Climbing the Bell Tower - Objectivity 242

We climb the Carillon Tower in Queen's Park, Loughborough and take a behind the scenes peek at how it all works. More links below ↓↓↓
Featuring Scott Orr and Caroline Sharpe.
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Underground Unboxing: • Underground Unboxing -...
Climbing the Royal Albert Hall: • Climbing the Royal Alb...
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[@kriijan3747]

I find it very satisfying that there exists a carillon player named Caroline.

[@Tjousk]

Indeed

[@norullzz]

Nomen est omen

[@CaptainHoratioPugwash]

Sharpe no less!

[@DavidRichfield]

But does she play in tune, or sharp?

[@CookingWithCows]

Carry on carillon Caroline!

[@ryeboy86]

Brady's home country of Australia has it's own National Carillon in Canberra. The bells were made in Loughborough.

[@mikeburston9427]

also the Perth bell tower

by the way, carillonnists don't fall from the sky and apparently not every carillon comes with a trainer version. i used to live next to a church with a carrion and they had a trainee... it hurts and everyone can hear it!

[@eumesmoeu295]

now we just need a Carillon adaptation of "sweet caroline" played by Caroline

[@claudiocardinali6778]

Was gonna say the exact same 😂😂

[@leftoffcolfax]

Especially if the Three Lions should win on Sunday...

[@rogerlie4176]

Played in C sharp

[@kimb4285]

Being Loughborough born and bred, you grew up with this beautiful Carillon, when my children were older I took them inside and we walked around the platform a few times, seeing this video has given me an insight into how it all works, it's amazing, how lucky are we to have this in our town? well done to those that play it twice a week every week. Thank you for an awesome video, loved it.

[@graemep804]

I was born in Loughborough, still live in Leicestershire, yet last climbed the Carillon over 50 years ago.

[@cycloneblaze]

I love how Scott pronounces all his t's very precisely, except when saying "Toronno". That's how you know he was really there!

[@PeterDalling]

Sad we didn't get to hear Caroline playing, I was hoping to hear if they had a different style of playing.

[@wdm2112]

I'm surprised Brady didn't get them to play the Sofa Shop jingle

[@EddieLee6]

Only reason I watched this video 🤣

[@hoguemr]

@@EddieLee6 same here haha. It was very interested but I'm still a bit disappointed. I'm sure we'll hear about it on the next episode

[@Erekai]

Hahah that would have been incredible.

[@DarkMatter1992]

I've got news for you.

[@arthurschwalm6332]

I'm disappointed I didn't hear the Sofa Shop jingle.

[@mennoduk]

I was waiting for it the whole time! Guess we'll hear it next episode 😉

[@Schnabeltassentier]

I‘m like 99% sure this video exists for sofa-shop-purposes only, I‘ll eat my hat if we don‘t hear about this on the next episode.

[@littleboylost1o1]

+

[@bobdmb]

@@Schnabeltassentier oh yeah you are completely right lol

[@dbfairgroundfilms8195]

I’m a 62 year old resident of Loughborough, and it’s a few decades since I last climbed to the top to see the Carillon. I think it’s time I paid it another visit. Great video!

[@Olhado256]

This is one of my favorite episodes of Objectivity. An exotic and very interesting subject, great guests, great questions from Brady... loved it!

[@Dave_Sisson]

A mate of mine has a lifetime project to play a game on every Real Tennis court in the world. So far he's played on about half including the most northerly one and southernmost one which is in Hobart. So I don't see why someone couldn't have a similar project to play every carillon. It's nice to see Objectivity expanding its horizons, in the past I'd expect to see something like this made by Tom Scott rather than by James and Brady.

[@jcthefluteman]

Brady, I can't believe you got through this whole video without making a Caroline the Carilloner joke

[@martinopunto]

What an absolutely lovely video. Great vibes with the guests, edited into a wonderful flow. Having spent basically my entire life listening to regular carillon performances from my local church towers, I was never really consciously aware of them. I actually expected them to be omnipresent in, at least like, northern europe and parts of north america. Hearing that there's only 700 of them in the world makes me a little bit sad - they are wonderful instruments.

[@EwingTaiwan]

"If you hit a wrong note, just embrace it as a CREATIVE choice", well just sounds like my every piano practice. I can live with that 🤣

[@utofbu]

"Caroline plays the Carillon" needs to be a narrative lyric in a folk song.

[@ullalaage4394]

What a brilliant presentation. Thank you, Scott.

[@willemvandebeek]

My town in the Netherlands has one too in their largest church tower. One of the people, who could play on it, was my music teacher.

[@_rlb]

Malgosia Fiebig?

[@CheshireTomcat68]

Really good, going to have to go back and watch the Rob Scallon video now!

[@samueldevulder]

There are also carillons in the north of France. For example, in the small town of Bergues, there is one that gives an hour-long concert (including carillon classics and covers of more modern songs) every Monday during the local market. The carillon was also used in the famous film "Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis", which was seen more than 20 million times in the cinema in 2008.

[@rebeccajackson2862]

One of the pieces played was something I learned on piano back in the day!

[@jurjenbos228]

That probably Chopin's raindrop prelude. I was surprised to hear that it actually sounds reasonable on a carillon.

[@SharonBakar]

I was completely freaked out by the huge bells when I went up the tower as a small kid. I still have nightmares about them decades later. But I have loved watching this video and revisiting the building.

[@watcherofwatchers]

It's a neat memorial that reminds the people around it that it exists through music - live, changing, and played by a talented human every time. That's very nice indeed.

[@EmanuelsWorkbench]

In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the Peace Tower in our parliamentary buildings has a carillon. It plays every day at noon. The musician is a big fan of Star Wars and often plays some of the movie's music. Full disclaimer: Centre Block is under renovation so I don't know if they are still playing the carillon at noon during the work.

[@PristineTX]

The carillon built by the Rockefeller family in Chicago is the best one I've ever heard in person, probably. Over 70 bells. Although we have a lot of great ones in Texas too. I can't believe Dallas, Texas alone has as many Carillons as the whole of Britain. That's a piece of weird trivia.

[@MikeDWells]

Spent the whole video wondering where I’ve heard this instrument before. Finally right at the end I remembered, the soundtrack of the Return of the Obra Dinn!

[@rohandotc]

Wow! Interesting video. However, I am more impressed by Scott's credentials. According to his personal page, he is a lecturer at University College London, and he plays Carillon! It's always inspiring to see that a single person can be so talented!

[@Locutus]

Being a lecturer and playing a musical instrument, is not exactly a rarity.

[@oldwornoutjeans]

There's so much enthusiasm in this video ☺️

[@TipperProject]

This guy's energy is amazing!

[@flymypg]

San Diego's Blaboa Park has a carillon in the California Tower next to our very own Old Globe Theater. Nearby is the Spreckles Organ Pavillion, with the world's largest outdoor pipe organ. They try not to have them play simultaneously. At San Diego State University is the Hardy Memorial Tower and the Fletcher Symphonic Carillon consisting of 204 bells over 6 octaves.

[@christopherstephenjenksbsg4944]

I was a change ringer in my younger days in New England, where change ringing is rare. While I prefer change ringing bells to carillons, I do find carillons quite striking (pardon the pun) when they are used to play music composed especially for the carillon, like the Elgar composition sampled here, or music that is very well-arranged for carillons. The carillon at Riverside Church in NYC, which I believe is the largest in the US, is an amazing instrument, with a 20 ton bourdon! If my memory serves correctly, the bells were cast in Loughborough. (I LOVE Taylor bells!)

[@gregmottram292]

Amazing self control Brady (Sofa shop …) Also it would be good to seethe foundry where the bells are cast.

[@mattsonplummer6117]

Your enthusiasm for your topics brings me joy.

[@mfx1]

I worked new years eve fireworks from the roof of Newcastle Civic Centre accompanied by their Carillon one year, quite a unique experience.

[@MadMulberry]

Great video. Now I have to visit Loughborough. 🙂

[@ObjectivityVideos]

Make sure you do it on a Sunday for a performance!

[@user-ge8rx4jl6f]

@@ObjectivityVideos the town hall clock can be heard from here there are 47 bells in the tower cast by the famous bell company john taylor which is my favorite company

[@ZeedijkMike]

In Wester kerk in Amsterdam they have played both ABBA (Dancing Queen) and samba music on the bells. Maybe not the best choice of music but I liked the idea of it.

[@johnopalko5223]

I love the carillon. I visited the carillon of Rockefeller Chapel (72 bells) at the University of Chicago back when I was in high school. I discussed lessons with the carillonneur but I never pursued it. Playing the organ had simpler logistics with respect to practicing and didn't involve climbing around 300 steps and bending double to squeeze under the ductwork while crossing above the ceiling of the chapel.

[@elliottmcollins]

This makes me appreciate the Berkeley Carillon (63 bells!) so much more.

[@tommihommi1]

Interesting that there's so few of them in the UK compared to continental Europe

[@Philrc]

"continental" Europe 😁 such an English phrase

[@MusicFanatical1]

The continentals have need of the carillon but we do not. We have plenty of bellringers.

[@matthewbond6576]

I'm absolutely up for watching a roadtrip with these 3 incredible people!

[@Pianoguy32]

Good to hear Chopin being played :)

[@PopeLando]

13:45 "You know from my love of Excel sheets..." The secret's out, Brady. This is the real CGP Grey, isn't it?

[@Erekai]

I have *seen* the word Carillon all my life. In the city I was born and grew up in, there was a popular shopping center called "Carillon Square" but until this video, I never knew what a Carillon was. I also decided to research where the US Carillons were (since I'm an American) and it turns out, *there is one in the city I was born and grew up in* and I've even heard it with my own ears, but never knew it was a Carrilon! How interesting! This video was very cool, thanks Brady!

[@gummsingi8591]

Beautiful!

[@d5uncr]

Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" was played on the carillon (with the help of a guitar and backing tracks) , in Weert, Netherlands, for their 2021 Torenfestival. For some reason YT's comment bot won't let me post a direct link to the YT video :( It should be easy to find, for anyone interested in hearing it.

[@Quazlyy]

I did not expect to be hearing Chopin's Raindrop Prelude on a carillon today!

[@Nolanthegardener]

Fascinating! Thank you for sharing this little known instrument with us. It has to be one of the largest and heaviest musical instruments ever made.

[@Schizopantheist]

These things are extremely fun, now I want to play one! I realised I was grinning every time it was being played. Also I liked the selection of music. Never heard Chopin's Raindrop etude played like that before!

[@StrangerThanFic]

I'd love to have had him play the Sofa Shop theme! :-)

[@koukleum]

Brady! Tell me you’ve taken that souvenir spoon from 12:32 for a feature on the Unmade Podcast :-)

[@WouterWeggelaar]

I thought exactly the same and scrolled to find your comment

[@Yezpahr]

I once heard the tetris tune play from the belltowers of my home town. At first I didn't believe my ears, kept thinking I was just imagining it, but then people whipped out their phones to record. It happened again later that day, probably on-request. It definitely is something that really sounds great on actual bells instead of 8-bit sound.

[@aL3891_]

No sofa shop cover? :D Still brady executed on his 2021 vision to play the Carillon ;)

[@drskelebone]

I see now that my local carillon has 67 bells, and is doing a summer sunday concert series. I feel I should attend at least one.

[@Thats_Mr_Random_Person_to_you]

Love loughborough! Its a bit of a home from home for me!!

[@fburton8]

Carillon Up the Bell Tower, with Kenneth Williams as Quasimodo and Barbara Windsor as Esmerelda.

[@TraitorVek]

Yes Brady. I bumped into you that early Sunday, just by the Bird Cages - Hope you Enjoyed the Day

[@jovanweismiller7114]

I'd not realised there were so few carillons in Britain. There was one in the tower of my high school and one in a war memorial on my university campus, both in Kansas.

[@pleasedontwatchthese9593]

This is how you got music on the go before Ipods.

[@naota3k]

Did you get them to play the Sofa Shop tune while you were there?

[@tinwhiskerSC]

You know that was played. No question.

[@LiLi-or2gm]

We have a church in my town with carillon bells. They mark the hour (with a special ringing at noon) and can be heard all over downtown.

[@whoeveriam0iam14222]

All the Carillons just like Geoff Marshall did with All the Stations for all trainstations in Britain

[@PeterVC]

Yeah, we've got many of them here in Belgium, we call them "Beiaard". Some are pretty high up like in the Antwerp cathedral. I think someone in my family played one in his hometown.

[@Richard.Sanchez]

Scott: We play things people can recognize. Me: Does not recognize any of the songs played.

[@crazyrobots6565]

There was an episode on a comedy CBC podcast where they listen to some music at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada. I recognized one song.

[@Daniel_1223]

I think the last he played was a song by Adele and one of the other pieces sounded very much like Chopin's Prelude Op. 28 no. 15, though I could be wrong.

[@rogerlie4176]

Daniel is right. Also known as the Raindrop Prelude. The last piece was Bob Dylan's 'Make You Feel My Love' which is perhaps best known from Adeles's version.

[@alcyonecrucis]

Yeah let’s go Toronto !!

[@janman]

Many cities in the Netherlands have a municipal carillon. The one in my city was built in 1947, has 47 bells and is part of the 59 meter tall tower of city hall. Some were also gifted by the Netherlands, or Dutch organizations, to the USA and Canada, in gratitude for their role in the liberation of the Netherlands in 44-45.

[@docostler]

Indeed, there is a 62 bell carillon in my hometown of Victoria, BC that was provided by the Dutch population of BC in thanks for Canada's efforts in the liberation.

[@Lauraphoid]

Great video!

[@EtzEchad]

This must be the biggest object you've reviewed in Objectivity!

[@crazyrobots6565]

The sofa shop is the only stop for the sofa you need.

[@WhatAboutTheBee]

I've been to the carillon at Bok Tower Gardens (60 bells) in Florida. Fabulous experience. The squirrels there are a bit aggressive, from decades of peanut offerings!

[@TheyCallMeNewb]

I do so like when we go climb something on Objectivity.

[@ObjectivityVideos]

same!

[@NGCAnderopolis]

A Caralon! Brady got into one- awesome.

[@chrisweddle2577]

My piano teacher was the City Carilloneur in Aberdeen. It never occurred to me to want to become his successor though. He had special thick leather gloves.

[@ROMAQHICKS]

Who knew Linus Torvalds also loved playing the carillon in his spare time!

[@olli_k]

And for Brady's next channel: The latest extreme sport, "Extreme Carilloning"

[@gamernick1533]

The Bourneville one is pretty cool. Used to walk up from uni at the weekends and have my lunch under them whilst they played

[@alexbambury6739]

Rob Scallon did a great Video on Chicago’s Carillon

[@moxman1]

Great video thank you for showing.

[@mylittledashie7419]

With Hello Internet on (probably permanent) hiatus, I don't think Brady has been getting his fill of coming up with weirdly brilliant ideas.

[@__malte]

In the Unmade Podcast, Brady (and Tim) come up with different weirdly brilliant ideas all the time.

[@cameron9830]

It's great that the sofa shop has catapulted this obscure instrument into pop culture.

[@cyrilio]

please come to the city Groningen in The Netherlands to hear their carillon. It's over 100 meters high in the Martini Toren. It's also one of the most leaning towers in NL. The nickname of the tower is 'de ole griese' aka the old gray one. Ps it has way more bells than this one PPs; Utrecht also has an amazing one.

[@pietvanvliet1987]

Wintergatan has entered chat.

[@ragnkja]

Only two carillons in Sweden, somehow.

[@Xatzimi]

The song Memorial Chimes sounds like something from the Return of the Obra Dinn soundtrack

[@rdmsh]

I want to see the road trip!

[@jamesbarrett9466]

I took a tour of the carrilon at Yale a few years ago, and next to the 'keyboard' they had a shelf for the players' dedicated carrilon-playing shoes.

[@danieoberholzer5373]

Two things brady. 1. You're looking great. whatever you've been doing around fitotron5000, its showing. 2. Your camera presence really captures your enthusiasm and your interview skills. That was a really fun watch. The only thing that would have made it better was seeing caroline play the sofa shop.

[@graemep804]

My home town!

[@scorinth]

Haven't watched all the way through yet, and I'm not sure whether I'll be more disappointed if you *didn't* play a Sofa Shop cover or if you *did*...

[@ausrejurke]

In Lithuania, there are 3 carillons: one in each of 3 biggest cities. However, there is one more, which is called Šakiai city carillon, but probably real carillonneurs would argue with that definition. It has 24 bells. It is not in a tower, it is not played using a keyboard. It plays automatically after inserting a coin.

[@Roy_Godiksen]

Seriously. A tour buss full of carillon players playing every Carillon in the UK in 24 hours. That would be something fun and positive for the news to cover. And would give these historical pieces some well earned attention.

[@Grummash]

This is pretty much as cool as it gets... 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@simonturnill]

Raindrop Prelude - Chopin

[@thelivetoad]

ok that was great fun

[@jochem_m]

I never realized these were mostly a low countries thing. I'm 100% sure we have two, and maybe even three or four just in my medium size town in the Netherlands.

[@mojosbigsticks]

Greetings from Bournville! Come listen to ours next.

[@SoleaGalilei]

They've got one of these at UC Berkeley! Having been up in the tower while it was being played, I know what Brady means about how incredibly loud it is.

[@benspiecker484]

I'm wondering if there wouldn't be a way to add counterweights into the action such that the larger bells take as little effort as the smaller bells to play? Kind of the same idea as adding weights to piano keys to even out and even fine tune the touch weight of the instrument.

[@DeronMeranda]

From what I can tell they are often configured oppositely, where there are springs increasing the return tension on the smaller bells. It is probably more an issue of mass (inertia), and not weight. Unlike piano hammers, the clappers have a wide range of masses.

[@PeterGaunt]

Magic!

[@mat5473]

I was hoping to see Caroline play with her red gloves

[@kolmis11]

14:50 Missed a great opportunity for an ending pun. "The bells will not know what hit them."

[@simonstrandgaard5503]

Highly unusual instrument. Interesting to see what's going on inside.