Carillon in Berlin-Tiergarten

The Carillon in Berlin-Tiergarten is located in a freestanding tower next to the House of World Cultures (" Haus der Kulturen der Welt "), near the Chancellery in the northeastern part of Berlin's central Tiergarten park.

It is a large, manually played concert instrument, comprising 68 bells weighing a total of 48 metric tonnes (almost 106,000 lbs.) connected to a keyboard spanning 5½ fully chromatic octaves; the largest bell weighs 7.8 tonnes (almost 17,200 lbs.). The carillon was cast by Royal Dutch foundry Eijsbouts according to the specifications of carillonneur Jeffrey Bossin.

It is one of the largest instruments of its kind in Europe and approximately the fourth largest (by number of bells) in the world. The carillonneur sits in a playing cabin in the middle of the bells and plays with his fists and feet on a baton-and-pedal keyboard. The purely mechanical action makes it possible to play all dynamic gradations, from very soft to very loud. Berlin carillonneur Jeffrey Bossin plays concerts on the carillon every Sunday at 3 p.m. from the beginning of May until the end of September and on the more important national holidays (2 p.m. in December); the programs include music written for the carillon and arrangements of classical works and popular songs. Tours of the carillon tower, including a unique view of Berlin and its government buildings, are offered at the end of the concerts. The carillonneur guides groups through the tower and (in English and German) answers questions, explains the special features of the instrument, and recounts the history of the carillon in Berlin from its beginnings under the first King of Prussia to the reunification of Germany. He demonstrates the instrument's playing technique and plays a carillon piece for his guests. The Carillon in Berlin-Tiergarten

Source of description: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carillon_in_Berlin-Tiergarten wikipedia

This object belongs to Tiergarten

Similar places by:

Category definition of category other
Material definition of material
bronze
Price definition of price
Geographical coordinates 52.5177780, 13.3672220
Address Berlin, Tiergarten
More information official website

How to arrive