Jef Denijn, who established the Royal Carillon School. in front of the carillon of St Rombouts, Mechelen (c. 1920).
of North America. From its inception the school developed its own style and gained international recognition. Carilloneurs from all over the world (but particularly from Flanders, the Netherlands, French-Flanders and the United States) were trained there, and by virtue of this fact alone the school has continued to set its stamp on international carillon events. In 1927 Frank Percival Price graduated from the school. He became carilloneur at the Michigan University in Ann Arbor where he was also lecturer in campanology. He has made an invaluable contribution to the American art of carillon playing.
The Royal Carillon School is housed in the historic building of ‘Het Schipke’, 63 Frederik de Merodestraat. There one can find practice keyboards, a unique music library, and an historical archive. The historic ‘Hof van Busleyden’, next door to the school, where the Collegium Trilingue was established, is home to the school carillon and the school museum with its valuable collection of bells, carillon keyboards, manuscripts and objects of art.
The study programme, spread over six academic years, comprises: carillon playing, music theory, harmony, counterpoint, history of the carillon and campanology, composition and arrangement for the carillon, part-singing, and kinetics. To obtain a laureate's diploma, the candidates are expected to present a paper on a campanological theme. To be accepted as a student, the candidates must present a certificate of competency covering music theory, music reading and instrumental playing (preferably piano, organ or harpsichord), or pass an entrance examination.
The teaching staff consists of six lecturers who are themselves performing artists: Koen Cosaert, Geert D'Hollander, Jo Haazen (Director), Jan Hadermann, Eddy Mariën and Carlo van Ulft.
In 1984 the School opened a branch at the Catholic University of Leuven. In the same year Queen Fabiola lent her distinguished patronage to the school and carillon culture was taken from Mechelen to Japan for the first time. In 1990 a second branch of the school was opened, in Osaka. In 1991 yet another department was opened in Halle near Brussels, and in 1992 in Roeselare, West Flanders. In the academic year September 1996-June 1997 the school had 58 students, spread across all departments.
The reputation of the Royal Carillon School was further enhanced by the institution of the Queen Fabiola International Carillon Competition. This competition is considered one of the most prestigious of its kind, and carilloneurs from all over the world compete in it. The school also organises a composition contest and publishes carillon scores and literature about bells and carillons.
Partly thanks to the influence of the school and the enthusiasm of its Director, Japan now has a total of four carillons which have come from Flanders, and money is being collected for a carillon for the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul in St Petersburg. It was no accident that the school was also given the official title of ‘Cultural Ambassador’ by the Flemish government. Every Summer, on a Monday evening, from a seat in the garden of ‘Busleyden’, one can hear Jo Haazen and other renowned carilloneurs on one of the two carillons belonging to the imposing cathedral of St Rombouts. And if you are in Brussels, Mechelen is only thirty kilometres away.
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Translated by Sheila M. Dale.