The Frome Carillon
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A carillon is defined as a set of bells on which tunes can be played either by physical or mechanical means.
Artmusic’s composer Helen Ottaway and sound designer Alastair Goolden have created a virtual carillon for Frome to tell the time of day as Frome’s new carillon plays tunes and chimes on the hour. The carillon was in action throughout Frome Festival 2023 playing from above the market square. It is hoped that it will play again at various times in the future.
About the bells
The Frome Carillon is made up of 9 bell samples recorded at bell towers in local villages. Featured are bells from Corsley and Horningsham in Wiltshire and Leigh on Mendip, Marston Bigot, Mells and Wanstrow in Somerset. The bell that strikes the hour is from Mells.
Local bell ringers rang individual bells which were recorded for the carillon set. Many thanks to Mary Hooper (Marston Bigot and Wanstrow), Mike and Liz Attenborough (Corsley and Horningsham) and Julian Back (Leigh-on-Mendip and Mells).
Making the carillon tunes
Helen Ottaway composed the first tune for the carillon and this tune featured at 1.00 pm every day of the festival and throughout the last day. The tune was named Full Circle and was the basis for Helen’s composition which featured in the project finale, A Miscellany of Bells.
Listen to Helen’s Full Circle tune here
A further 16 tunes were created by participants in a bell tune writing workshop at the Silk Mill Frome on Sunday 9th July 2023. These tunes played out above the market square on the hours between 9.00 am and 6.00 pm throughout the festival.