The Cornell Chimes

*Location:

   McGraw Tower
   Uris Library (formerly Main Library)
   Cornell University
   Arts Quad / Central Campus
   (between Central Avenue and Tower Road)
   Ithaca, New York, USA
   LL: N 42.44758, W 76.48512

   McGraw Hall tower

   wooden campanile

Site locator map

*Player:

   Cornell Chimesmasters   (A)
   136 Ho Plaza
   Cornell University
   Ithaca, NY  14853-8202
   T: 607-255-5350
   E: chimes@cornell.edu

*Contact:

   Marisa Piliero LaFalce,
     Chimes Coordinator
   136 Ho Plaza
   Cornell University
   Ithaca, NY  14853-8202
   T: 607-255-2373
   E: chimes@cornell.edu
   - or -
   Cornell University Information and
     Referral Center
   Tang Welcome Center
   Ithaca, NY  14853-2801
   T: 607-254-4636

*Schedule:

   Weekdays 0745, 1310, 1800;
   Sat-Sun 1010, 1200, 1800;
   each for 15 min.; all during school
   term.  Irregular out of term; see online
   calendar (www.chimes.cornell.edu) for
   these and many special occasions.
   Tower open to visitors 10 minutes
   before each concert.

*Remarks:

   The bell added in 1869 is the clock
   (or hour) bell.  It and the largest
   of the original 9 bells were not recast
   in 1908.  In the 1982 work, Paccard
   added 1 treble and replaced 1 (D#);
   playing clavier then had the first 17
   notes duplicated between manual and
   pedal; practice clavier had 18 notes,
   duplicating the arrangement of the
   keyboard installed in 1970.
   Total renovation of tower and chime
   in 1998-99: Meeks & Watson replaced
   both Paccards and added G# treble (all
   cast by M&W to Meneely profile),
   retuned 17 assorted Meneelys, added a
   recycled Meneely bass D# (keyboard
   pitch); and supplied new frame,
   keyboards and transmission.
   The oldest, largest and most regularly
   played chime on any American campus.

*Technical data:

   Traditional chime (chimestand) of 21 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is C# in the middle octave
   Transposition is up  1 semitone(s)
   Keyboard range:     C A   /    C A   
   There is one missing bass semitone
   There is an identical practice console
   The instrument was enlarged in 1999
     with  3 bells made by Meeks,Watson
   Prior history:
     In 1982, the instrument was enlarged to 19 bells
       by Paccard     
       (0 bells remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     C G 18/    C FA18
       There were six added semitones
     In 1970, the keyboard was replaced
       by an unknown maker
       Keyboard range was:     C G   /    C G   
     In 1939, the instrument was enlarged to 18 bells
       by Meneely/Wvlt
       (1 bells were added in and/or remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     C G 16/    --F# 7
     In 1928, the instrument was enlarged to 16 bells
       by Meneely/Wvlt
       (2 bells were added in and/or remain from that work.)
       Transposition was up  1 semitone(s)
       Keyboard range was:     C G   /    ---- 5
       There were four added semitones
     In 1908, the instrument was enlarged to 14 bells
       by Meneely/Wvlt
       (12 bells were added in and/or remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     C F   /    ----  
       There were three added semitones
     In 1869, the instrument was enlarged to 10 bells
       by Meneely/Wvlt
       (1 bells were added in and/or remain from that work.)
       Pitch of heaviest bell (excluding sub-bourdon) was F# in the middle octave
       Transposition was down 1 semitone(s)
       Keyboard range was:  (D)G G   /    ----  
       There was one added semitone
     In 1868, the instrument was begun with  9 bells
       by Meneely/Wvlt
       (1 bells remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     G G   /    ----  
   No auxiliary mechanisms known
   Tower details not available
   Year of latest technical information source is 2005

The extensive Cornell Chimes Website has lots of information, including details of the current concert schedule and the identity of the current Chimesmasters.

On the University Website, you can type "chimes" into the "Web pages" field at the bottom of the home page to find links to hundreds of articles and photos about this instrument.  You can easily find more photos and information about McGraw Tower on the campus tour.

Stock photos:
clavier
Front side of keyboard
Back side of keyboard

Where the initial phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meneely (Watervliet) bellfoundry.
Where the second phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meneely (Watervliet) bellfoundry.
Where the third phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meneely (Watervliet) bellfoundry.
Where the fourth phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meneely (Watervliet) bellfoundry.
Where the fifth phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meneely (Watervliet) bellfoundry.
Where the sixth phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Paccard bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the final phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meeks & Watson bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.

Other chimes which qualify as mini-carillons.

Ranking among all North American chimes by size (number of bells).
Ranking among all North American chimes by weight (pitch).
Ranking among all North American chimes by year of completion.

Index to all tower bell instruments in NY.

   This page was built from the database on  4-Nov-23
   based on textual data last updated on 2022/03/15
   and on technical data last updated on 2007/11/01