Music Major Awarded a Fulbright
In early April, Principia College senior Carson Landry (C’20) was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to study carillon at the Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn” in Mechelen, Belgium, during the 2020–2021 academic year.
As a producer/performer music studies major, Carson has been active in carillon, voice, and organ throughout his time at the College. He also founded the Principia Carillon Guild to raise interest in the instrument. “I’m so grateful to have been introduced to the carillon at Principia,” Carson says, “and to have my studies so generously supported by the Jean L. Rainwater Carillon Fund,” which provides tuition-free lessons for study of carillon. In addition, the College’s carillon was a gift from the Rainwater family.
Explaining his Fulbright research project, Carson says, “I’ll be transcribing the DeGruytters Carillon Book, one of the most significant extant manuscripts of early carillon music, and preparing it for republication that’s more accessible and in line with current music notation practices.”
Carson is quick to share the credit for the Fulbright award. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the significant support of Prin’s carillonist and my teacher, Carlo van Ulft, who first gave me this research project idea, encouraged me to apply for the Fulbright, and connected me with the carillon school ([where] he taught for 12 years before coming to the U.S.),” Carson says. “Many Prin faculty have played super supportive roles, from writing letters of recommendation to helping me sound smart in the interview process. I also credit the Prague abroad for teaching me how to be culturally competent in foreign environments—experience which I think strengthened my application.”
Van Ulft is carillonist of the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon in Springfield, Illinois, and Director of the North American Carillon School. Along with teaching at Principia, he plays a weekly concert on the College campus. “Principia’s carillon program is a very unique opportunity for students to study and perform on this very rare musical instrument,” he comments. “With only 600 total carillons in the world, [Principia is] blessed to have one on campus to enhance the general outdoor campus atmosphere on a weekly basis and during Commencement and other College-wide celebrations."
In an article in the Pilot, the College’s student news magazine, College organist and associate professor of music Dr. Rose Whitmore and Music Department Chair and associate professor Dr. Joe van Riper expressed their delight about Carson’s accomplishment. “It is a tremendous honor to have one of our students selected for something like this, and it’s a testament to Carson’s hard work . . .” Van Riper noted. “It is a very prestigious program, and we’re so delighted that he’s going to be able to participate in it, especially with this unique instrument,” Whitmore added.
Carillons originated in Europe in "The Low Lands" (Belgium and the Netherlands) and are usually found in high cathedral towers. Numerous carillons in that part of the world are centuries old and still play an important role in each city’s cultural life. In the United States, most carillons are in churches, parks and botanical gardens, and on college campuses. As with the organ, the carillon is played with legs and feet as well as hands.
Principia’s close ties with the North American Carillon School (NACS), the only independent, nationally recognized carillon institution in North America, give students the opportunity to receive internationally recognized certification in carillon. Carson is working on the NACS performance diploma in preparation for his studies in Belgium.