October 11, 2002: Volume 56, Number 5

David Stone rings the chimes, reviving a musical tradition

There was music in the air this week thanks to David Stone '06, the man at the console of the College's chimes at the top of Memorial Chapel.

And thanks to support from Ed Moulton '37, who played the same chimes some 65 years ago, Stone will continue his thrice-weekly chimes concerts year round.

"I'm honored to be doing this," said Stone, who on Monday restarted the Union chimes tradition, working the levers on the eleven-note "chimola" to ring out tunes like "My Country Tis of Thee," "Ode to Old Union," and "Amazing Grace."

Stone said he will climb the steep, dark stairs to the Memorial Chapel belfry to play each Monday and Wednesday between 12:30 and 12:50 p.m., and Friday afternoons. He said he also expects to play during special College events.

Though the bells toll on the quarter hour, it has been more than 30 years since there has been a regular chime player on campus. Sheets of music suggest there were a few players in the late 80's, but it may have been Peter Smith '70 who was the last regular one. Smith, who has performed chimes concerts at a number of alumni events, showed Stone the ropes this fall.

Stone, an economics major and music minor who makes money playing piano at weddings and parties, became interested in the chimes a few weeks back when he heard "First Watch," a composition by Prof. Hilary Tann, performed on the carillon at Albany City Hall. He began researching the rarely-heard instrument and learned about the College's chimes and Moulton. Stone already has received some 50 tunes – including eight college songs – that Moulton has transposed in the Scale of F just for the Union chimes. Moulton says more are on the way.

Moulton was paid $150 by President Dixon Ryan Fox in 1937 for a year of service at the chimes. He recalls hearing the 9:45 bells and racing to the belfry in time to play a few tunes to call students to 10 a.m. chapel. "I must have missed it a few times, or been late due to snow, but nobody ever called me on it," recalls Moulton, who went on to a career as an accountant and a lifelong hobby as a musician (including the directorship of the Schenectady Light Opera).

Moulton played the chimes at his 65th ReUnion last June. "The stairs were steeper than I remember and at the end of the day, the palms of my hands were sore," he said. "But it was such fun." Afterward, Moulton contacted Tann about starting a fund to support student chime players. Stone is putting his stipend toward jazz piano lessons.

Moulton (with Smith) has become something of a mentor to the College's newest chime ringer. "I told him not to spend so much time on this that it infringes on his studies," Moulton said.

Stone is collecting a repertoire of songs from Moulton and Smith, and he is transposing a few tunes himself.  He also has found in the belfry a treasure trove of music arranged by previous chime players. (Titles include "Scarborough Fair," "Moon River" and "Sugar, Sugar.") Stone said he will welcome suggestions from both on-campus and off-campus listeners.

Stone said he is discovering the joy that Moulton recalls from his days in the belfry: there's nothing like the sound of chimes rolling across the campus.

Said one student who ate lunch outside the Rathskellar on Wednesday, "I heard a song and I couldn't get it out of my head the rest of the day."

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