A rare concert descends from on high, booming from the peak of Oakland University’s Elliott Tower.

A bell can tell you the time. Bells are the messenger of marriage, death — the poetically inclined have called them the voice of God or said every time one is heard angels sprout a new pair of wings.

The clock tower, a fading art, presented a diverse repertoire on Friday, July 10.
Housed inside was an endangered species.

A carillon. 49 bells of it. Put together, they weigh over 30,000 pounds.

“There are 180 carillons in North America,” excitedly chimed Dennis Curry, Oakland University’s resident carillonneur. “There’s just over 600 in the whole world. So, Michigan is very fortunate.”

An instrument so hard to find does not have too many maestros.

In celebration of both the craft itself and the gracious donation of the bell tower from the Elliott family, the school holds a concert series titled “Six Fridays at 6 P.M.”

The series opened by hosting Jeremy Chesman, a maestro from Missouri.

When not playing the bells on top of towers, he also plays the organ, harp and piano. He’s even a vocal instructor.

A rare pentuple threat.

The carillon is a unique sound. No instrument could pretend to be one meaningfully.

As far as instruments go, they hold a unique power. The chimes and resonance changed the mood of the entire campus.

Anywhere the bell is audible is in its domain.

As tracks from “Wicked” poured out, the campus felt moody. At times, it sounded like chip-tune, both somber and full of joy.

At others, the sound was full. Rich. It sounded like it fit at home on Broadway.

“The Girl from Ipanema” was a surprise. It is not even the sort of sound one assumes a bell would easily produce.

Yet, it was natural. The swingy jazz unique to the classic number was palpable.

“Take Five,” the song most people think of when they think of cool jazz, proved definitively that the genre could be played without trumpets.

It is truly grand for a rare concert to disprove deep assumptions.

Listeners could be seen sprawling across the greens. Dotting the grass. Folk scattered, hunting for shade.

It was an impressive turnout for an instrument most people can not even identify by name.

When the performance was complete, listeners were given an opportunity to brave the clock tower and go to the room housing the carillon.

The stairs up are treacherous. An endeavor. Each step is narrow.

To walk up it conjures images of both a lighthouse keeper and purgatory.

And it’s hot.

After making it 67 feet up the stairs, the tranquility of the bells is joined by climate control. The air becomes peaceful. The air conditioning and bells feel heavenly.
The carillon itself resembles a church organ, a harp and a cotton gin all at once.

In the chamber, there is a window above; it offers a clear view of all 49 bells.

There are five Fridays left of the season, with it concluding with a performance by Oakland’s own Dennis Curry on August 14.

Admission is free, the vibes are immaculate and you might hear an angel get its wings.