European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 6, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The Carillon of we Are in touch with the whole world with this tradition by Rosemary Sawyer Brussels Bureau the belgian town of Mechelene boasts More Carillon than any other place in the world and plenty of talented student musicians to bring the Bells to life. Since 192 2, the City s world famous Royal Carillon school has been fostering continued love for the instrument of the late Middle Ages. Mondays and saturdays at 11 30 . Pupils aged 14 to 40 can be heard practising on two Carillon in the magnificent St. Rombout s Tower on the Crote Markt. The Tower Bells also sing on sundays at 3 . Bells in the City s other three Carillon also receive frequent workouts. The Art of playing Belgium s National instrument is Quot All the time growing especially for Young people Quot said to Haazen school director and town Carillon eur. More than 50 pupils frown 10 different countries including the United states Russia and China study there each year. Their instructors teach in six languages including esperanto an artificial academic Tongue. The school also operates programs in three other belgian towns and in Osaka Japan. Quot so we Are in touch with the whole world with this tradition Quot Haazen said. So widely is Mechelene considered Quot the Center of Bell Art Quot that Russia named the Carillon Malinovic Zvon after the town about 15 minutes drive North of the belgian capital Haazen said. Haazen and his pupils Are picking up where Carillon eur Jef deny left off in. Spreading the instrument s Sweet sounds. Bell ringing had declined during the 18th and 19th centuries. Deny set out to change that founding the school in 1922 and leading an Effort to make All keyboards uniform. Rather than keys the Carillon has rows of wooden levers and pedals arranged like an Organ which the Carillon eur presses with his fists and feet respectively. The levers and pedals Are All connected to Bells. Most Carillon eurs Are men with just 14 women currently enrolled in the school. Although More and More women Are learning the Art Haazen said an imbalance exists because most Carillon Are in churches which Are still widely considered the Domain of men. Quot just like organists were always men priests were always men Carillon eurs were always men Quot Haazen said noting that the first woman was admitted to the school in 1929. In its Early years the school was kept afloat by gifts from such . Millionaires As John d. Rockefeller or. And William Gorham Rice. Now the school receives Federal funding under the Protection of Queen Fabiola widow of King Badouin. Every three years the school sponsors a Carillon composing Competition in her name. Haazen 48, the school s director since 1981, began playing the Carillon when he was 13. He tells of his Mother encouraging to Haazen director of the Royal Carillon school shows his skill on the instrument. Him to study so that he might some Day become the Carillon eur for his Hometown of Antwerp. Haazen attained that goal and performed in the Antwerp Cathedral for 12 years. A a Quot a a a a a. He said he does t enjoy playing in the City just North of Mechelene As much As he used to when chords from the Bells would hush a crowd of 5,000 people. Quot now they eat and drink and make noise Quot Haazen said. In Mechelene however there is a special listening place where you can sit and quietly enjoy the music emanating from tons of Bronze Bells founded in 1981 that hang in St. Rombout s Tower have been acclaimed As some of the Best in the world for their Brilliant and pure sounds. The Tower s second Carillon has Bells dating Back to 1480. The school is not open to the Public but you can peer through its windows on Frederick de Merod Straat 63 and see pupils practising on exercise keyboards. You can also wander next door to the Carillon museum and town museum Quot Hof Van  the Hof Tower also has a Light 49-Bell Carillon. The Carillon museum displays Bells and an array of old keyboards that help you understand what a Job deny faced in trying to achieve uniformity in the Field. A getting there Mechelene is just off Highway e-19 Between Brussels and Antwerp. Exit at Mechelene and follow the signs to the Grote Markt. Mechelene can also be reached by train. A eating for a snack try de Kei Zerin Tea room located on the Grote Markt Cater cornered from the tourism office. Shrimp cooked with garlic Cost 420 belgian francs about $12. A croquet Monsieur grilled Ham and cheese will set you Back 140 francs about $4. Crapes with sugar Cost 75 francs about $2.15with banana and warm chocolate syrup 165 francs about $4.75. A Coffee costs 60 francs about $1.75. The toy museum cafeteria offers a sugar crepe for 50 belgian francs about $1.40 or a belgian warm Waffle with sugar for 65 francs about $1.85. Beer and Coffee Cost about 70 francs about $2. A where to stay Mechelene has just five hotels with just More than 100 rooms ranging from 2,950 to 5,250 belgian francs about $84 to $150 for a double. Reservations Are recommended especially during the summer. The tourism office can help. A museums the toy Spee goed museum at 21 nekkers Poel is open 10 . To 5 . Daily except monday. Admission is 100 belgian francs about $3 for adults 80 francs about $2.25 for children Ages 4 to 12. A Tours from october through March visitors can Only climb the St. Rombout Tower with a tour guide. The fee for a two hour tour of the Tower and Cathedral Sanctuary is 1,200 belgian francs about $34.25which can be divided among group members. During july and August daily Tours Are available at 2 15 . From april through june and in september Tours Are offered on weekends Only. Tickets Are 60 belgian francs about $1.70. The City offers another guided tour during the Winter for the same group Price of 1,200 francs. This walk takes in the interiors of the town Hall Carillon school Palace of Margaret of Austria and Cathedral. The Tower climb is not included. To arrange for either tour Send a written request to the tourism office at least five Days before your planned visit. A tourism office the tourism office is located in the town Hall on the Grote Markt. Its address is Dienst voor tourism stad Huis Grote Markt b-2800 Mechelene. Telephone 015-297655, Tel fax 015-297653. If calling from outside Belgium Don t forget to dial your country s International Access number the country code 32 and drop the first 0. A Rosemary Sawyer some of the dolls displayed at the toy museum. January 6, 1994 stripes Magazine 9