RochesterSubway.com : You Can Play the Bells of Rush Rhees Library

You Can Play the Bells of Rush Rhees Library

June 12th, 2014

A year ago RochesterSubway.com took you UP inside Rush Rhees Library at the University of Rochester. The views from that tower are spectacular – but it’s the 6,668 pounds of bronze bells inside that are truly awe inspiring.

The bells are actually part of a massive musical instrument called a Carillon. And now, if you’ve got experience playing a keyboard, you may have a shot to go to the top of Rush Rhees and play the carillon yourself. Doris Aman of the University of Rochester Carillon Society sent in the following one-time offer…

On July 12 for one day only, a single day workshop is being offered for musicians who always wondered what it would be like to play the Rush Rhees Library carillon. The class is limited to six and is open to the Rochester community and students of all ages.

Participants must have keyboard experience and be able to read music. You must be able to climb several flights of steps, honor the privilege by following instructions, and patiently wait your turn to play. Oh yeah, and fear of heights would be a deal breaker.

Get more information here

The class will include a presentation, a discussion of its history and set up, and an opportunity to play the instrument in tower.

If you are interested
please apply immediately!

This workshop is a one time offer and there are only SIX spots available. The application is on this page .

• • •

Carillon Summer Recitals

Many Rochesterians do not know that the bell tower puts on concerts for the public every summer. Some of the best carillonneurs in the world come to play this unique instrument. You can come and enjoy a beautiful summer evening on the UofR campus and listen to the bell music.

The University of Rochester Carillon Society performance schedule will include:

Flag Day
Monday, June 16 at 7-8pm
Patriotic themed music, including the “Star Spangled Banner” to celebrate our national anthem’s 200th Anniversary

Good Ole Summertime
Monday, June 23 at 7-8pm
Highly recognizable popular music

The Professional July Carillon Concert Series
Monday evenings at 7pm, rain or shine
Free and public is invited to attend. Bring a picnic and seating. Free parking behind the library.

July 7: Vera Wuensche
July 14: Tin-Shi Tam
July 21: Laura Ellis
July 28: Klaas de Haan

Tags: carillon, Doris Aman, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rush Rhees Library, University of Rochester, University of Rochester Carillon Society, UofR, urban exploration

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2014 at 7:43 am and is filed under Art + Culture, Events, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester News, Urban Exploration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

4 Responses to “You Can Play the Bells of Rush Rhees Library”

Matt says:

June 12, 2014 at 8:27 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x8DvkC1KH4

Here’s a good friend of mine playing the UofR carillon. Sounds like an awesome experience.
Ruth Nederlk says:

June 12, 2014 at 11:40 am

Been living here all my life and never knew or heard of these bells. i thought we went there when we were in girl scout’s and we went up in a tower to see a telescope and a double door opened up for it to go higher. That must be wonderful to hear those bells!
Jay says:

June 23, 2014 at 1:35 pm

Acceptance emails were sent out his past weekend. There were two more spots available.
Cynthia Howk says:

July 22, 2014 at 12:27 pm

Great to see your story about Camp Beechwood, at which I had my first summer job June-Aug. 1969. New counselors at the Girl Scout camp were paid $225 wages for the entire season! Now open as a park, it’s an amazing property & so important to be preserved for the public. Very encouraging to see that there is interest by scouts & others to initiate repairs to the significant buildings there – which the public could nicely use. During Girl Scout ownership, the natural history importance of the camp was recognized by Girl Scout National Office with the establishment of a “Lou Henry Hoover Nature Preserve” on the property (west side of Maxwell Bay) . Swimming in the lake was discontinued in the 1960s, when the swimming pool was constructed. We only went in the lake for boating activities. During the summer of 1969, campers/staff saw the Girl Scout Council’s wonderful 16 mm movie showing the camp/campers (in blue middy uniforms) during the early 1950s – that would be nice to get it on DVD & show a new audience.