I never knew that someone could actually “play” the clock tower in Baker Park …
John Widmann can play ‘‘The Star-Spangled Banner” with his feet.
When you next hear the sound of the national anthem pouring out of the Joseph Dill Baker carillon tower in Baker Park on a quiet Sunday afternoon, you’ll know it’s him, using his toes and half-closed fists to strike the keys.
At the top of the green, spiraling staircase inside the 70-foot-tall stone tower at Baker Park, Widmann sits at the keyboard to play the carillon, a musical instrument of 49 finely tuned bells arranged in chromatic sequence. The only bells he does not play are the five automatic ones that ring on the hour every day.
Widmann, 44, plays informal half-hour recitals every Sunday at noon for anyone passing through Baker Park, striking the keys that connect to the clappers inside the carillon bells, which can be seen through a man-sized hole in the ceiling.
‘‘You get a thrill out of it in that if you make a mistake, they’ll hear it for blocks,” Widmann said on Sunday.
Widmann has been Frederick’s carillonneur for nearly 16 years, almost as long as he has lived in the city. He is the third person to hold the paid position since the instrument and tower were built in 1941.
Too bad there is no associated video with the story. I would really like to see Mr. Wildmann at work. I suppose I could go see for myself though since “… he keeps the door open during his recitals for the curious to climb the staircase and watch him play.”
~Guy~
3 responses so far ↓
Allison // April 21, 2008 at 8:20 am
I once went up there exploring with a friend, and there was a student Carillion player practicing. She let us press a few “keys”. It’s pretty amazing to see how it all works. It’s much more than pressing keys like an organ
It’s definitely worth the fun climb up the spiral staircase!
Cygnus // April 21, 2008 at 8:51 am
There are weekly carillon recitals at noon on Sundays, and during the Summer Concert Series, Widmann or other carilloneurs perform before the Sunday night shows, starting at 6 PM.
Widmann will also perform after the Fourth of July fireworks show. So we have plenty of opportunities to hear one of only two carillons in the state in action.
I wonder if Widmann can play the theme from the Simpsons?
TK // April 21, 2008 at 11:56 am
I’ve wandered up to the top platform, its pretty cool to watch him play.
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