Bell tower turns into jukebox

The carillon does not become a jukebox overnight. The project was a lot of work. Esther Schopman, carillonneur at Campus Carillon Circle and one of the initiators, is very pleased, because the first sounds are heard this week. 'We have been working on this for almost three years. With crowdfunding we raised five thousand euros for this project. This allowed us to replace outdated equipment. And add an extra computer. The first request plate has already arrived. Someone wants to play the song 'Brown Eyed Girl' by Van Morrison for his girlfriend. In January they will be together for 25 years. I still have to compose that song myself before I can add it to the jukebox.'

Scoop

The fact that a computer machine plays well-known songs on a bell tower is not new. What is new, however, - and at the same time the first for the UT - is the technology with which people can request a record themselves. Computer science student and carillon student Johan Verzijden: 'There are two computers on the Carillon Tower. One of them is constantly connected to the website where someone chooses his number. The PC checks every few seconds whether a new image has been requested. As soon as a song is ready, the computer gives a signal to the second.  This then operates the hammers of the bells to play the melody. As a result, it plays You 'll never walk alone, by Gery & the pacemakers, for example. No one is involved.'

From Oerend hard to Christmas hits

At the moment, the jukebox has twenty songs. Ten new songs are added every year. 'We do that ourselves,' says Schopman. 'We compose the song so that it is suitable for the keyboard and add the music to the list.'  However, not everything can be composed. According to Schopman, hip-hop, for example, is a difficult genre to play. 'You hear the same tones and then the recognizability of a song quickly disappears.' A band or orchestra is not always possible either. 'But, Christmas songs are certainly not lacking this December. Anyone can request their favorite Christmas hit,' says Schopman.   

Which favorite songs will Schopman and Verzijde request themselves? 'That's a very difficult one. Oerend hard from Normaal is very funny to hear', says Schopman. 'I still go for the recognisability of Europapa by Joost Klein', says Verzijden.