MILWAUKEE– If you were near Marquette University’s campus Thursday afternoon, you may have heard “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” or “Roll Out the Barrel” ring out from the bell tower.
Those were carillon bells. Different then church bells, carillon bells are an instrument composed of at least 23 bells. The lower bells, the heaviest of which weighs 5,000 pounds, are controlled by foot petals. The upper are controlled by a keyboard, set up similar to a piano.
Marquette University’s instrument houses 48 bells.
The Marquette bell tower was constructed in 1923, but remained empty until 1967.
Dr. Mark Konewko has been playing the bells for Marquette since 1999. The bells also run on an automated system, chiming every 15 minutes during the day.
“There’s ​been ​a ​new ​renaissance ​for ​carillon, ​so ​there’s ​a ​lot ​of ​new ​construction ​going ​on,” says Konewko. “It’s ​set ​up ​like ​a ​piano. ​Black ​notes ​and ​white ​notes. ​And ​when ​you ​run ​out ​of ​hands, ​you ​only ​have ​got ​two, ​​your ​feet ​kick ​in. ​And ​it’s ​all ​mechanical.”
Konewko says musical programming depends on the season, weather, and cultural moments.
There are three carillons across Wisconsin.
