In 1963, the 36-bell carillon was moved from the campanile to the carillon room lower down in the tower. The carillon was extended to 49 bells, the usual number for a large instrument. A new keyboard was also installed and continued to be used until its restoration in 2012. It was created according to the Mechelen model, as conceived by the celebrated carillonneur Jef Denyn.
The carillon sounds every quarter, playing four tunes an hour that are repeated throughout the day. The bells are operated automatically, thereby eliminating the need for a carillonneur to play the music during these periods of time.
In the past a large carillon drum with iron pins was used for this purpose.
Screwed to the drum, these pins ensured that the bells would play in the correct order. The pin positioning process was called "pinning".
The drum was rotated every quarter of an hour, while a system of wires allowed the hammers to strike the bells. These hammers were located on the outside of each bell.
Taken out of service in 1962, the rotating drum was positioned directly under the campanile in the roof of the belfry tower. The drum bears no signature, but everything seems to suggest it was made by Désiré SOMERS from Mechelen.
The automatic playing system is now controlled by a computer that actuates the carillon keyboard pneumatically.
24 окт 2024
