The chimes can be heard every 15 minutes, echoing across campus from the bell tower atop Marquette Hall. The large, cast iron bells may be a part of Marquette’s campus charm, but many students know little of the goings on behind this unique — and loud — instrument.

A carillon is a musical instrument composed of carillon bells arranged in chromatic sequence, like a piano. They are tuned so that, when played together, the bells sound in perfect harmony. Played with a keyboard, the carillon’s keys are struck with a half-closed hand, and the larger bells — the heaviest of which is 5,000 pounds — are played with foot pedals.

The written music of the carillon is divided into two “staves,” or the five parallel lines of music and the spaces between them. Music on the treble, or upper staff, is played with the hands, while the feet play the notes on the bass, or bottom staff.

Marquette’s carillon, installed in 1964,  is composed of 48 carillon bells — more than double the minimum of 23 necessary to be considered a carillon.

Despite the enormous size, reaching the carillon tower requires a bit of sleuthing.

It must be accessed through room 502 of Marquette Hall, which may be confusing, as the building technically has only four floors. But climb a flight of dusty stairs from the fourth floor and you’ll find the office of “carillonneur” Mark Konewko, who has trained as a carillon player in both Chicago and Holland and has held the position since 1999.

Inside Konewko’s office rest two “practice instruments” resembling pianos, one old and a bit out of tune, the other newly installed and precisely tuned in 2001. Konewko uses these practice instruments, which look just like the carillon but are not attached to the bells, to learn new musical pieces before playing them on the actual instrument.

Konewko will gladly show any interested student the “real” carillon by leading them into the bell tower. (Just be sure to cover your ears when the bells sound.) A narrow flight of concrete steps leads to a small room housing the carillon.

Konewko said the university has just finished Phase II of a three-phase rebuilding, renovation and renewal of the instrument. Phases I and II consisted of rewiring the bell strikers that ring every 15 minutes from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The chiming of the bells marking the time is an automatic function, but when actual musical numbers are played — such as the piece from the Harry Potter soundtrack played prior to the premiere of the most recent film — Konewko is behind the notes. Some music is written specifically for the carillon, but “because the carillon is a chromatic instrument, you can play any music on it, and it will be recognizable,” Konewko said.

Konewko is also holding a Christmas concert series beginning at noon on the first Sunday in December and continuing until the Sunday before Christmas. During his concerts, Konewko will be offering tours of the carillon tower to anyone interested.

“I always leave the doors open so anyone can come up and visit the carillon (while I’m playing),” Konewko said.

Though many students may not know much about the carillon, interest and appreciation for the bells may be growing.

“When Mr. Konewko plays familiar tunes, it creates unity and community at Marquette,” said Kelly Verstat, a sophomore in the College of Business Administration. “For example, when Harry Potter was played, it brought something for all of the students at Marquette to talk and connect to each other about.”

Julian Hills, an associate professor of theology, said the carillon’s bells remind him to slow down and enjoy the music.

“My personal concerns about my classes, about meetings, about writing projects — all of my anxieties are put into their larger context by the chimes of time, reaching back before my arrival here and, I hope, continuing long after I say my last goodbye,” Hills said. “Long live the carillon!”

Story by Olivia Morrissey

Special to the Tribune

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