Music for carillon

The carillon is a concert instrument that is suitable for virtually every style of music. Carillons may be heard on city market days (especially in Europe), at regularly scheduled concerts, major events and during special seasons of the year.

Folk and classical music, holiday favourites, carillon compositions, movie themes and national anthems are heard from carillon towers around the world.

Most carillonneurs are skilled at arranging music. Arrangements of popular melodies and classical music make up a large, rich selection of carillon repertoire. Keyboard, symphonic, vocal and ensemble music can all be arranged for the carillon.  

The 20^th century saw impressive growth in music composed especially for the carillon. Competitions for carillon composition generate new idiomatic repertoire, and many carillonneurs are fine composers whose works are published and shared across the carillon community.

^{Photo: Liesbeth Janssens in the playing cabin at Our Lady’s Tower, Antwerp (Photo: Andreas Dill)}

Left video: Frank Steyns (carillon) and Boudewijn Zwart (piano); right video: Beat the bells - Carillon, percussion and brass

Singers and instrumentalists can also be featured in carillon concerts, sometimes amplified from the carillon playing cabin or on the ground. Ensemble possibilities are enhanced by mobile carillons, which can be positioned in indoor and outdoor public spaces. Big-screen projections and live streams are sometimes used to bring the performer(s) directly to their audience.