On Wednesday evenings in mid-summer, you’ll want to grab a blanket, snack, and beverage (and maybe some bug spray), and head to MSU’s Beaumont Tower to enjoy an unusual outdoor concert. At the Muelder Summer Carillon Series, you can listen to the bright chimes and resonant clangs of carillon bells while relaxing on MSU’s lovely green campus, courtesy of the MSU College of Music.

Feet are used to play the larger bells since the clapper can weigh 150 lbs.

What is a carillon? I think of it as church bells even though I know better. It’s a musical instrument made of bronze swinging bells, played by either striking a keyboard with the fists or using a separate foot pedal keyboard. The keyboards activate wires connected directly to metal clappers inside the bells, ringing them loudly or softly depending on the force of the strike. Complex chords can be played by more than one person, as they were in last night’s performance by Janet Tebbel and Lisa Lonie.

Beaumont Tower had 10 bells all the way back in 1928 — not yet enough to be considered a carillon. The instrument wasn’t a carillon until 1935, when it grew to 23 brass bells with a range of two octaves. Today, the MSU carillon is a concert carillon with 49 bells and four octaves. MSU’s bells range in size from 15 lbs. to an incredible 2 ¹/₂ tons.

You need to climb a steep, narrow staircase of more than 70 stairs to get to the fourth floor of the tower, but you can’t beat the view of campus though the beautiful lancet windows.

The concerts are free and family-friendly and offer a chance to hear performers from around the world. The music is very accessible — I swear I’ve heard the Harry Potter movie theme more than once. Shows start at 6:00 p.m., rain or shine.

Stick around after the concert for a tour of Beaumont Tower and a close-up look at the carillon. (If you have mobility issues, are claustrophobic, or are afraid of heights, you’ll probably want to skip this part.)

Ray McLellan, MSU’s University Carillonneur, gave a brief lecture and demonstration after last night’s performance. Since there weren’t too many people, he allowed visitors to climb one final small staircase to take a peek at the bells. I’ve also seen him very occasionally allow someone to take a swing at the keyboard.

MSU recommends parking at the Stadium Lot #62, but I’ve found parking all over (although I admit I sometimes end up walking long distances). If you’re one of the lucky early arrivals, you may find an open spot at MSU Museum’s lot. There is a ton of construction on campus right now, so be prepared for both pedestrian and driving detours.

Upcoming performances:

• July 22 — Toru Takao, Japan and Germany
• July 29 — Oleysa Rostovskaya, Russia
• August 5 — Sally Harwood, Assistant Carillonneur, MSU

Ray McLellan, MSU’s University Carillonneur.

A few fun facts Ray McLellan shared last night:

• The original chime bells were English but some bells were replaced and additional bells were added from the Dutch company Royal Eijsbouts.
• The Netherlands are known for their carillon bells — they have as many as the whole United States.
• Lansing Central United Methodist Church has a carillon.
• During the dedication in 1929, the chime bells were played by MSU’s athletic director.
• The largest carillons in the world have 77 bells.
• The carillon wires change length based on temperature and need to be adjusted.
• Cold doesn’t affect the sound of the bells, but sometimes the snow gets deep enough inside the tower that it muffles the sound.
• The clappers eventually wear down and need to be replaced.