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Belgium: the school of bell ringers trains the carriers of tomorrow
The city of Mechelen in Belgium is the capital of the carillon. A rare instrument, the first carillon school in the world was founded in this Flemish city.
(France 2)
The city of Mechelen in Belgium is the capital of the carillon. A rare instrument, the first carillon school in the world was founded in this Flemish city.
In the past, in a small Flemish town in Belgium, the cariola rang only for religious holidays and markets. Today, the inhabitants of Mechelen hear it more and more often.
Anne, a 24-year-old Canadian, took a year off to come to Belgium to improve her carriage skills. The course is performed on a keyboard connected to 49 bells by Eddy, a professional carillon player. “You have to be very precise, know how to play with the notes and emphasize them so that it is not too cacophonous”explains Eddy Marien, a professor at the Royal Carillon School in Mechelen.
Pleasure for all
Most carriol lessons are held at the base of the bell tower in the city, as the upper part only has two seats. Last year, the school celebrated its centenary. Every year, 85 students from all over the world come to study there. For the youngest, learning takes place to a bell without a bell, suitable for children. In Mechelen, students are allowed to play in the bell tower for a maximum of four hours a day, so that the sound of the bells remains a joy for everyone.
