For Whom The Bells Toll

(Scott Robertson / Alligator Staff) On Wednesday afternoon, Laura Ellis climbed the 11 flights of stairs that twist up the gut of the Century Tower to serenade passersby with three carillon melodies. It is a little-known fact that the top of Century Tower, the powerful World War I and World War II memorial that pierces the sky from the heart of campus, houses one of only four carillons in the state of Florida, said Ellis, an associate professor in the School of Music. Though the 157-foot-tall tower was finished in 1956, the ,200,000 carillon was not installed until 1979. UF's carillon is a fully mechanical instrument composed of 61 finely tuned bronze bells that are affixed to the top interior of Century Tower. The bells are connected by rods, known as "clavier," to 61 keys called "batons" that are arranged like piano keys and played by hand. At the player's feet rest 25 pedals that ring separate bells. The playing arrangement is concealed in a small room below the bells. Ellis, in addition to her role as a carillonneur, teaches a carillon class that gives students the opportunity to play the carillon of Century Tower. Recitals are given almost every day between 12:35 p.m. and 12:50 p.m. Songs include classical selections such as Gian-Carlo Menotti's "Prelude from Six Compositions for Cariloon" and more light-hearted tunes such as Richard M. Sherman and Robert Sherman's "Chim Chim Cher-ee" from the movie musical "Mary Poppins." Ellis recently traveled to Australia to give performances and explore the three carillons in the country. "My first few teaching jobs I really didn't have the opportunity to play very much," Ellis said after her performance Wednesday. "When I got here I was really excited because this is a really nice instrument."