THE CARILLON

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 46, 24 February 1930, Page 9

THE CARILLON

MEANING OF THE BELLS

THE REVERENTIAL ASPECT

(From "The Post's" Representative.) 'LONDON,'IOth January.

Thrice daily—at noon, afternoon, and early evening—large numbers of Londoners continue to assemble in' Hyde Park to listen to the music of the bells, played by Mr. Clifford Ball. The programmes are delightful, and are marvellously varied, and the carilloneur is geherous with his programme extensions, i So great has been the interest taken in the carillon that tho "Daily Sketch" is arranging with Mr. Ball to play a programme of music selected by its readers. Listeners are invited to send a postcard giving the half-a-dozen items which appeal to them most strongly. Mr. Ball will then compile a programme of the most popular items, which will be played on a date to be duly announced.

Among several interesting events which it is hoped to arrange in the near future will be aspeeial peace programme to celebrate the.opening by the King of the Five Power Naval Conference in Jiondon, and a programme of Scottish music on 25th January,-1 when Scots throughout tho world will be celebrating Burns Day.

An interested listener a. few days ago was Dr. Ernest Bullock, organist of Westminster Abbey.

; The enthusiasm of lie crowds, is great, and evidence that the music from the Carillon is enjoyed is to IjO seen by the great numbers of very ordinary people who come with infant* in their arms and with tiny toddlei's. The appeal to these must be impelling, for they turn out in the damp chill of'the winter evenings after. 0 pm.j bringing small children who otherwise would be in bed; the little ones'cannot be leift at homo unattended, so they are brought out. Then, small schoolboys march on with the determination to arrive at the spot in good time to hear the whole programme. Workers.linger and listen on the way home. •'" -: .'. ■>•■_. ."to: : ;--; MR. WIIiFORD SUPPLIES OMISSION. In spite of the. fact that great publicity has been given as to the ownership, the sacred purpose of the Carillon, and: its future home, there are still immense crowds who know nothing except that there are bells to-listen to in the Park. One hears remarks such as; "- How lovely! Are they always going to be here?" "I hope they are going to stay!" "What lovely bells—how did they get here?" And'so on. People do not seem to see the very plain inscription on one side of the tower which supplies all there' is to know. There are three sides without any information at all. ; ,

Mr. T. M.' Wilford was in the Park on Sunday afternoon with .Mr. uucien Cesaronr to hear the Carillon. The High Commissioner spoke to a man' near him, asking: "What are these bells?" the man replied: "I don't, know anything about them—they are just'bells." The High Commissioner.then realised that there had been a serious omission —there was no New Zealand flag floating beside the Union Jack. The New Zealand flag has its place on all Imperial .War Memon Is in Prance and elsewhere, alongside tho Union Jack and Mr. Wilford immediately decided that the New Zealand flag certainly should be ser- in Hyde Park on the Carillon tower. He has gone into the matter accordingly. To 'him this memorial has a sacred appeal—it is a memorial of sacrifice, meaning uuch to t' ( don rs who reverence the' memory of many whose lives were given in the Great War. He wants to bring into tho. forefront the reverential aspect of tho Carillon, and he is shocked to find that tlure is any idea of commercialising the music that is pouiod forth— commercialising it by means of records before even the bells find their permanent home in Wellington. The ahpearance of {he New Zealand flag will p • .>vide additional, public interest, for those who don't .now what it is will ask. The Drminion's own emblem will add to the outward effect of the tower, and will be associated always in the minds of the populace with the first carillon that Londoners have fcem able to hear.

It is pretty evident that a, move will be made for London'to have its own permanent Carillon. Already, scribes at-3 suggesting a more ideal she air id some cluster of trees, where- masonry would be hidden" and a touch of mystery would add to tho charm of sweet sounding'bells. " ■ ' . ■