Carillon Recital

The Luray Singing Tower, officially known as the Belle Brown Northcott Memorial contains a carillon of 47 bells, is a gift by the late Col. T.C. Northcott and his daughter, Mrs. Katherine Northcott Graves, in memory of Col. Northcott's wife, Belle Brown Northcott. It was dedicated in 1937. The Carillon is an Old World instrument, originating at least 400 years ago. It is a very popular musical instrument in Europe, especially in the Low Countries where in many communities it has traditionally become a part of the lives of the people. Indeed, most European carillons are owned by the city.

A Carillon is a musical instrument consisting of at least 23 cast bronze bells arranged in chromatic series and played from a keyboard permitting control of expression. The carillon keyboard is a series of oak levers and is much larger than that of a piano or organ. These levers are pushed down with the side of the loosely closed hand. The pedals are connected to the levers that play the larger bells. The bells are stationary and the clappers are connected to the oak levers. This direct connection gives the Carillonneur a vast range of dynamic expression and allows the musician and his instrument to be one.