“For as long as I can recall, I’ve always loved the sounds of bells and clockwork. As a child, I spent much of my time in Prague, watching and listening to the astronomical clock, Orloj, the carillon at Prague Loreta, and my grandparents’ cuckoo clock. My younger brother began restoring mechanical clocks at an early age under the tutelage of the horologist Chris McKay. At the age of 16, I learned change-ringing at St Mary & Cuthberga & All Saints Church in Witchampton.
A carillon is a musical instrument consisting of a set of bells, typically housed in the tower of a church, cathedral, university, townhouse, or another prominent building. Some carillons are played manually, while others operate using clockwork mechanisms. In Italian, the word “carillon” means a music box, and in French, it is also known as “carillons à musique.” All of this provided me with plenty of inspiration for this string quartet. In a way, Carillon is a celebration of my fascination with these enchanting sounds. It is dedicated to the Engegård Quartet and in memory of the family friend, Chris McKay, who passed away unexpectedly last year.”
— Philip Dutton
We are thrilled to have the opportunity to perform this new piece:
