Thursday, August 12 (2010) 2:15 PM (Beneficence Society Social)

John Gouwens, Visiting Lecturer in Carillon at Ball State University, will present a recital on the 48-bell carillon at Shafer Tower, on McKinley Avenue, in the heart of the Ball State campus.

The program will open with the bold "Prelude No. 6" by Flemish baroque virtuoso carillonneur Matthias van den Gheyn, a remarkably early example of music perfectly matched to the sonority of carillon bells.

Several significant American composers for carillon will be represented on the program. One of the great pioneers in establishing an American approach to the instrument was Ronald Barnes, who was carillonneur over the years at The University of Kansas, at Washington Cathedral, and finally at The University of California, Berkeley. The August 12 program will include three of Barnes's settings of Appalachian "White" Spirituals, sacred tunes with a distinct folk-music flavor, beautifully adapted to carillon music.

While he was still at Kansas, Barnes's playing attracted the attention of pianist Roy Hamlin Johnson, who, intrigued by the challenge of writing music that "fits" the bells, began composing for carillon. He went on to become one of the most important composers for carillon worldwide. For the August 12 program, Gouwens will play an elaborate paraphrase on the hymn tune "Chartres," which uses non-traditional harmonies perfectly suited to the character of the carillon molded to fit a traditional melody in a minor key.

At the dedication of the Ball State carillon, John Courter, carillonneur of Berea College, Berea, Kentucky, premiered is "Suite No. 1," which was commissioned for that occasion. Courter had copious commissions from the US and overseas. The carillon field was shaken by Courter's untimely death last June at age 69. (Three more commissioned works were in process at the time.) Quite possibly his final completed work was "Suite No. 4," commissioned in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of Grand Valley State University, in Allendale and Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a tribute to this longtime friend and colleague, and friend to Ball State, Gouwens will play Courter's "Suite No. 4." This beautiful work bears a stong kinship to the suite he wrote for Ball State, especially the final movement.

Gouwens will also include his own transcription of "Gymnopedie No. 2" by French composer Erik Satie, a piece with adapts admirably to carillon performance. Also, he will include an improvisation, in this case based on the Shaker hymn "Simple Gifts."

Gouwens will offer another recital this fall, on Saturday, October 16, at 11:00 AM (Family Weekend).

Saturday, October 16 (2010) 11:00 AM (Family Weekend)

John Gouwens, Visiting Lecturer in Carillon at Ball State University, will present a recital on the 48-bell carillon at Shafer Tower, on McKinley Avenue, in the heart of the Ball State campus.

(Program details will be posted here later.)

Following the recital, if any are interested in seeing the instrument at close range, Mr. Gouwens will offer a tour. Programs will be available, with many details about the music and the instrument. Though the performance is specifically intended for BSU students and their families, the general public is welcome to attend the recital and to take the tour afterward.