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Greenville & Hockessin Life

Memorial Day Carillon Concert at Washington Memorial Chapel

Ring In The Unofficial Start Of Summer With Free Concert

This holiday weekend, celebrate Memorial Day with the magnificent sounds of the Carillon during a special outdoor concert at the Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge starting at 2 PM. The Chapel’s Carillon, which is an extraordinary instrument housed in a 112-foot-tall building that is dubbed the “National Patriots Tower,” comprises 58 bells, each tuned to a specific note. Played by a master musician, its gorgeous sound adds a vibrant extra dimension to the Washington Memorial Chapel experience. “It’s inspiration,” says Chapel Carillonneur Doug Gefvert. “It brings that other element – the fire – to the table.” The Memorial Day holiday repertoire, Gefvert promises, will be a mix of well-known patriotic compositions and other music appropriate for the day, all arranged for the Carillon’s unique characteristics. The Washington Memorial National Carillon was first introduced in 1926 to commemorate 150 years of American Independence. Initially it only contained 14 bells, one for each of the original colonies and one that represented the “National Birthday.” Throughout the 1930s another 14 bells were added, and in 1941 construction began on a completely new tower – the one we see today. Funded by the Daughters of the American Revolution, this tower with its carillon was completed in 1953. The final two bells were added in 1963. The Carillon Concerts, which will occur every Wednesday evening in July and August at 7:30 PM, are one of the Chapel’s most popular events. Guests are welcome to enjoy the sweet sounds of the Carillon and take in the beautiful scenery of the Chapel and Valley Forge Park. The events are always free, but donations are requested to help continue the program. For more information about The Washington Memorial Chapel, visit http://wmchapel.org/heritage/

Date & Time

May 29, 2017

2:00PM - 4:00PM

Location

Washington Memorial Chapel - RR 23, Valley Forge, PA, 01917 RR 23 Valley Forge 01917 PA US

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