With bells on

16 Dec 2017

As a tour guide, Astrid Bowler of the Probus Club of Gold Creek knew everything there was to know about Canberra’s National Carillon. But she didn’t want to just tell people about the magnificent instrument – she wanted to play it.

The National Carillon is a huge musical instrument made up of 54 bells ranging in weight from seven kilograms to six tonnes. “It’s played from a keyboard,” says Astrid.  “But instead of having black and white notes as on a piano, they’re wooden battens that you hit with the sides of your hands. There are also pedals, because a six-tonne bell is pretty heavy to push.”

A MUSICAL LIFE

Before getting married, Astrid played piano and studied music at the University of Sydney. But after she had children, Astrid found her craft taking a back seat. “Music went by the wayside and I didn’t really do anything for about 20 years,” she says. Still, Astrid found plenty to keep her occupied. “You name a craft and I’ve done it,” she says. “I’ve done pottery, leather work, jewellery, macrame, just about anything.” But the itch to play music never went away, so when her children were a bit older, Astrid decided to learn the organ. “It was one of those things I’d always wanted to do,” she says. “But it wasn’t till after the children had grown up that I was actually able to find the time and inclination to go and do something about it.”

CAN YOU TEACH ME?

While trying to raise funds to put an organ in Canberra’s Albert Hall as part of the Theatre Organ Society, Astrid started guiding tours of the National Carillon. “I got very frustrated because I knew all about the carillon but didn’t know how to play it,” she says. So Astrid decided to take matters into her own hands. “One Sunday I was there doing my tour and the recitalist John Gordon was there. I went up to him and said I was an organist, and that he probably didn’t remember me but that I was actually one of his music students at Sydney University and how I would love to learn how to play the carillon. He took me on there and then.”

TO DIZZYING HEIGHTS

Since learning to play the carillon, Astrid has started working as a librarian in the carillon tower. “I was a librarian before I retired. It was a job. But now I’m the librarian in the tower,” she says.  “Sitting up there at the desk, it’s the most beautiful view; it’s breathtaking.”

But the instrument has taken Astrid further than just the top of Australia’s capital; she recently returned from a carillon congress in Barcelona. “I didn’t perform or anything. I just went there and attended lectures with several other carillonists from Canberra,” she explains. One of the more memorable moments of the trip was being able to watch a travelling carillon be played. “These are carillons which are on a truck,” Astrid says. “The player sits at the back of the truck, because the keyboard and everything is in the back there. It’s very interesting to watch.”

You can’t please everyone. As part of her role, Astrid regularly plays the carillon to mark each hour of the day. “It’s a very public instrument; you’ve got the whole world outside. You’ve got all sorts of people down below, and you can’t please everybody every time with what you choose.” For this reason, Astrid likes to play a broad range of musical genres. “My sons like trying to get me to do some Alice Cooper. I said show me the music and then I’ll decide whether I can or not,” she says.

STAY GOLD

Before she retired as a librarian, Astrid had heard about Probus from her sister-in-law. “She was telling me all the fun things they did. I thought when I retire that would be a nice thing to do.” So when some of Astrid’s friends told her that they were members of the local Probus Club, Astrid wasted no time getting involved. “It’s terrific,” she says. “I’ve met a lot of people and I really enjoy the guest speakers. Some of them are absolutely fascinating. I love going out on day trips. I go to as many as I possibly can.” As for the future, Astrid doesn’t think she’ll be giving up the carillon any time soon. “It has taken up a big part of my life. And I’ll keep going until I drop, I guess.”