday through Saturday, while congress attendees perform advancement recitals required for membership in the guild.
Bob Lindemeyer, Instructional Technology Center and member of the Stanton Memorial Carillon Foundation, will give a multimedia presentation, "The Bells of Iowa State: An Enduring Tradition," at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, in the Tye Recital Hall. His talk will include slides, film of former ISU carillonneur Ira Schroeder playing in the 1960s and video of the restoration and rededication a few years ago. Among those scheduled to join him in the talk are Debbie Knapp, grand-daughter of Laura Storms Knapp, the first woman to play the carillon (1906); and Margaret "Peggy" Doe, president of the carillon foundation and granddaughter of Edgar Stanton, who paid for the first 26 bells.
Guild members also held their annual meeting in Ames in 1965 and 1980.
"It is quite a privilege to get it for the third time," Tam said. "We have a good carillon and a long tradition of carillonneurs in the guild."
The bells
Math professor, vice president and three-time acting president Edgar Stanton gave Iowa State the first 10 bells in memory of his wife, Margaret Stanton, Iowa State's first dean of women, who died in 1895. The state Legislature appropriated $7,500 for the tower and clock to house the bells. In 1929, 26 more bells were added, with money left to Iowa State in Edgar Stanton's will. Thirteen bells were purchased in 1956 and the 50th bell was added in 1967.
The tower and carillon bells received a $350,000 renovation in 1992-93. That work included a new roof, brick repair, redesign of the framing and positioning of the bells, a digital control system to coordinate the clock and chime operation, new clappers for all bells and new playing and practice consoles.
57th Congress
The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America
June 16-19, 4-2911
Public carillon events
Wednesday, June 16
- 7-7:45 p.m., Recital, Tin-shi Tam, Iowa State.
- 8 p.m., Presentation, "The Bells of Iowa State: An
Enduring Tradition," Robert Lindemeyer, ISU Instructional
Technology Center; Debbie Knapp, granddaughter of ISU's first
woman carillonneur Laura Knapp; and Peggy Doe, grand-daughter
of Edgar Stanton (ice cream social follows in the lobby), Tye
Hall, Music.
Thursday, June 17
- 5:15-6 p.m., Recital, George Matthew Jr., Norwich
University, Northfield, Vt.
- 6:15-7 p.m., Recital, Todd Fair, Netherlands Carillon
School, Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
Friday, June 18
- 7-7:45 p.m., Recital, Gordon Slater, Houses of
Parliament, Ottawa, Ontario.
- 8-8:45 p.m., Recital, Milford Myhre, Bok Tower Gardens,
Lake Wales, Fla.
Saturday, June 19
- 4:30-5:15 p.m., Recital, Helen Hawley, Lawrence, Kan.
- 5:30-6:30 p.m., Recital, guild members.
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