University of Toronto | Victoria Day Carillon Recital

The music of remembrance

A carillon is a musical instrument consisting of a set of bells cast in bronze and tuned so that they can be sounded together harmoniously by a player on a keyboard. The 51 bells of the Soldiers’ Tower Carillon range in weight from four tons (low Bb, an octave below middle C) to 23 pounds (high D, three octaves above middle C). The carillonneur can control dynamic expression by variation of touch. U of T’s bells are played by Roy Lee, Elisa Tersigni and Naoko Tsujita.

The initial 23 bells of the Soldiers’ Tower Carillon were dedicated on October 6, 1927 , with each bells honouring different members of the University who fell in the First World War. Additional bells, in memory of those who fell in the Second World War, were added in 1952 and 1976. Inscriptions carved into the Tower record those honoured by each bell.

On the 100 anniversary of the First World War armistice, U of T alumni commissioned alumnus Scott Allan Orr to write a special commemorative carillon composition.

• Although the carillon can be heard clearly at a distance, the best places to listen are Hart House Circle lawn, the back campus, and the Hart House and University College quadrangles.
• During formal recitals, seating is arranged at the base of Soldiers’ Tower at 7 Hart House Circle, where a television monitor captures the carillonneur’s performance.

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