The penultimate stage of the Bathurst War Memorial Carillon upgrade is now in place with a practice clavier delivered to the caretaker's cottage in Machattie Park yesterday.
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Valued at $100,000, the practice clavier is one of only three in Australia, and has been entrusted with the Mitchell Conservatorium [who use the caretaker's cottage for music lessons] for practice purposes.
The clavier's delivery was organised by the Bathurst War Memorial Carillon Trust, and trustee Richard Steele said it will allow potential carillonneurs the chance to practice for the installation of the real deal in the Carillon later this year.
"By the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II [September 2020], we anticipate the Carillon will be fully complete for the first time in its history," Mr Steele said.
"The practice clavier is a new design under international standards, so there's no other clavier like this in Australia at the moment."
Since the upgrades to the Carillon were first announced in June 2018, close to $800,000 has gone into the restorative works, sourced from the Carillon fundraising committee and the state and federal governments.
The first stage of the upgrades saw a new octave of bells added to the Carillon in November 2018, while the second stage saw a new eternal flame unveiled to the public on Anzac Day last year.
Mr Steele said the installation of the clavier with allow for greater tonal control over the Carillon's bells.
"The clavier will allow carillonneurs to strike the bells with varying amounts of pressure, allowing for a wider range of tones," he said.
"Once the clavier is installed, you'll hear songs and sounds from the Carillon that no one has heard before."
Conservatorium executive director Dr Graham Sattler said the caretaker's cottage will serve as an ideal location for the practice clavier.
"The practice clavier is within 100 metres of the Carillon itself, and we're really proud to serve as the guardians of this instrument," Dr Sattler said.
"A few people from Bathurst have already started training through the National Carillon in Canberra and now they'll be able to continue their lessons locally."
Dr Sattler said the invitation to commence clavier training is open to anyone in the community who is passionate about learning the instrument.
"The training will utilise the expertise of some of the best carillonneurs in Australia," he said.
"Three of our staff members have already expressed interest in learning the clavier, and it's an instrument unlike any we've housed before."