Friday, May 20, 2005
The Campanile, atop the University’s famous Mount Oread, adds to the many lures of the KU campus. Tolling every quarter hour and ringing with the sound of the Alma Mater this weekend, the inner workings of the Campanile (camp-eh-NEE-lee) deserve explanation.
About 10 students play and study the carillon (KARE-eh-lon), the instrument inside the Campanile, each semester. A University Carillonneur teaches carillon classes in the School of Fine Arts, at levels 100, 300 and 621. Students of any major may study the carillon, whether they’re undergraduate or graduate students.
The carillon has four octaves in range and is played live weekdays, during holidays, for special concerts, some on-campus weddings and graduation. The carillon’s quarterly tolls are mechanical, but the songs played at noon and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday when school is in session are not. Students play them live four days a week.
Having a carillon on the KU campus is unique because there aren’t more than 200 carillons in the world.
The Campanile is a World War II memorial, built in 1950 and dedicated in 1951, to honor the 277 faculty and students lost in the war. The 53-bell carillon was cast by the John Taylor Bellfoundry of Loughborough, England. The dream of bringing a carillon to the KU campus began with KU philosopher Olin Templin about 60 years before it was constucted. He passed away before plans for the carillon began.
“The carillon is not only important because it’s a memorial, but because it’s part of our school’s history and a part of our college experience,” said Erin Morrissey Portland, Ore., senior and student carilloneur. “It sounds every 15 minutes.”
A view from the top
Playing KU's tallest instrument inside the campanile
Students put meaning behind chants, songs
The University has several traditions for students and fans. Those new to ...
Carillonneur now performs during the week
Elizabeth Berghout, an assistant professor of music, likes to incorporate seasonal music ...
Land of the Jayhawks
It lives on our sweatshirts, it graces ESPN commercials, it entertains children ...
Get to know your game day
Learn some of the rituals associated with KU football and its long ...
McLeod: True Jayhawk spirit arrives in fall
From the Hill to Wescoe Beach, Kansas pride blossoms in autumn.
Journey ends, begins on hill
Traditions night preview
Hawk Week allows new students to learn KU traditions.
Back to basics: guide to the University
Learn where the Rock Chalk chant came from and where the one-way ...
Monumental Figures: The historic minds behind Campus ...
A historical look at student interactions with KU's public art.
Students spill about Campanile myths
Legend says that students will not graduate if they walk through the ...
Graduation traditions have long history
From the procession to walking through the Campanile, commencement dates back more ...
Fact check: Common on-campus myths
New to campus? You may start to hear several tall tales about ...
Graham: Student athletes deserve dollars
Recent issues raise old topic.
Able life
The University is far from the ideal campus for students with mobility ...
Homecoming week lures back alumni
Homecoming week is about more than football, floats and corndogs. The University ...
Scene & Heard: Nest on Ninth, Oread ...
New places, new faces.
Students remember 9/11 with ceremony
Students and families gathered for a candlelit memorial on the 10th anniversary ...
North Campus: The land where KU began
The north end of campus has two buildings that look over Lawrence: ...
Gier: Respect your elders
Kansas students and athletic fans have a lot to be proud of.
Big 12 basketball coaches change pregame ritual
The Alma Mater and Rock Chalk chants will switch with the national ...
Campus beauty
From the Campanile memorial to the Chi Omega fountain, aesthetic beauty is ...
Hemenway decides to sound the whistle
The famous KU whistle will be returning to campus.
Oread Inn prepares to open in January
The hotel will have several bars and restaurants, and observation decks overlooking ...
Editor's note
The father-daughter college clash
University may join Historic Register
Committee aims to create a historic district on Jayhawk Boulevard.
On Campus: February 23, 2007
Here's what's happening on campus for February 23, 2007.
The Office of Admissions and Scholarships is ...
One admissions counselor is needed to help promote KU to prospective students.
Dean of graduate school to step down
The dean of the graduate school leaves KU to take a temporary ...
Homecoming rival has its own traditions
Iowa State puts on a show with its campus culture.
Former Tigers learn to be Jayhawks
Transfer and graduate students alike adapt to new traditions while continuing their ...
New garden to bring beauty and health
The School of Pharmacy copied a medicinal garden from the 1920s, but ...
Taking on the color barrier, twice
Thirty years after becoming the first black KU athletes, three brothers fought ...
Editorial: Chiefs chant at the end of ...
When students yell ‘Chiefs’ at the end of the National Anthem, we ...
Astronaut becomes professor
Alumnus Steve Hawley will start classes in the field he graduated in, ...
Lytton: Handicap (in)accessibility: Winter months raise concerns
Routes through campus available to handicapped students need an upgrade.
Brew: A view from the student section
Jonathan Rosa describes his experience at his first University of Kansas basketball ...
Historical organization keeps charm on campus
Campanile bells to wedding bells
Some students choose to walk down the aisle before or soon after ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID