In honor of the 49th anniversary of its dedication and to begin the 50th year of the McGaffin Carillon, University Circle Carillonneur George Leggiero B.S ’72, M.A ’77, will include compositions and hymns in this Friday’s lunchtime concert that were part of the June 9, 1968, dedication recital. The 30-minute concert begins at 12:15, and the audience is invited to tour the 140-foot tower following the program. The spring concert series concludes on Friday, June 16. The bells ring again when the summer weekend series begins on Friday, July 7. All summer 12:15 p.m. Friday concerts will be repeated at 11 a.m. the following Sunday.
The McGaffin Carillon is one of about 200 cast-bell carillons in North America and the only one in the city of Cleveland. Its 47 bells were cast in The Netherlands from 15,000 lbs. of bronze and are played at a console high in the tower. The playing action is totally mechanical and allows for a complete range of musical expression. The carillon has pealed for celebrations and tolled for tragedy. During summer concerts the audience brings blankets, lawn chairs and picnics to the lawns surrounding the tower.
Learn more at ucbells.org.