Denmark  |  April 10, 2025

Creation of NSCK

The first steps to form a Nordic guild for campanology were taken at the first Nordic bell conference 1962 in Gotland, Sweden. During the second conference (1964) in Denmark, an elected Nordic bell committee was given the task to prepare the formation of an organization. The Nordic Society of Campanology (NSC) was then founded during the third bell conference held in Valdres, Norway, from 3 to 6 August, 1966.

In 1974 the Danish guild of carillonneurs was established, and became a member organization of the World Carillon Federation. At this time there were few educated carillonneurs in the Nordic countries. Some organists of churches with a carillon achieved training with Leen 't Hart in Amersfoort. Inspired by the schools in Mechelen, Amersfoort and Douai, the Scandinavian Carillon School was founded in 1979 in Løgumkloster, Denmark. Three years later, in 1982, the World Carillon Congress took place in Løgumkloster.

In 1993 the Nordic Society of Campanology and the Danish guild of carillonneurs merged. The new Nordic Society of Campanology and Carillon proceeded as the Nordic member association of the WCF.

In 2004 the Nordic Society of Campanology and Carillon hosted the WCF World Congress in Oslo. Please enjoy this video from the 14th congress made by Marc Van Eyck.

Grindsted  |  Denmark  |  March 1, 2025

A new Grand Carillon in Grindsted Church, Denmark

On March 23rd 2024, a long-standing dream was fulfilled, the inauguration of the new carillon of Grindsted church. At the same time, a new era began in NSCK's area, as they now have the biggest carillon in the Nordic countries, in terms of both weight and number of bells.

The carillon's 61 bells were cast by Royal Eijsbouts in the Netherlands. The largest bell has a weight of 3.3 tons and a diameter of 176 cm, and the smallest bell has a diameter of 16.2 cm and weighs 8 kg. The range is 5 octaves with a bourdon bell Bb0 below the bottom C1.

The carillon is non-transposing, and the bells are tuned to an unequal temperament from 1732, called "Neidthardt - Für das Dorf". The WCF-standard keyboard is set up in a spacious heated cabin, where a practice clavier also has its place. The two keyboards share a bench, allowing the carillonneur the option to play both keyboards.

The company Thubalka A/S, Vejle, has been responsible for the construction and installation of the carillon and has shown brilliant innovation in this regard. It can be seen in the fact that the smallest bells are suspended in oval arches, which ensures that the horizontal connections are roughly the same length.

36 of 61 bells are connected to an automatic system using electric magnetic hammers. Played at a number of concerts, the carillon has been well received by the local community.

Stavanger  |  Norway  |  June 7, 2024

Norway's first carillon and Stavanger cathedral under restoration

Stavanger city lies in the southwestern part of Norway. Both the cathedral, the diocese and the city date back to 1125 and will celebrate 900 years next year. During years of excavations and restoration work, the cathedral has been closed, but will reopen in August 2024.

The first cathedral carillon with 22 bells from Warner Bell Foundry in England was installed in 1921. Carillonneur Harry Withers from Bournville was invited for the inauguration in January 1922. Withers was self taught, but renowned by Jef Denijn who started his carillon school in Mechelen the same year. During this century a tradition with daily carillon concerts has been alive in Stavanger most of the time.

The instrument was expanded with 15 bells in 1998 and an additional 12 bells in 2000, all from Olsen Nauen Bell Foundry. Today it contains 49 bells based on e1 (1078 kg).

Plans for a restoration were made for the carillon jubilee in 2022, but due to a closed cathedral the work had to be postponed. A new and modern keyboard from Eijsbouts has now arrived and will replace the old one. An Apollo III computer and a pneumatic system for automatic music will also be installed. Soon bell music will celebrate the first 100 years of carillon art in Norway and the 900 year jubilee for Stavanger.

Vegar Sandholt

The interior of the cathedral in Stavanger.

The new keyboard for the instrument in Stavanger.

Denmark  |  March 8, 2024

New carillons in Denmark

The new carillon for Grindsted Church in Denmark, which is expected to be ready by Easter 2024, will have 61 bells (Bb0-C1-c6). The bells, with a total bronze weight of almost 20 tons, are cast by Royal Eijsbouts in Asten (The Netherlands).

As a special feature they are tuned according to the unequal temperament "Neidthardt - Für das Dorf 1732". This tuning method was first used in 2011 at the small carillon in Vejlby Church, Allingåbro in Denmark with 27 bells, and has since been used for the carillons in Bodø Cathedral in Norway with 50 bells, Aulum Church in Denmark with 28 bells.

The keyboard is made according to the WCF 2006 standard, and there is a corresponding practice keyboard immediately next to it in the cabin. 36 bells are fitted with external magnetic hammers for automatic play.

Restoration and expansion of King Frederik IX's Carillon

Since 2019, due to an extensive corrosive attack, it has not been possible to play manually the King Frederik IX's Carillon in Løgumkloster. An extensive restoration also includes the iconic steel belfry.

At the same time, the existing number of bells of 49 bells is expanded by two octaves in the treble to a total of six octaves = 73 bells. The new keyboard is made according to the WCF 2006 Standard.

Read more on the NSCK website.