LISTEN TO THE TINTINNABULATION—No, the carrillonneur isn't a
little person who runs himself frantic pulling ropes to ring the bells in
Duke tower. Duke Chapel carrillonneur Sam Hammond rings the bells
on Sundays and weekdays by striking wooden keys on the carillon. A
wire running from each wooden key is connected to a simple turning
lever on the clapper of each bell. When Hammond strikes a key the wire
pulls the turning lever which hits the clapper against the bell. There are
50 bells ranging in weight from 11,200 pounds (G-natural) to 8 pounds.
(Photo by Parker Herring)
Thanks to med center^ Sam plays it again
(To anyone who has been at Duke long, the
sound of the carillon in Duke Chapel Tower is
familiar. But who knows, maybe it's just a
recording? Well, Linda Chandler knows, and she
knows the man who makes the music, Sam
Hammond. Linda, who is a chapel hostess and a
writer and a member of the Durham County Board
of Education among other things, tells in this
Intercom profile how the medical center has had a
stake in Sam Hammond's artistry.)
By
Linda S.
Chandler
September through May of each
academic year, Monday through Friday
from 5-5:15 p.m., Samuel J. Hammond,
university carillonneur, plays the carillon
in Duke Chapel Tower.
In addition, he plays each Sunday
before and after the 11 o'clock worship
service and at a 30-minute afternoon
recital from 3:30-4. He also provides
carillon music for holiday services and by
private arrangement for weddings and
memorial services.
The Duke community is very much
aware of the carillon and is openly
appreciative, but few know the man who
makes the music.
Music librarian
A native of Americus, Ga., Sam came to
Duke in 1964 as a student. He was
graduated in 1968 with a bachelor's
degree in history. He then enrolled in the
University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill and completed work for a master's
degree in library science.
Presently he! serves as director of the
music library in the Mary Duke Biddle
Music Building on East Campus. He has
served as indexer for three published
books written by Duke faculty members,
all dealing with music and composers.
Sam became interested in the carillon
as a student and began a program of self
study in addition to organ instruction he
was receiving from Mildred Hendrix,
assistant professor of music here. When
the carillonneur left in 1965, Sam
auditioned for the job and was appointed.
He has served in that capacity for the
past 12 years and in addition has done
guest carillon recitals at Byrd Park in
Richmond, in the National Cathedral in
Washington, at the University of
Toronto, the University of the South in
Sewanee, Tenn., and the Bok Singing
Tower at Lake Wells, Fla.
"How delightful!"
He finds enjoyment in being alone in
the playing cabin which is just below the
massive assortment of bells in the chapel
tower. His music selection includes hymn
tunes, European and American folk
songs, music that is especially written for
the carillon and seasonal music.
People make requests from time to time
and Sam says, "I try to comply." On rainy
afternoons the people scurrying across
campus may be surprised to hear "Rain
Drops Keep Falling on my Head" wafting
through the air. One visitor to the Chapel
was heard to say, "Yesterday the carillon
played 'Waltzing Matilda'. How
delightful!"
Occasionally, people will request
permission to join Sam for a performance.
It is most interesting to see him pound
away with closed fists on the batons of
the hand clavier while his feet pump
ptedals to provide a portion of the melody.
Campus, church interests
keep him busy
Sam Hammond is a most congenial,
witty and talented man. He has a depth of
concern for the worship, morale and
climate of the campus community.
His abiding love for history, music,
pageantry and the Episcopal church have
motivated him to continue as university
carillonneur, serve as substitute organist
for Duke Chapel, as organist and
sacristan for the Episcopal Student
Center and past accompanist for The
Savoyards.
Narrowly escaped death
In October of 1974, Sam had a narrow
escape from death. One night his
apartment caught fire and he was badly
burned. There was doubt that he would
live. When he did begin to recover, no one
He played the bells using the pedals, for
his hands were still heavily bandaged. His
complete recovery was slow and painful.
Sam will not talk about his own
determination and hours of labor to keep
from giving up music, but he openly
"The excellent care I received in the Duke Medical Center not only saved
my life, but the supportive concern was the encouragement I needed."
had any idea that his badly burned hands
and arms would play keyboard
instruments or manipulate the carillon
mechanism again.
He was hospitalized for four months.
As soon as he was released, he made his
way to the playing cabin of the carillon.
admits: "This excellent care I received in
the Duke Medical Center not only saved
my life, but the supportive concern was
the encouragement I needed."
Thus, the Duke Medical Center staff
became an effective voice that joined
others in saying, "Play it again, Sam."
Adolescence and allergies
(Continued from page 1)
The Saturday schedule for the Dees
Symposium includes:
8:30 a.m. — "Chemical Mediators of
Human Allergic Diseases" by Dr. George B.
Logan, professor of pediatrics at the Mayo
Clinic.
9:20 — "The Current Status of Our Rapidly
Expanding Knowledge of Theophylline Usage
in Asthma" by Dr. Elliot F. Ellis, chairman of
pediatrics at the State University of New York
at Buffalo.
10:10 — Break.
10:30 — "T and B Lymphocytes in Allergic
Children" by Dr. Stephen J. McGeady,
assistant professor of pediatrics at Jefferson.
11 — Invitation to visit Duke laboratorie*
and cbnics. Dr. Dennis R. Ownby, assistant
professor of pediatrics.
Dr. M. HendersOT Rourk, director of
continuing medical education, arranged the
morning program, and Dr. Rebecca Buckley,
chief of the Division of Allergy, Immunology
and Pulmonary [diseases, organized the Dees
Symposium.
HONORED—The first annual Susan C. Dees
Symposium on Allergy and Immunokigy is a
highlight of Medical Alumni Weekend. A
professor of pediatrics. Dees has been at Duke
since 1938.