Culture of the carillon in Belgium |
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In the year 2014, UNESCO recognized the carillon culture in Belgium as the best practice in the protection of intangible cultural heritage. Across the country, there are 89 carillon, which is usually located in the belfry of a church or municipal building. The carillon consists of at least 23 bells, cast in bronze. The instrument can be operated by a carillonist or by of a special drum mechanism.
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The largest carillon in Belgium is located on the tower of St. Rombouts. From the original set of 49 bells that are still in good condition, each has its own name. Salwator weighs 8884 kilograms, Jehsus was cast in 1490 a year, and Liberation is the latest acquisition from 1947 year. Above the carillon there is a new one, on which concerts are played during the summer. Both carillon have a total of 98 bells and weigh over 80 tonnes.
The oldest school of carillonists is in Mechelen, Royal Carillon School Jef Denyn .
The oldest school of carillonists is in Mechelen, Royal Carillon School Jef Denyn .
Also in Bruges, on the top of the monumental belfry, there is a magnificent 47 bell, a carillon. The drum, being the mechanism of the carillon, cast from bronze, in one piece, Antoon de handt in 1748 year. It has 2.5 meters in length and 2.06 meters in diameter. It is believed that its weight reaches nine tons. It has 250 rows, each with 122 square holes. Together, this gives the number of 30.500 square holes for the pin. All this elaborate mechanism is used to run 47 bells that are part of the carillon. The carillon rings every fifteen minutes and plays the melody every half hour.