III. From Theory to Practice

Abstract

Modern digital computation techniques have made it possible to compute a base profile for a bell so that it will have some particular, predetermined eigenfrequencies. Practice has shown that with a combination of these modern techniques and the traditional skills of an experienced bell founder, a carillon bell can be made that contains an unconventional "major-third" partial and is in other respects at least as well-tuned as traditional carillon bells of high quality. An experimental movable carillon with 47 major-third bells was built and was found to be aurally quite distinguishable from a conventional carillon of comparable size. Criticizm on this new instrument comes mostly from professional carillonneurs, whereas other musicians or nonmusicians react generally in a positive way.