Church Carillon by Bram Daniëls & ORKESTR [Decent Sampler]

Description

Church Carillon by Bram Daniëls & ORKESTR is a faithful recreation of the carillon in the small Dutch town of Sevenum. All 18 bells of this remarkable instrument – which have rung from the belltower of the local church since 1980 – were meticulously sampled as part of a multimedia project by local band ORKESTR.

These bells carry the memories and daily rhythms of a small community. Marking time, celebrating life’s moments, and offering a sound that feels like home to those who grew up beneath their tower. This virtual instrument brings that intimate piece of local heritage to musicians and producers worldwide, available for free through Decent Samples.

Backstory

In 2022, the carillon situated in the tower of Sevenum’s Sint-Fabianus and Sebastianus church underwent a significant restoration. Originally donated by a local bank branch in 1980, the instrument was modernized with a MIDI system, opening up new creative possibilities. When ORKESTR drummer/singer Peter Muijsenberg learned about this upgrade, he immediately recognized the potential: “I suspected they’d be working with MIDI, which meant we could easily compose music specifically for this instrument.” This idea sat on the shelf until ORKESTR was recording their EP ‘Snowbound’ and had room in an arrangement for bells. “Why use a small glockenspiel when we potentially had access to this magnificent carillon?”

The carillon is community-owned, literally belonging to everyone who calls themselves ‘Zaerums’, the local name for Sevenum residents. Since 1980, these 18 bells have marked the passage of time, celebrated holidays, and provided the soundtrack to daily life in this small Dutch community. When ORKESTR approached the local community organizations with their idea to record the carillon, the response was enthusiastic: this was an opportunity to share a piece of local heritage with the world while preserving it for future generations.

Working with researcher Bram Daniëls from TU Eindhoven, each of the 18 bells was meticulously recorded. The resulting virtual instrument is part of a larger multimedia project that includes the aforementioned EP and a mini documentary about the carillon’s history and significance to the community. By making these authentic carillon samples freely available through Decent Samples, a piece of Sevenum’s daily soundscape can now resonate in music created anywhere in the world.

Note: This virtual instrument includes two versions: ‘Original’ with the 18 authentic bells, and ‘Extended’ with additional sampler-tuned bells for an expanded musical range.

Hear the EP