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Grace Episcopal Church is blessed to have
one of four carillons in the state of New
Jersey. The Pittis Carillon was
dedicated as a two octave carillon in March
1923. It was manufactured and installed by
Gillett & Johnston. The carillon was later
doubled in size by brothers Walter and
Bertram Pittis. The new bells were
manufactured by Paccard. The second
dedication was in May 1976.
- Traditional carillon of 47 bells
- Pitch of heaviest bell is E in the middle octave
- Transposition is up 4 semitones
- Keyboard range: C C / C G
- There are two missing bass semitones
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The
carillon is played from a keyboard located
one floor beneath the bell chamber in the
tower.
The keys are struck with the half-closed
hand. In addition, the larger bells are
connected to foot pedals.
The keyboard allows expression through
variation of touch.
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Individual cables connect each bell to the
keyboard. The bells remain stationary.
The wire pulls the clapper into the bell. |
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The largest bell weighs 2296 ponds and is
over 5 feet tall.
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The 47 bells are arranged on steel and
wooden beams. |
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Carillonneur Jeff Spelman at the keyboard. |
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Click here to
watch videos of guest performer Wesley Arai
play the Grace Carillon at our annual Peach
Festival and Carillon concert.
More information on carillons can be found
at the Guild of Carillonneurs in North
America website
http://www.gcna.org |