France  |  April 10, 2025

Constitution of the WCF: the Douai congress

France is one of the founding countries of the World Carillon Federation.

In 1973, Leen 't Hart and Milford Myhre proposed the idea of an international carillon organization. This came to fruition with Jacques Lannoy in Douai, France, in 1974, the year the carillon in the belfry of Douai Town Hall was enlarged.

From September 7 to 9, 1974, the city of Douai hosted 130 participants from nine different countries who came to attend the World Carillon Congress. The General Assembly on Monday, September 9, 1974, enthusiastically adopted the proposal to create the World Carillon Federation at 10:34 a.m.

Its first committee was then created, bringing together 22 members from 16 different countries, including two French carillonneurs, Jacques Lannoy and Louis Delapierre.

The Executive Committee, under the honorary chairmanship of Percival Price and the chairmanship of Jacques Lannoy, set about establishing the statutes, which were adopted in Amersfoort in 1978.

During this 1974 congress, a "Sound and Light" show was performed in the Cour d'Honneur of the town hall: "Carillon – ballets – fanfares," featuring the Ensemble des Cuivres de Paris and the carillonneurs Arie Abbenes and Jacques Lannoy.

Jacques Lannoy was elected President of the World Carillon Federation from 1974 to 1982.

The three official languages of the World Carillon Federation (French, English, and Dutch, according to Article 5 of the current statutes) certainly originate from the nationalities of the three founding carillonneurs mentioned above.

Annecy  |  France  |  March 1, 2025

PACCARD, a ringing name !

After many years of writing, Pierre Paccard has given us an exciting 264-page book about the history of the Paccard family saga, and the bell founding profession. This large format book is richly illustrated and no doubt will be a joy for enthusiasts. The elegant and modern layout makes its reading particularly agreable, as is the passion which the author transmits to the reader.

As he explains, the idea of the book came to him by the president of the founding industry syndicate in January 1981. While he wrote, the text became a song of industrial and musical gesture! It is the history of a family of founders since 1796 with their most important achievements (including carillons). At the end of the book is a list of Paccard’s 200 bourdons of more than 2 tons. The book gives advice and council to those who must intervene in belfries (architects, regional cultural affairs…) and to the owners of bells (cities, churches…). It is for anyone who is curious to discover a profession and a family, without being a simple popularizing work. There are very detailed explanations on founding and on the decorating of bells which should interest carillonneurs and campanologists!

An interview with Pierre Paccard can be found in the French Guild of Carillonneurs L’Art Campanaire bulletin, June 2024.

This beautiful French book is available from the Paccard museum in Annecy or by its online store.

The cover of the new book

France  |  June 7, 2024

Announcing the Twentieth Anniversary of the National Carillon Interpretation Exam

The GCF National Interpretation Exam celebrates its twentieth anniversary in 2024.

Since 2004, the exams have been organized on different spots on the national territory: Hondschoote (2004), Lisieux (2005), Tourcoing (2006), Cappelle la Grande (2007), Grézieu-la-Varenne (2009), Cholet (2023), Dunkirk (2024). The mechanical condition and the range of a carillon are two major criteria for hosting the events.

Created both for individual carillonneurs or for those enrolled in a carillon course, the exam is aimed at French or foreign candidates of all ages.

Despite changes in the location of this exam, registrations have recorded more than twenty candidates each year.

The course is made up of 3 cycles (4 years in the first cycle, 3 years in the second cycle, 2 years in the third cycle). The compulsory pieces are selected by a committee of the Guild.

Successful completion of the third cycle results in the award of a Carillonneur diploma. On this occasion, the Paccard foundry is offering a personalized bell to each winner.

The examination jury is made up of carillonneurs and musical personalities from the host venue.

Let us hope that the longevity of this exam contributes to the sustainability of carillon teaching in France.

Some bells from the carillon of Bourbourg

Bailleul  |  France  |  March 8, 2024

Annual Congress 2024 in Bailleul

Many carillon events will take place this year in France. The main highlight of the Guild of Carillonneurs of France will be its annual congress, scheduled for July 19 to 21, 2024 in Bailleul.

"Our carillon, at the top of the belfry, is part of the identity of our city" says the mayor of Bailleul. This carillon from 1932 has 35 bells, with a manual keyboard and a drum for the automatic music. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1992, a recent restoration allows it to once again resonate in the city of Mélusine.

The Guild of carillonneurs will be happy to meet next July, for a program combining association time, carillon time and discovery of the city and the 'Monts de Flandres'.

All French news on the website of the guild.

The City Hall of Bailleul

The carillon consists of 35 bells.