Long Description:The Maguire Memorial Carillon of First Presbyterian Church,
Stamford, Connecticut is a 56-bell instrument consisting of 22
bells cast by Gillett and Johnston from the original Nestle
Carillon of 36 bells installed in 1948, and 34 bells cast by
Paccard in 1967. (A detailed history of this instrument is given in
the 1982 BULLETIN of the GCNA.) The bourdon weighs 6,830 lbs. and
sounds the note B2. It is connected at the console to B flat 2.
Except for the first B2 and C#3 (console), the instrument is
chromatic to g7, almost five octaves higher.
The largest 11 bells are housed in the lower bell chamber; three
of these, forming a major triad based upon the bourdon, are
arranged in full swinging mountings. The 45 smaller bells are
housed in the upper bell chamber. The console, located in a
teakwood cabin between the bell chambers is of "Bigelow Standard"
design. In addition to the mechanical carillon action, the 20
largest bells are playable electrically from the organ; an
automatic clock-controlled mechanism plays the Cambridge Quarters
on bells 6, 11, 13, and 15, with the hour struck on the
bourdon.
Although the beauty and clarity of the tone of this instrument
had been acclaimed from the outset by all, many, including the
resident carillonneur, had felt that the action was uneven and
rather heavy, particularly in the pedals, with consequent
difficulty in controlling the instrument. Accordingly, over a
period of two years, a number of carillon consultants were called
in to examine the carillon, and to submit proposals for its
improvement. The I.T. Verdin Co. of Cincinnati was selected to
perform the needed work, some of which was necessitated by 13 years
of moderate to heavy usage, but of which the balance stemmed from
problems in the original installation, which Dr. Bigelow did not
live to see completed.
Starting from the top, literally, isolation material and
provision for expansion and contraction of the supporting beams
were placed on the smallest 27 bells, effectively eliminating the
"knocking" sound caused by the former rigid clamping to the
supporting beams. All recalling springs were replaced, and counter
springs were applied to the lower medium and bass bells. All
clappers were removed, cleaned, painted, and replaced with renewed
lubrication, and all headbolts drawn, inspected, and painted before
reinstallation. New newprene isolation material was also installed
for bells 12-29, and all transmission bars were removed, and the
bearings cleaned and lubricated. A new umbrella system eliminated
leakage and the former friction at that point. At the console, new
heavier-pattern adjusters were installed above the music rack,
eliminating the necessity of removing the rack when adjusting; all
keys and pedals were side bushed with bushing cloth, and all
console wood and metal parts were completely refinished. Rear pivot
points of the keys were honed and bushed with Teflon, and the first
eleven keys, which are extended to the rear for downward
connections to the lower bell-chamber, were reinforced, to prevent
the former flexing under pressure. A new music rack, long enough to
accommodate seven pages, was installed. New pedal springs were
installed as well.
Throughout the instrument great care was used in lining up and
plumbing elements of the action; this resulted in the movement of
both the console, and many of the transmission bar arms, in order
to obtain the correct pull lines.
In the lower bell chamber, new hammers were placed on the
smaller of the two swinging bells, and rigid aluminum tubing with
stainless terminations and clavier connections replaced wires on
the six largest bells; the mechanism of these was considerably
simplified: the action on any bell does not change direction more
than twice; formerly, the action of bell #3 involved five changes
of direction, and some bells had three transmission bars.
Finally, in addition to much needed work on mountings, bearings,
woodwork, clappers, and other refurbishing and corrections, the
electrical mechanism which involves individual motors operating
extra internal clappers, was cleaned, lubricated, and re-regulated
throughout.
The carillon was first played publicly after renovation by
George Matthew, Jr., and Rick Watson on the Sunday before
Christmas, 1981. It now provides the sensitivity and achieves the
brilliance and grandeur that Dr. Bigelow had envisioned in this,
his last and finest instrument. The mixture of open surface and
enclosure of the two bells chambers, the happy combination of the
English and French bells, and the wide range produce a sound with
both clarity and depth, on which music of all periods may be
effectively played, and which blends well with instruments on
special occasions. The instrument carries up to 1-1/2 miles on
quiet days with favorable wind, but is not overpowering in the
churchyard and nearby streets.
Source:
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