Automatic chimes

In contrast to what many may suppose, the automatic carillon is in no respect an imitation or replacement of the carillonneur. In the first place, the automatic carillon can be programmed to play well-known melodies at any desired moment. Moreover, it possesses a manner of expression foreign to the carillonneur with his clavier. The rapid runs and the playful embellishments in many scores are not feasible by hand but can be played automatically.

New dimension

The automatic carillon is a musical instrument with its own musical characteristics. It is true that it lacks the expression possible with manual play, but programmers aware of this discrepancy will be able to add a new dimension to tower music. It is therefore hardly surprising that an automatic playing mechanism is attached to almost every manual carillon. The opportunities offered by an automatic carillon have meant that purely automatic instruments have been made for years. Automatic chimes are usually smaller in size and lighter in weight, and consequently lower in purchase price. You often see them in town or village squares and parks, in shopping centres or on the facades of public buildings such as town halls or banks.

Technological developments

The principles of automatic chimes were first evident as early as the middle ages, in the form of wrought iron revolving drums with pegs. The mechanics have improved with time, but it was not until halfway through the 20th century that drums were finally replaced by the so-called automatic roller-player. This system can be compared to that of a street organ in that the melodies are recorded on perforated tapes. As the band runs, the holes activate the contacts linked to the electro-magnetic hammers of each bell. A logical successor to the automatic roller-player is the carillon computer in which the musical information is stored in an electronic memory.

The electric connections have therefore been replaced by electronic ones, offering far greater opportunities as far as programming is concerned. In addition, the computer is very user-friendly and requires hardly, if any, maintenance. It is now even possible to communicate remotely with the carillon computer via modem. The carillonneur possesses everything needed to program the automatic music independently.

Happily, in spite of rapid technological developments over the last few years, we are nevertheless witnessing a reviving tendency to retain the traditional playing drum. The current state of technology even makes it possible to operate a drum by computer, while preserving the ingenious operation of the mechanical transmission of the peg to the hammer.