Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – Members of the campus community at Arkansas State University have an unfamiliar sound pealing across campus this fall.
“A lot of students, the new and returning students, have never heard the bells before. They were out of service for nearly three years,” said Shawn Brewer, coordinator of project services in Facilities Management.
Over the summer, work was completed on the clock tower of Dean B. Ellis Library to repair not only the hands of one of four clocks, but also the bells so they would once again ring.
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“While we were renovating the bells, many on campus remarked how they missed hearing the bells chime and play music,” said Dr. Timothy Crist, professor of music. “The clock tower provides a sense of identity for the campus. For many, they lift spirits. Hearing it again, echoing across campus, has been inspiring for many, including myself.
“An all-new Renaissance bell controller was installed and a keyboard that can be used to create music for the bells. Twenty-three new controllers were installed in the bell tower as well as some new strikers and wiring,” Brewer added.
The bells can be heard on the hour and quarter hours from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily. In addition to the bell strikes that can be heard, music will also be added to campus once again.
“So far, all of the music is factory-programmed, but we will be arranging specific songs that our Red Wolf community might recognize and will gradually add them to the available playlists,” Crist added.
Crist, who develops the music for the clock tower bells, said they select music based on what will be familiar to those on campus.
“Many of the songs you will hear will be familiar songs that most will recognize,” Crist said. “In the future, we plan to include songs from game soundtracks, movies, TV shows, and other sources. We will also be playing seasonal music as well as songs to mark special occasions.”
“It’s a sign of school tradition,” Brewer added. “The tunes that are played at holidays are pleasant to hear.”
When it comes to adding music to the repertoire in the future, Crist said people on campus can make requests.
“We are certainly looking to represent the diverse musical interests on the A-State campus,” Crist continued. “Regarding requests, we don’t make any promises, but if there is a song that you feel would be appropriate for the campus community, we can try to add it to our playlist.”
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