Indiana University


Original Tower 1971-2018	New Tower Opened 2020

Links to Carillon Inventories
GCNA	Tower Bells	Bok Tower Gardens

The Arthur R. Metz Foundation funding two Eijsbouts carillons on the campus. The Arthur R. Metz carillon has 61 bells and was dedicated on October 22, 1971 by Arie Abbenes.

The carillon proved to be in a poor location and was not played for several years before a student group brought it back to life in 2003. The tower was demolished in 2018 and a new tower with four new bells was built in a more suitable location and dedicated on January 20, 2020 by John Gouwens as the Metz Grand Bientennial Carillon.

References
1971 "Carillon To Ring Memorial to Distinguished Alumnus," The Times-Mail, May 16, 1971, Page 10.

1971 "IU Carillon Dedication is Friday," The Times-Mail, October 17, 1971, Page 10.

1982 Indiana University School of Music, the Bain regime, 1947-1973, by Wilfred Conwell Bain
Pages 1081-1084: Carillons

2003 Group brings back carillon, Indiana Daily Student, April 28, 2003
John Riester concentrates on the sheet music spread out before him as his hands fly expertly over the wooden levers and his feet pump the large pedals of the playing desk. The small room echoes with music. With a music school as renowned as IU's, an afternoon practice session such as this might seem run of the mill. But this particular practice session, and this particular instrument, is anything but ordinary. The room is set on the highest point on campus, with windows exposing a breathtaking view, and the music can be heard from over a half a mile away. Riester is playing the Metz Tower Carillon. Up until last fall, the carillons had been silent for several years. Riester, an organ performance major, took notice and then took action. He organized the IU Carillon Guild. Their goal is to peer teach and in his words, "bring music to campus on otherwise silent instruments." With minimal funding from the University, the five-member guild takes responsibility for basic upkeep of the carillons and teaching the instrument to interested students. They are supervised by music school professor John Schwandt. The guild also hosts master classes and recitals with professional carillonneurs.
There are 171 carillons in North America, two of which are at IU. The Metz Memorial Carillon is located near the intersection of Jordan Avenue and 17th Street. The cast bronze bells weigh a total of over 17 tons and hang in a 91-foot high limestone and concrete tower. Each bell is inscribed with a unique quote from scripture or literature. The highest bell measures about seven inches in diameter and is inscribed with a quote from the book of Psalms: "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands."
The largest bell is about 65 inches in diameter and weighs well over three tons. Because of its location, less than 100 yards away from several fraternities and apartment buildings, the Metz carillon can only be practiced one hour a day.
For practice purposes, the carillon players use the School of Music Carillon. It is located atop the Music Annex building and contains 42 bells. There is also a chime on the Student Building, which is sometimes referred to as a carillon. It is the only one of the three that uses an automated mechanism to chime on the hour.
The carillons were installed on campus in 1971, thanks to a donation from the Arthur R. Metz Foundation. Metz was a distinguished alumnus and Chicago physician and surgeon. The carillons cost $101,000.
Herman B Wells also influenced the building of the carillons.
"It's hard to exactly know if these instruments would've been here without Herman B Wells," Riester said. "He was really an ardent supporter of bringing carillons here. He was really big on making IU a national school to be reckoned with, and this really is one of those unique things for a university to have."
Riester said when students hear the bells of the carillon they realize what a unique addition to the campus they are.
"It's really neat when I've been playing, and I come down and see that people have gathered to listen," Riester said. "A lot of people say they've walked past this for years and didn't know it played, or thought that it was just there for looks. It's rewarding to hear that"

2020 IU grand carillon rings for the first time as part of bicentennial celebrations

Carillon at Indiana University

Arthur R. Metz papers and biography