Norwood Launches Training Program to Prepare New Generation of Carillonneurs for Town Hall’s Historic Bells-October 27, 1972

Town Hall Carillon to Train 17 High School Musicians

Boasting one of the rare municipal bell towers equipped with a carillon in the United States—generously donated to the town by local businessman Walter F. Tilton in 1928—Norwood is taking steps to ensure its unique musical instrument continues to be played. Over its 44-year history, the instrument has been played regularly by only two musicians due to the immense physical demands required to master it.

Playing a carillon involves striking heavy wooden levers with hands and feet, requiring a rigorous combination of coordination, agility, strength, and stamina. To address the shortage of skilled players, Selectmen Chairman Walter J. Dempsey and centennial committee chairman A. Franklin Swift Jr. initiated a new training program targeting local high school student musicians.

Town School Music Director Paul Alberta put out a call for volunteers, resulting in the selection of 17 young men and women who are beginning formal instruction. Town leaders hope this initiative will establish a sustainable, continuing program to train future carillonneurs, bringing more frequent music from the town hall tower to the community.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger