Summer Sounds: A Brief History of Middlebury’s Carillon

About Our Carillon

A carillon is set up like a keyboard, with black and white keys and foot pedals that can help produce different kinds of sound. Each key is connected by wire to a bell clapper so different bells are rung depending on which key is struck. It is a 75-step climb up to Middlebury’s bell tower, atop Middlebury Chapel. The Middlebury Carillon is considered a traditional carillon of 48 bells. The pitch of Middlebury’s heaviest bell is E in the middle octave. It is a 2,300-pound bell; roughly the same weight as the Liberty Bell. In 1915, the instrument was begun with eleven bells by the Meneely bellfoundry in Watervliet, New York. Nine bells remain from that work. In 1986, the instrument was enlarged to its present size with bells made by Paccard-Fonderie des Cloches in Annecy, France. The enhanced carillon was presented as a gift from then Chairman of the Board of Trustees Allen Dragone ‘50 (and his wife Jane) in 1986. 27 bells remain from that work. In 2001, 12 bells were recast or replaced in 2001 by Meeks & Watson of Georgetown, Ohio.

In 1918, the family of former governor John Mead gave Mead Chapel a chime of 11 bells made by the Meneely Company of West Troy, New York (a chime is defined as six to 22 bells. A carillon comprises 23 or more bells.) A note about the chapel name. The Meneely family of that time was the 8th or 9th generation descendants of Paul Revere (a bell cast by Paul Revere is in the tower of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Middlebury). In 1985, through the kindness of donor Allen Dragone, then President of the Board of Trustees of the College, the chime was expanded to a full carillon of 48 bells by the firm Paccard et Fils of Annecy le-Vieux of France. Middlebury’s carillon is one of 183 carillons in the United States (71 of them in colleges or universities) and about 750 in the world.

George Matthew, Jr., has been the College Carillonneur since 1985, and teaches Middlebury College students the art of this unique musical form. 

Daily Carillon Performances

All programs will be at 12:30 to 1:30 pm unless otherwise announced.

George Matthew Jr., college carillonneur

Monday, September 15

Sarabande - G. Tartini

Sarabande - Domenico Zipoli

Gavotte - J. P. Telemann

Ayre – Jeremiah Clarke

Concerto in G – Antonio Vivaldi

Traditional Ukrainian Melodies

Traditional Afghanistan Melodies

Traditional Mexican Folksongs

Traditional Spirituals

Tuesday, September 16

Orchestral Suite – G. P. Telemann

Organ Sonata II – Domenico Zipoli

Lesson 18 – Fernando Sor

Traditional Ukrainian Melodies

Traditional Afghanistan Melodies

Traditional Mexican Folksongs

Traditional Spirituals

Wednesday, September 17

Ciacona – D. Buxtehude

Toccata in C Major – Carlos di Seixas

Three Dances – G. Frescobaldi

Toccata in g minor – Joǎo de Souza Carvalho

Traditional Ukrainian Melodies

Traditional Afghanistan Melodies

Traditional Mexican Folksongs

Traditional Spirituals

Thursday, September 18

Seven Fantasias – G. F. Handel

Passacaglia – G. F. Handel

Piece for a Musical Clock – G. F. Handel

Traditional Ukrainian Melodies

Traditional Afghanistan Melodies

Traditional Mexican Folksongs

Traditional Spirituals

Friday, September 19 – No concert at noon. Festival concert by visiting carillonneur at 6 pm.

Saturday, September 20

Minuetto de Signor Fortinello Italiano – Anonymous

Le Rossignol Vainquear – Francois Couperin

Sonata in C – G. P. Pescetti

Sonata for violin and continuo – Arcangelo Corelli

Traditional Ukrainian Melodies

Traditional Afghanistan Melodies

Traditional Mexican Folksongs

Traditional Spirituals

Sunday, September 21

Partita #2 BWV 1004 – J. S. Bach

Partita #3 BWV 1003 – J. S. Bach

Traditional Ukrainian Melodies

Traditional Afghanistan Melodies

Traditional Mexican Folksongs

Traditional Spirituals

Monday, September 22 — no performance; Erev Rosh Hashanah

Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 23 and 24 — no performance; Rosh Hashanah

Wednesday, September 24

Fantasia #6 – Percival Price

Fantasia on a Belgian Drinking Song – Frederick Marriott

Serenade – Henry S. Wesson

Fantasia on a Belgian Song – Wendell W. Westcott

Traditional Ukrainian Melodies

Traditional Afghanistan Melodies

Traditional Mexican Folksongs

Traditional Spirituals

Thursday, September 25 – American Women Composers

Carillon Fantasia in F – Alinda B. Couper

Celebration – Jennifer A. Connor

Suite for Carillon – Jean W. Miller

Spirals – Katherine Mischell

Traditional Ukrainian Melodies

Traditional Afghanistan Melodies

Traditional Mexican Folksongs

Traditional Spirituals

Friday, September 26 – No program at noon. Festival program at 6 pm by George Matthew Jr., college carillonneur

Saturday, September 27 – American Women Composers

In Memory of Trees – Enya

Prayer for Peace – Jean Miller

Prelude for Carillon – Mary Weldon Leahy

Tree Modes – Amy Michelle Black

 Japanese Flowering Quince, Weeping Willow, Southern Magnolia

Jubilate Deo - Sister Joyce Evans

Traditional Ukrainian Melodies

Traditional Afghanistan Melodies

Traditional Mexican Folksongs

Traditional Spirituals

Sunday, September 28

Passacaglia and Fugue in c minor, BWV 582 – J. S. Bach

Prelude, Fugue and Allegro, BWV 998 – J. S. Bach

Traditional Ukrainian Melodies

Traditional Afghanistan Melodies

Traditional Mexican Folksongs

Traditional Spirituals

Monday, September 29 – American Women Composers

Three short pieces for carillon – Jean Miller

 Air, Lullaby, Chanty

Carillon Piece – Halle Shephard ‘19

Andante – Ann Lawrence

Fantasia on BAEF – Margo Halsted

Impressions – Margo Halsted

Red Peppers Rag – Imogene Giles

Traditional Ukrainian Melodies

Traditional Afghanistan Melodies

Traditional Mexican Folksongs

Traditional Spirituals

Tuesday, September 30

Suite for Carillon – Hilton J. Rufty

 Capricietto, Casseto Musicallo, Finale

Legend and Allegro – Samuel Barber

Minuet and Trio – Sidney F. Giles

Caprice – Arthur Linds Bigelow

Happy Birthday! (Guess Who )

Traditional Ukrainian Melodies

Traditional Afghanistan Melodies

Traditional Mexican Folksongs

Traditional Spirituals

40th Annual Middlebury Carillon Series

2025  •  Middlebury Chapel and surrounding lawns  • Free
Fridays at 6:00 PM

Each year, musicians from around the world come to Middlebury to perform in the Middlebury Chapel’s bell tower, soaring high above the College campus. The melodic sounds of the carillon bells are a staple of summer life on the Middlebury College campus. Rain or shine. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket!

Friday, August 1, 6:00 PM
Performers: Elena Sadina, Instructor, Middlebury College School of Russian, featuring Nikita and Daniel Gratchev.  The artists will provide the program at the event.

Friday, August 8, 3:00 PM*
George Mattthew Jr. Carillonneur, Middlebury College and Norwich University (*please note 3:00 start time for this concert only; Language Schools Commencement prelude). Click here for program.

Friday, August 15, 6:00 PM
Austin Ferguson, Carillonneur of the Mayo Clinic. Click here for program.

Friday, August 22, 6:00 PM
George Mattthew Jr. Carillonneur, Middlebury College and Norwich University.  Click here for program.

Friday, September 5, 6:00 PM
Joseph Min, winner of the 2024 Queen Fabiola International Carillon Competition. Click here for program.

Friday, September 12, 6:00 PM
Amy Heebner ’93, City Carillonneur, Albany, NY.  Click here for program.

Friday, September 19, 6:00 PM
Charles Semowich, Carillonneur Emeritus, Riverside Church, NYC. Click here for program.

Friday, September 26, 6:00 PM
George Mattthew Jr. Carillonneur, Middlebury College and Norwich University
Featuring music from the Middlebury carillon’s first playing, at Commencement 1985. Click here for program.

All concerts are free and open to the public.

go.middlebury.edu/arts | 802-443-3168