
Millennium Carillon - Naperville, IL
Posted by:
Go Boilers!
N 41° 46.200 W 088° 09.390
16T E 403876 N 4624886
Quick Description: The tower is taller than the Statue of Liberty. The Millennium Carillon is one of only four spanning a full six octaves
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 2/14/2009 6:17:08 PM
Waymark Code: WM5V55
Views: 7
Long Description:Phase I of the magnificent 72 bell Millennium Carillon was
dedicated in a spectacular Independence Day concert on June 29,
2000. Amid the roar of cannons and the musical strains of the
Naperville Municipal Band and the Naperville Men's Glee Club and
Festival Chorus, the bells sounded in the first public concert and
was greeted by the applause of 15,000 in attendance at the historic
event.
Of six hundred carillons world wide, the Millennium Carillon is
one of only four spanning a full six octaves. It is properly known
as a Grand Carillon. The largest bell, dedicated as the Captain
Joseph Naper Bell, or "Big Joe" as it has become known, weighs
almost 6 tons.
The bronze bells of the Millennium Carillon were cast at the
Royal Eijsbouts Bell Foundry in The Netherlands. The glass cabin
visible at the 95 foot level houses the oak keyboard, called a
clavier, and is situated between the two massive bell chambers.
About half of the bells are also played daily at set times by a
computerized system of strikers. Annual summer recitals on the
Riverwalk, as well as other special events, will be ongoing events
at the carillon.
The carillon earned Naperville the distinction of being
designated a White House Millennium Community in 1999.