What Is a Carillon? History, Music, and How Carillons Are Made

Updated

A carillon is a musical instrument made of at least 23 bronze bells in a tower, connected by wires to a large wooden keyboard so one player can sound the whole instrument. The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA), founded in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1936, explains on gcna.org that it is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to the carillon, supporting members, encouraging new carillons, improving existing ones, and distributing carillon music. The GCNA site covers the history, repertoire, and construction of the instrument under its "About carillons" section.

What is a carillon?

The GCNA defines a carillon as a bell tower full of bells — at least 23 — each connected by wires to a large wooden keyboard. That minimum of 23 bells is the defining threshold: fewer bells is generally a chime rather than a carillon. Because the bells are played from a keyboard with a pedal board, one carillonneur can perform music with both hands and feet, controlling dynamics through how the keys and pedals are struck.

How can I learn to play the carillon?

The GCNA lists "Learn to play" and "Webinars" under its education and exams resources. For a structured path, the site also names two examinations:

  • Associate Carillonneur Exam
  • Carillonneur Exam

These exams give learners a defined progression from introductory study toward recognized carillonneur status. The GCNA also maintains a "Learn to play" entry point for those starting out.

What music does the carillon play?

Carillon repertoire spans original compositions and arrangements. The GCNA's music resources include:

  • Sheet music and the GCNA Music Store
  • Other music sources and a way to submit music for publication
  • Music writing contests, including the Warner Arrangements Contest, the Franco Composition Contest, and the Franco Proposal Contest
  • Commissioned music

The GCNA also publishes Carillon News (with a Spring 2026 issue noted on the site), a Bulletin, and E-News, which document performances, new works, and guild activity.

How are carillons made?

The GCNA's "About carillons" section addresses how carillons are made. The instrument's construction centers on casting tuned bronze bells and then connecting each bell by wire to the keyboard mechanism. Because the bells are the sound source and the wires transmit the player's touch, the making of a carillon involves both the bell foundry work and the mechanical linkage that lets a single performer play the full set. The GCNA encourages the building of new carillons and the improvement of existing ones, so its materials on construction serve both prospective builders and those maintaining instruments.

Where can I hear a carillon?

The GCNA offers several ways to listen:

  • In person — through tower directories that list carillons by location
  • Online — via "Listen to carillon music online"
  • Recordings — CDs of carillon music

The site also highlights summer carillon recitals, a seasonal opportunity to hear the instrument live.

How do I get involved with the GCNA?

The GCNA describes itself as volunteer-based and welcomes participation through several routes:

  • Join us as a member
  • Donate to support the guild
  • Grants, including the Research (Barnes) grant, Emerging artist grant, Congress attendance grant, Regional gathering grant, and Student composer-performer grant
  • Congress, the guild's gathering, with attendance support available through a grant
  • Leadership, Committees, and Governance pages for those interested in organizational roles

The site also provides Our history, an Honor Roll, and a Contact us page for further questions.

In short, gcna.org is the GCNA's home for understanding what a carillon is, how it is built, what it plays, how to learn it, and how to hear it — whether in a tower near you or through online recordings.