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“Stop the car!” a 7-year-old shouted to his mother. “Mom, stop the car, let me listen.”
What this child insisted on hearing was a sound that would forever change his life.
It was the resonating sound of a carillon. He listened in appreciation as the thundering tones of each perfectly tuned bell floated to his ears. The resonating music he experienced that day was only a prelude to the symphony that this extraordinary bell organ would bring to his life.
This retold childhood memory belongs to professor Todd Fair, DU’s tower performer, bell ringer, Quasimodo and very own carillonneur.
Upon encountering him, an air of distinction is unavoidable, as if he alone is responsible for keeping the worlds carillon tradition alive.
However, his welcoming smile and firm handshake are long lasting, like the echoing tones of the bells he plays so passionately.
The instrument he plays is equally as unique and dynamic. Although the carillon is considered the heaviest instrument in the world and some weigh up to 100 tons, it is delicately complex.
Fair’s position as school carillonneur is the result of a long and curious journey.
It started at age 16 when he took lessons from the carillonneur he admired as a child. These lessons launched him into a unique world, unheard of by most people.
His interest and developing talent took him to the Netherlands, the home of the carillon, where the bells were once a means for villages to communicate.
The resonating towers that once signaled warning of fire or attack now housed some of the world’s finest instruments.
It was in these towers that Fair earned his final diploma from the Netherlands Carillon School, and where he would later become a faculty member. Fair became the first non Dutch carillonneur of Amsterdam and won several prestigious awards, including the Berkeley Medal for distinguished service to the carillon art.
Fair’s journey continued around the world as he presented workshops, as well as performing guest recitals in nearly every country in the world that has a carillon. These countries included Australia, France and Japan.
After standing in as the acting carillonneur at the University of Michigan for a year, Fair brought his knowledge and experience to DU.
Fair is active in the carillon community, as a member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America, as well as the World Carillon Federation.
Every week, Fair climbs the 215-foot staircase in Williams Tower, attached to the Richie Center, to show off its 65 magnificent copper bells. Unlike many buildings at DU, in this landmark gold-roofed tower, copper is to be heard and not seen.
Although the air molecules in Denver’s high altitude are poor sound conductors, the DU carillon can be heard chiming from a mile away.
Knowing that hundreds will hear your every mistake was “very scary at first,” Fair admitted. However, his impeccable experience now makes him calm and composed.
Most DU students have heard Fair performing, and many have also taken the Arts and Humanities foundation class, “Understanding Music,” that he teaches.
Other students get to experience and learn to share professor Fair’s unique talent by taking private carillon lessons. This two-credit class is offered to non-music majors, although some piano playing experience is recommended.
“I would like to see more students take the lessons,” said Fair. “It’s a truly unique opportunity that most students don’t have a chance at.”
