What music does the carillon play?

The carillon is a concert instrument that is suitable for nearly all styles of music. Carillonists play all kinds of music so that anyone listening can hear something they already like or even discover something new that they enjoy.

Many carillonists are skilled at arranging music. That is, taking existing music written for other instruments and making it work on a carillon. Arrangements make up a large part of available carillon music. Carillonists have arranged radio hits, film soundtracks, local folk melodies, famous Bach fugues and Chopin preludes, and sacred hymn tunes, to name a few examples.

Improvisation is another valuable skill for carillonists. Rather than searching for appropriate sheet music or writing complicated arrangements, one can simply play from a lead sheet or straight from the heart right away. Improvisations may be based on existing melodies or original ideas.

Explore how to arrange for carillon

Alongside arrangements, there is a substantial body of music written specifically for carillon. Composers take into account the many things that make carillons unique, like their wide dynamic range and sustained sound, and use them to write interesting music. Original carillon works can be anything from short preludes to large multi-movement suites, and they explore styles from traditional tonal writing to contemporary and experimental music.

A major drive to write original music for carillon began in the 20th century, led by schools of thought in Belgium and the United States. Today we enjoy a wide variety of music that is published and shared across the world for everyone to play. Many organizations—including the GCNA—host contests for carillon composition, further broadening the art of carillon music.

Sometimes, singers or other instrumentalists will play with carillons, or carillonists may add backtracks to their performances. We call this "carillon plus", and it is a cutting-edge corner of the carillon art. Ensembles may play high up in towers with the carillonist and have their sounds amplified with speakers on the ground. Small "traveling" or "mobile" carillons that can be positioned both indoors and outdoors are often used in carillon plus music.

Carillon music connects historical tradition with new creative possibilities. It's a living art form, and it's growing. Whether you want to play the music or write new pieces, the GCNA is the community for you!

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