Fifty Bells are perched high above the city of Raleigh in the cathedral’s bell tower. Five of the bells are inscribed with the names and mottos of the five Bishops of the Diocese of Raleigh. The bells are also inscribed with the years that each Bishop served. Those names, dates and mottos are:
• “Emitte Spiritum Tuum” (Send forth thy spirit) – Bishop William J. Hafey (1925 – 1937)
• “Omnia Omnibus” (All things to all men, from 1 Corinthians 9:22) – Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness (1937 – 1944)
• “Omnia Per Mariam” (All through Mary) – Bishop Vincent S. Waters (1945 – 1974)
• “To serve, not be served” – Bishop F. Joseph Gossman (1975 – 2006)
• “Walk humbly with God” – Bishop Michael F. Burbidge (2006 – 2016)
Five additional bells are inscribed with scripture passages that benefactors dedicated to their families. A bell was inscribed “The greatest of these is love,” from 1 Corinthians.
The bell tower holds 50 bells. Forty-nine are new, bronze-cast, commissioned bells. They were created and installed by The Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. One special, older bell belonged to Holy Name of Jesus Chapel, which once stood on the same property as Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral.
Two octaves, or 23 tuned bells, are required for an instrument to be considered a carillon. Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral has four octaves which make it a concert carillon in the upper echelon of the biggest carillons in the country.
Each bell represents a note on the musical scale, and each bell may be played in three ways. The first way is by a carillonneur, who sits in a small room just below the bell tower and plays the organ-like instrument with baton like keys which are mechanically connected to the bells above.
The second way is through a midi note, five octave keyboard that resembles a piano. Retrofitted to include pistons, this piano connects to the main carillon console. When someone plays the keyboard, the console’s baton keys move similar to a player-piano.
A third way is to allow the carillon to play through pre-programmed automation. In this instance, a computer is connected to the console that will allow for any music to be programmed and played according to a schedule. This program can be connected remotely, allowing for changes in programming from anywhere at any time.
Made of 80 percent copper and 20 percent tin, the bells were created in sand molds that could only be used one time. Each sand cast is individually made with the size of the bell — as well as any inscription — in mind. The inscription is made with wax and inserted into the sand mixture mold. Once the mold is set, the wax is either peeled or melted out. That leaves the exact mirror image of the inscription in the sand so that when the bronze is poured in, it fills the cavity left behind and the bell is completely cast and inscribed in one piece.
The bells are tuned with a precision machine that methodically removes circles of metal from inside the bell until the note is true.
Only four bells of the carillon are on hinges and swing. Those bells have traditional clappers in them that swing back and forth with the movement of the bells. The clappers within the other bells stay very close to the side of the bell and are activated mechanically through automation or playing of the instrument.
The four swinging bells are connected to a wireless remote control, which allows a celebrant to push a button and ring bells as Mass ends.
DonorDr. and Mrs. Joseph Gordon |
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