CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT OF Prof. John Nitilton Cornell University Library NA 2930.R49 Carillons of Belgium and Holland; tower m “Ton Date Due CARILLONS of BELGIUM ada HOLLAND WILLIAM GORHAM RICE This Edition is Limited to Three Hundred and Fifty Copies for America and England ST. ROMBOLD’S TOWER AT MECHLIN CARILLONS of BELGIUM and HOLLAND TOWER MUSIC IN THE LOW COUNTRIES BY WILLIAM GORHAM RICE WITH THIRTY-TWO ILLUSTRATIONS NEW YORK: JOHN LANE COMPANY LONDON: JOHN LANE, THE BODLEY HEAD TORONTO: BELL & COCKBURN : MCMXIV Copyright, 1914, by JOHN LANE COMPANY PUBLISHERS PRINTING COMPANY 207-217 Weat Twenty-fifth Street, New York To MY WIFE THE CHARMING GUIDE WHOSE UNFAILING INTEREST HAS INSPIRED THIS BOOK, AND TO MY SON WHOSE COMPANIONABLE AID HAS COMPLETED IT “VOORSLAG” HEN the Assistant Keeper of the \) \ British Museum wrote me, “I know of no work on carillons,” it con- vinced me there was need of another book in the world. In many journeys through the Low Countries I had admired the beauty of bell-towers and had listened to their music with increasing delight. Yet rarely did I find anyone who knew the story of the towers or could tell me about the bells. Primarily to answer such questions, this book was begun. Soon I realised that the subject deserved larger treatment and that the history, often- times romantic, of the carillon art ought to be preserved in an accessible form. What is brought together here is the result of explorations among many towers, and of careful research in libraries of the United States and in those of Antwerp, Brussels, the Hague, and Amsterdam, and in the Biblio- théque Nationale of Paris. Perhaps still more it is due to fortunate acquaintance with men of countries other than our own, who, 7 8 “VOORSLAG”’ sharing my admiration and affection for the Dutch and Flemish peoples, have generously co-operated in my endeavour to assemble in or- der widely scattered and often obscure details concerning the origin and development of a unique racial music. Many friends have assisted me in compila- tion and translation, and to them all I make grateful acknowledgment. Particularly I wish to record my recognition of the interest expressed by Mr. Andrew D. White, of Ithaca, Chairman of the American Delega- tion at the First Hague Conference, who has visited more than once the principal bell-tow- ers of Holland and Belgium. My thanks are also specially due to Mr. A. J. F. van Laer, the State Archivist, Albany; to Mr. Freder- ick Rocke, organist and choir-master of the Cathedral of All Saints, Albany; to the caril- lonneur of Mechlin, Mr. Josef Denyn; to that of Gouda, Mr. G. van Zuylen; and to that of the Hague, Mr. J. A. de Zwaan, for valuable aid and suggestions. And to Mr. J. J. A. Knoote, of the Hague, and to Mr. J. den Boer, of Middleburg, I am indebted for many facts and several illustrations. “VOORSLAG” 9 My indebtedness is also acknowledged to Mr. W. W. Starmer, of Tunbridge Wells, for the information I have obtained from his let- ters and from his addresses on bell-music. He recently wrote me: “TI could give you enough matter to fill a book, on clock chimes alone, Here in my study I have no less than 12000 communications catalogued.” Above all, I am under obligation to Mr. Prosper Verhey- den, of Antwerp, who has kindly given me the benefit of his advice and has generously put at my service knowledge attained by long and careful study. The courtesy of the Houghton Mifflin Company, of Boston, in allowing me to re- print the poem by Longfellow is much appre- ciated. The sources of my information have been so various and so largely from books in lan- guages other than English that some inaccu- racies may be found. If so, I should be glad to have them made known to me. And if those in any country who know or find addi- tional facts will send them to me, I shall be equally glad. The revival of interest in carillon music is 10 “VOORSLAG” widespread, a revival inspired most of all by the devotion, genius, and wonderful skill of Josef Denyn, greatest of bell-masters. Trav- ellers from other lands return again and again to the Low Countries, attracted by picturesque scenes of market-place and busy harbour; of civic hall and church tower; of quiet canal and lush field; but only when the music of bells is heard over all does the charm become complete. WILLIAM GorHAM RICE. 135 WasHINGTON AVENUE, Axsany, N. Y. CONTENTS CHAPTER I The land of carillons—Its peculiar attractiveness— Architectural beauty of towers—Definition of car- illon—Remarks of Charles Burney, 1773—The frontiers of carillon music—Stevenson—Scarcity of carillon literature—Longfellow—Hugo........ CHAPTER II Journals of travellers—Correr, 1611—Georgi, 1626— Garampi, 1764—Evelyn, 1641—Other writings— Hemony’s book, 1678—Fischer, 1737—Schaep- kens, 1857—Haweis, 1875—Van der Straeten, 1867-88—Gregoir, 1877-79—Starmer—Municipal records and local histories............cceeeeeees CHAPTER III Ghent—The centenary—The belfry—The bells—Prin- cipal carillons of Belgium—Of Holland—Mechlin —Methods of play—Automatic—By a bell-mas- ter—Connection of keyboard with bells—Pedal clavier—Most_ effective music—Anecdotes of Ghent: iocuscries Bae vee cae Race eee ee CHAPTER IV Bruges—Meaning of “belfiry’—Flemish belfries— Municipal ownership of carillons and bell towers —Longfellow at Bruges—His diary—“Carillon’— A night in Bruges—Its transformation—The car- illon now—“The Belfry of Bruges”............. 11 PAGE 19 31 44 12 CONTENTS CHAPTER V The primitive carillon—Its development in the six- teenth century—Municipal clocks—The voorslag— The “jeu de cloches”—Increase in number of bells —Improvement of keyboard and automatic bar- rel—A good carillon to-day—The Denyn improve- ments—Important place of carillons in times past —Brussels—Mons—Maastricht—Ath—A christen- ing at Mechlin—A celebration at Bruges—The twin carillons at Mafra, Portugal............... CHAPTER VI Founders—The Hemonys—Their contemporaries—At Zutfen—At Amsterdam—Pieter Hemony’s letters —The amount of their work—The van den Gheyns and the van Aerschodts—The Dumerys —The Waghevens—De Haze—The Petits—Fremy —Witlockx—Noorden and de Grave—Derk—Mod- ern founders—Old contracts—Maastricht—The Hague— Brussels — Ath— Middleburg — Danzig— Oudenaarde—Cost of bell-metal—Its composition —Prices of carillons to-day—Character of bells by various founders—Tuning................0005 CHAPTER VII The charm of unseen music—Carillons and the sea— De Amicis—Carillons and character—Music used in automatic play—Examples of music used now and in the seventeenth century—Effect of air cur- rents—The drum—Method of setting tunes—The improved cylinder—Drum play at Mechlin— Praise and condemnation—Clavier play—Deca- dence and revival—The music—Its character— Where to listen—Market day music—Festive con- certs—Description of a keyboard................ PAGE 75 88 CONTENTS 13 CHAPTER VIII PAGE Carillonneurs and their pay—Amsterdam—Pieter Pa- ter—Pieter Chatelet’s contract—Dirck Scholl— Pothoff—Matthias van den Gheyn—Haverals— Pay and duties in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries—To-day—Hereditary bell-mastery— First inspiration—Kindness of carillonneurs—A postcard canvass—Further kindnesses—Briel— Schiedam—Delft—Tours suggested—The carillon region—Mechlin the climax.............eeceeeee 131 CHAPTER IX How the Mechlin carillon was got—Choosing the bell-master—Mechlin—Louvain—Bruges as host —Mechlin prize competitions, 1897 and 1910— Mr. Denyn’s playing—His other activities for the art—The Denyn festival, 1912—The new bell— The afternoon recital—The evening recital—The presentation and speeches—The carillon school —The need of it—What has been done—Its scope —Difficulties of practice—Hope against fear.... 148 CHAPTER X A visit to Mechlin, August 18, 1913................ 165 APPENDIX A List of carillons in Holland................0ccc eens 179 APPENDIX B List of carillons in Belgium.............. 0... cee eeee 194 APPENDIX C List of carillons in other countries—Austria-Hungary —Denmark—France—Germany—Great Britain— Italy — Luxemburg— Portugal— Russia — Spain— Sweden—United States of America.............. 204 14 CONTENTS APPENDIX D PAG: Lists of bells in carillon at Mechlin—Carillon at Ghent —Peal of Exeter Cathedral—Chime of Cornell University veesdedcewenc asada ces adalene dese eae 210 APPENDIX E Report of the Jury at the Mechlin prize competition in LOO! etc caeeanes deg ee oe mek whe Gamers ee aoe 214 APPENDIX F English bells and change ringing—Other notes.......... 225 ILLUSTRATIONS Mechlin: Saint Rombold’s Tower . . . . Frontispiece Groningen: Saint Martin’s Church. . . 2... 20 Amsterdam: The Mint Tower in 1765 ..... 24 Antwerp: The Cathedral Spire. . . ...... 28 The Hague: The Bell Tower in the Distance . . 32 Delft: The New Church in 1729... .. 2... 38 Fanciful Picture of an Ancient Carillon... . . 42 Ghent: “The