 |
|
Every 15 minutes one of the four tunes that have been transported onto the playing drum emerges. During Holy Week, which is the week before Easter 2003, the melody that plays on the hour will be replaced by the winning tune of our carillon composition.
- "Ik zag Cecilia komen" plays at every full hour; it is a popular shepherd's song dating from 1526. This tune will be replaced by the winning melody of our competition. At the same time a new chiming mechanism will be installed, making the carillon and the new tune sound better than ever!
- "Gavotte in G" composed by Ghent citizen Jean-Baptiste Loeillet (1680-1730) plays at every quarter past the hour. This Gavotte-allegretto originates from the Sonate Opus 1-3 which came out in London as "XII Sonatas of solos for a flute with a thorough bass". Harpsichordist Loeillet had been connected with the Queens' Theatre in London since 1705. He is also famous for introducing the flute in England; he taught the Londoners to love this instrument. Loeillet composed chamber music: pieces for harpsichord, flute and two flutes and basso continuo. His scintillating music was the soundtrack of many an 18th century aristocratic salon.
- "De Scheresliep" plays at every half hour. For many centuries Ghent was a town of craftsmen and tradesmen who united in guilds. Many a song was written about their crafts; "De Scheresliep" probably being the most famous one.
- "Op den slagh van Pavia" plays at every quarter before the hour. This song tells the story of the defeat of King Francis I at the battle of Pavia (Italy) on 24 February 1525, which was also the birthday of his enemy Charles V. He was taken to Spain as a birthday trophy and imprisoned in the Alcazar in Madrid. For a long time he refused to sign a peace treaty despite being injured. The highly rhythmic music was composed based on the original writings (i.e. not derived from an existing composition) in Mixolydian church mode.
|
|
