Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon

*Location:

   Washington Park
   West Fayette Avenue near Chatham Road
   Springfield, Illinois, USA
   LL: N 39.78934, W 89.68348

Site locator map

*Carillonist:

   Carlo van Ulft,   (A)
     Park District Carillonneur
   Rees Memorial Carillon
   Bunn Administrative Office
   2500 South 11th Street
   Springfield, IL  62703
   W: 217-546-3853  (tower)
      217-544-1751  (office)
   E: cvanulft@springfieldparks.org

   1962-76 Raymond Keldermans  (d.)
   1977-2011 Karel Keldermans
   2012-14 Robin Austin   (C)
   2015 Patrick Knox, interim

*Contact:

   Rees Carillon Society
   Peter M. Murphy, President
   P.O. Box 2345
   Springfield, IL  62705-2345
   T: 217-546-3853
   - or -
   Leslie A. Sgro, President
   Springfield Park District Trustees
   P.O. Box 173 / 2500 South 11th Street
   Springfield, IL  62705
   T: 217-544-1751
   E: lsgro8@aol.com

*Schedule:

   Sundays at noon and 3pm Sep-May,
   3pm and 7pm Jun-Aug;
   Wednesdays 7-8pm; also 2-week
   International Carillon Festival
   in June, and Christmas Carol Sing in
   December.
   Tower open for tours Saturday & Sunday,
   May-October, 2pm-dusk (weather
   permitting) A by appointment;
   T: 217-546-3853.

*Remarks:

   Major renovation in 1987--new keyboard
   (GCNA standard) transposing to B.
   World standard keyboard in 2000;
   upper belfry rehung in 2011, removing
   exterior frames.

*Technical data:

   Traditional carillon of 67 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is F# in the bass octave
   Keyboard range:     G D   /    G C 29
   Transposition is down 1 semitone(s), i.e., from C to B 
   There is one missing bass semitone
   The presence or absence of a practice console is unknown
   The instrument was enlarged in 2000
     with bells made by Petit & Fritsen
   Prior history:
     In 1987, the keyboard was replaced
       by unknown     
       Keyboard range was:     G D   /    G C 28
       There were two missing bass semitones
     In 1962, the instrument was begun with 66 bells
       by Petit & Fritsen
       Transposition was down 4 semitone(s)
       Keyboard range was:     G F 59/    A#C 26
       Transposition was down 4 semitone(s), i.e., from C to G#
   No auxiliary mechanisms known
   Tower details: 
     Height of console:                 25 meters above ground
     Height of lowest level of bells:   16 meters above ground
     Height of highest level of bells:  32 meters above ground
     Belfry openness:  99%
   Year of latest technical information source is 2000

The carillon has its own Website, with Festival schedule and many photos.

Waymarking page, with 6 photos

Where the initial phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Petit & Fritsen bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the final phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Petit & Fritsen bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.

Ranking among all North American traditional carillons by weight.
Ranking among all North American traditional carillons by size (number of bells).
Ranking among all North American concert class carillons by year of completion.

Other grand carillons with similar keyboard ranges.

The two bass bells of this carillon are among all great bells in North America.

Index to all traditional carillons in IL.

Index to all tower bell instruments in IL.

   This page was built from the database on 14-Oct-24
   based on textual data last updated on 2018/05/08
   and on technical data last updated on 2002/04/02