Maastricht Bells a Wave of Sound on The Vrijthof

MAASTRICHT BELLS

Composition written by Greek and French conservatory students and their German Teacher

A WAVE OF SOUND ON THE VRIJTHOF

The Limburger by Ruud Maas: In order to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Maastricht conservatory, thousands of hand bells rang in the festivities yesterday on the Vrijthof. Quite a happy spectacle.  The largest hand and church bell concert in Europe ended on a rather cold day, but director Bart van Dongen received many outreaching hands of people who wanted to congratulate him on his recently completed achievement. Try and see how you can pull this off: keep fifteen hundred exuberant school children from school groups five to and including group eight quiet all while directing this horde for a twenty minute long music spectacle. But Van Dongen and the artistic leader of "Intro in Situ" were successful. He is very satisfied he said smiling while climbing down from his elevated podium.

Besides having whisper-quiet and concentrating children there, Van Dongen also had the sun working with him, along with hundreds of curious onlookers on the square. "It was a joy for all of us to make music together. I found it amazing to note the commitment." With white gloves - so he would be very visible to his eight flag bearers of the Maastricht Conservatory - Van Dongen directed the Maastricht Bells Composition. It was written by conservatory students Yannis Katirzoglou and Christos Chalnaridis, both from Greece, Frank Bovet from France and their teacher Robert Platz from Germany.

The gathered children each received a colored bell. These bells were manufactured in the eight tones of the music ladder and in eight colors, which in turn determined a specific box on the square with a corresponding flag bearer. The flag bearers, who receive instructions from the director through headsets, indicate to the children what is expected of them: to be quiet, ring the bells moderately in rhythm with the music or ring them exuberantly. (The newly minted musicians are best at the latter)

In the meantime city carillon player Frank Steijns is also playing the biggest mobile carillon, built on a truck. And in order to bring the sound wave to unprecedented levels another 250 church bells and several other carillons are also put into play. This campaign puts the cherry on top of the Maastricht Conservatory's birthday cake.

Apparently the often discussed title of Maastricht as the Cultural Capital of 2018 has already been placed on the Maastricht Bells. The children probably could care less, since they happily return home with a nice brightly colored hand bell. And how happy they are with them is apparent as they return in droves to their respective schools.

After having played for twenty minutes in a disciplined fashion, all restrictions are removed. And that can definitely be heard.

►Click HERE To Watch Video of The Bells and Frank

Thanks to John for the Translation of this Article