Playing on Tradition

The carillon consists of 43 bells played through a keyboard which is struck with a half-closed hand.

The tones of carillons are centuries old, yet the harmonies are heard every day drifting over the campus. The instrument is practical in its time keeping, yet fanciful in the musical diversion it disperses in the background of campus life.

The carillon in the west bell tower of the Administration Building is one of Texas Tech’s most loved landmarks and traditions. In 1973, Ruth Baird Larabee made a donation to Texas Tech to buy and install a carillon in memory of her parents, Charles and Ruth Baird.

Everything’s Bigger in Texas

"Texas Tech’s carillon is one of 16 in Texas, which has more than any other state in the U.S.," said Will Balch, a fifth-year music education major and one of Texas Tech’s handful of carillonneurs.  There are about 185 traditional carillons in the country.

Balch, whose primary instrument is violin, became interested when he saw a carillon in New York City at Riverside Church before his ninth-grade year. He jumped at the opportunity to learn carillon when he found out there was one at Texas Tech. 

"I would say the lion’s share of carillonneurs saw the instrument for the first time and thought to themselves, ‘Hey, this looks like it would be neat to learn,’" Balch said.

Although Balch was the lone carillon student when he began playing in 2004, interest in learning the instrument has grown.

"I started out as the only student, but that grew to two, then to three, then to four, then I started teaching others myself," Balch said. There are about 11 people who either play or are learning the carillon: two are resident carillonneurs in Lubbock, Roy Wilson and Arla Jo Anderton; five are Texas Tech students who play regularly, making up the student organization, the Matador Guild of Carillonneurs.

The carillon bells are located in the west tower of the Administration Building.

A Chance Meeting

One of those is Stuart Williams, an environmental engineering graduate student, who happened to be a resident assistant on the same floor of the residence hall where Balch lived.

"When he told me he played the bells in the tower and could go up there whenever he wanted, I told him he had to take me up there," Williams said. “I have always loved to play the piano, and I played percussion in high school. The skills involved in those two musical instruments made playing the carillon come very natural to me because it is kind of a cross between the two styles of instruments."

The carillon, originally comprised of 36 bells (three octaves), was refurbished and expanded in 2005, adding additional bells to make three octaves and a fifth. The unique music of the now- 43-bell instrument wafts over the campus, striking the hours and accompanying campus life. According to carillonneur Roy Wilson, most full-fledged carillons have about 61 bells. "There are three or more carillons in the U.S. which have 72 or more bells," he said. “Our tower has just about grown as many bells as are possible."

Every year since its inception, the Carol of Lights has featured music from the carillon. Also, each year on the Fourth of July, the carillon is played in conjunction with the ceremonial ringing of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Local carillonneurs also perform a summer carillon concert series each year.

Heard But Not Seen

While most musicians strive for the spotlight, Williams said the most extraordinary thing about playing the carillon is that everyone can hear him, but no one can see him. For the most part, most people don't even know he exists.

"There is something about being able to play whatever you want to play at that certain time and everyone on campus can hear you, that makes playing the bells for campus an awesome experience."