NC State Belltower
Carillon Dedication

Tom Gurin performed the inaugural recital of the new carillon at North Carolina State University on Friday, May 14, 2021, at 3:00 PM. The preceding dedication ceremony began at 2:00 PM with speeches from University Chancellor W.R. Woodson, Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, and others. The in-person listening space was the Court of North Carolina.

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About the Belltower and the Carillon

N.C. State’s Memorial Belltower was built throughout the 1920s, 30s, and 40s as a memorial to graduates of the university who fought in World War I and lost their lives. In 1947, Arthur Bigelow performed the initial dedication recital on “carillonic bells” (electronic sound recordings). Nearly three quarters of a century later, Tom Gurin will be the first to perform on the real bells of the new, traditional carillon supplied by B.A. Sunderlin Bellfoundry.

The Memorial Belltower is the icon of N.C. State University. It is also where the student body takes graduation photos, begins their infamous Krispy Kreme Challenge, and more. The Belltower and the new carillon symbolize the strength and traditions of the “Wolfpack” community.

In addition to performing the dedicatory recital, Gurin was also involved in commissioning the instrument in collaboration with B.A. Sunderlin Bellfoundry. Gurin consulted on the project during November of 2020.

The dedication program included several of Gurin’s original compositions and arrangements, as well as a tribute section to the history of the Belltower and its original sound.

For more information on the project or Tom’s availability, please contact him directly.

 

2:00 PM Dedication Ceremony

Presentation of Colors: NC State Army ROTC

National Anthem: Areon Mobasher ‘18 (College of Humanities and Social Sciences)

A Memorial Belltower: Commander Michelle Parkington ‘22 (College of Veterinary Medicine)

A Legend in Stone: Chancellor W. R. Woodson

The Instrument: Michael Gardo ‘22 (College of Engineering)

An Extraordinary Transformation: Chancellor Woodson

Honoring the Past

Our Gathering Place: Carmen Bollman ‘21 (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)

A Beacon for Many: Mary-Ann Baldwin, Mayor of Raleigh

The Dedication and Ribbon-Cutting of Henry Square: William “Bill” Henry with Chancellor Woodson

 

3:00 PM Inaugural Recital

TOM GURIN, GUEST CARILLONNEUR

All arrangements by the carillonneur unless otherwise noted

Approx. Duration: 1 hour

NC State Fight Song: John Philip Sousa

Classical Arrangements

Menuet from Partita in B-Flat: J.S. Bach (arr. L. Hart)

Polovtsian Dances: Alexander Borodin (arr. J. Haazen)

Girl with the Flaxen Hair: Claude Debussy (arr. J. Rottiers)

Carillon Repertoire

Irish Air: Geert D’Hollander

Campanella: Geo Clement

On the San Antonio River: Robert Byrnes

Things with Feathers: Tom Gurin

Popular Songs 

Your Song: Elton John

Landslide: Fleetwood Mac

Moon River: Henry Mancini (arr. R. Giszczak)

Songs from the Belltower’s History

Londonderry Air: Traditional Irish (Performed during the 1947 Belltower chimes dedication)

Edelweiss: Richard Rodgers (Frequently played by students on the electronic carillon)

NC State University Alma Mater: Bonnie Norris

 

From the Bellfounder

Author: Tom Gurin

Tom Gurin is an American composer, multimedia artist, and carillonist based in Switzerland. He is currently a master’s student in electronic and multimedia composition at the Haute École de Musique de Genève. He received his bachelor's degree with honors in music from Yale University, his Diplôme Supérieur from the École Normale de Musique de Paris, and also studied composition privately with Allain Gaussin. He was a 2023 laureate-resident at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris, and the 2021-2022 recipient of a joint Fulbright-Harriet Hale Woolley Award at the United States Foundation in Paris. He is a Fellow of the Belgian-American Educational Foundation. A graduate of the Royal Carillon School in Belgium, Gurin served as Duke University Chapel Carillonneur until summer 2021. Tom is also a music composition teacher with experience educating composers of all experience levels. For information on compositions, performances, or lessons, contact him online here.