Practice Instrument for the Beaumont Tower Carillon 

The College of Music seeks donations to build and install a modern and reliable practice carillon at Beaumont Tower. 

The new practice instrument will be made by Royal Eijsbouts, a company based in the Netherlands, and placed in the tower for use by students, faculty, visiting performers, and touring recitalists who will be using the instrument before performing publicly on the University's Carillon. A new practice instrument will support teaching and learning, allow the carillon program to be more musically aligned with campus and world events, and improve the quality of music that is offered to all who pass near the tower.

The College has been teaching music students to perform on MSU's 49-bell carillon, but to progress, they require a reliable practice instrument. Such an instrument also allows the University Carillonist to prepare higher quality and more relevant / timely music for weekly performances, ceremonies, festivals, and other important University. While Beaumont Tower previously had a workable and dependable practice instrument, it has recently become unreliable, and was unusable for much of this current semester. Even when it is in working condition, the prior instrument does not register variations of touch, making it difficult for students to transition between the practice instrument and the highly touch-sensitive performance instrument that can be heard most days across North Campus.

Your Support Will Make a Big Difference

While the instument and instillation itself costs over $85,000, your donations will help MSU replace the old practice carillon with a new instrument for teaching and practicing. 

American Standard Keyboard: 

• 49 keys, Bb, C, D chromatic to C, maple wood, finishing transparent lacquer, waxed key ends  
• Dampening by double woven felt and soft neoprene  
• Hinges will be made of Habasit 
• Pedals will be made of oak with ends protected by neoprene covers 
• Keys and pedals will be guided by polished stainless steel spreader posts 
• 49 aluminum perfectly tuned tone plates Bb, C, D, chromatic to C 
• The sound level will be balanced by resonator tubes 
• Clapper system with piano hammers. 
• Pedals and manuals will be connected by a tumbler system 
• All steel will be either stainless steel or galvanized and painted 
• Oak music board over the length of the clavier 
• All oakwood will be stained  
• Dimensions: 1560mm x 1950 m x 760mm 
• Weight: approx. 350 kg

Bench: 

• Without backrest 
• Seating of massive oak with rounded front edge
• Fully height adjustable by crank system

 

Make a Gift by Mail:

University Advancement
Spartan Way
535 Chestnut Road, Room 300
East Lansing, MI 48824

*Make check payable to Michigan State University and write “Appeal 24GGDCF1CARIL” in the note section.

Connect with Us

• MSU website - https://www.music.msu.edu/carillon?fbclid=IwAR0MZjMYID8QcWq08Js7NFhEbkoJU9eQ7lnxcnTjjxiuSVOJ0-tsRejkt9Y

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