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The Hill is alive with the sound of music from Crouse College Chimesmasters
By Talie Tebbi
Posted: 10/7/08, 12:35 AM EST Section: Feature
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"The Little Mermaid," along with other known melodies, rang from Crouse College five days a week throughout the day. But after a three year hiatus, the more than century-old chimes are ringing again with help from an unofficial student group.
Valenti is now a member of the Chimemasters, an unofficial student group that has been playing the chimes for several years. The group includes 20 members this year - enough to fill the 15 time slots when chime playing is allowed on campus.
While the group has been around these past few years, they had trouble getting organized, Valenti said.
In addition to daily ringings, the chimes play for ceremonial events.
"It's nice to be able to do that for the university," Valenti said. "Remembrance events are something that a lot of people in this community are very attached to."
Students on main campus Thursday at 11:45 a.m. may have heard such traditional songs as "I'm a Little Teapot" and "The Brady Bunch" theme song. They were part of the 15-minute set that included the Syracuse University Alma Mater and traditional melodies from Westminster.
Chimesmasters also have a few of their own, perhaps more unconventional traditions.
On Fridays at 5:45 p.m. Valenti likes to play "Tequila" throughout the school.
"I find that appropriate," he said.
Julia Kelley, a junior magazine journalism and music major, was digging around in the bell tower, and found information on the history of the group. She decided to revitalize the group and made an announcement to the music school to get students involved.
"There's a big instrument sitting in the top of the building," she said, "might as well use it."
Kelley joined the group when she transferred to the Setnor School of Music last year. She just thought it sounded interesting.
"I really like the whole Quasimodo aspect of it," she said, "because you're up there, and people can hear you for miles around, but nobody knows it's you."
As for what it's really like up in the room where the chimes are played, Kelley said it's dirty.
There's a skeleton of a bird that someone propped up. A little exploration uncovers old files and arrangements, and the names of former ringers decorate the walls. As Kelley spoke about ringers from classes past, a smile took over her face. This is more than just a hobby to Kelley, it's a tradition.
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