The Ann and Robert H. Lurie Tower
  
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The Tower: A 165-foot tall poured concrete structure with a veneer of bricks and ceramic tile and a copper roof and cladding. It was designed by Michigan alumnus Charles W. Moore (AB '47, Hon Arch PhD '92) of Moore/Andersson Architects of Austin, Texas shortly before his death in December 1993. The tower was dedicated on October 17, 1996.
The Carillon: A musical instrument consisting of at least two octaves of cup-shaped carillon bells, arranged in chromatic series, and played from a keyboard that allows variation of touch. The Lurie Carillon has a five-octave range, from a low G that is 11,850 pounds and nearly seven feet in diameter to a high G that is 20 pounds and only seven inches in diameter. The massive bourdon (largest) bell is the Robert H. Lurie Bell and the next six largest bells are inscribed with the names and birth dates of his and Ann Lurie's six children. (Hear it now! 1.2 meg MP3 file)
The bells are played from a traditional carillon keyboard that has wooden batons (keys which look much like broom handles spaced two inches apart) configured like a piano keyboard. When a key is depressed by the carillonist's loosely closed fist, a cable pulls on a clapper, which strikes the bell. Foot pedals play the larger bells. Much like a piano, the harder the key stroke, the louder the sound. In addition, 38 of the 60 Lurie Tower bells are equipped with hammers for programmed automatic play. This mechanism is used to strike the traditional Westminster Quarters during the day and various short selections may be programmed to play on the half hour -- class change time on North Campus. When classes are in session during the school year, the tower is open for visitors to watch the carillonist and the bells from 1-1:30 p.m. each weekday; 5-5:30 p.m. on Thursdays; and Sundays from 1:15-2 p.m. The spring and summer term schedules are posted at the base of the tower. Be warned: it is quite loud! Evening concerts in the summer allow families to picnic on the North Campus Diag and enjoy the bells. The University of Michigan carillon program is the most extensive in the United States, and the only school which awards a masters degree in carillon. About a dozen U-M students study the carillon each term. The Lurie Carillon is certainly the finest carillon to be cast in many years and enhances the program to an extraordinary degree. Central Campus features the 55-bell Charles Baird Carillon in Burton Memorial Tower. And there is a practice keyboard located in the Media Union for carillonists to learn new pieces. History: Carillons first appeared in the 16th century in the Low Countries of Europe. The most famous carillon bellfounders of all time were two brothers, Pieter and François Hemony, who flourished in the 17th century. Because of the great difficulty in transporting large bells, most of their casting was done on-site. The brothers cast approximately 50 carillons, more than half of which are still in use today. The "bell bronze" (80 percent copper, 20 percent tin) Lurie Tower bells are modern adaptations of Hemony bells, a very successful and recent return to the past by the Royal Eijsbouts Bellfoundry of Asten, The Netherlands. Two changes have been made: the new bells are tuned in equal temperament; and, the bells in the outer ranges of the instrument have been gradually thickened to balance the instrument sound. Like its companion structure, the Robert H. Lurie Engineering Center, the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Tower is the result of an extraordinary gift to the University of Michigan from the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Family Foundation. |
