[Fr.; f. ‘med.L. quadriliōn-em a quaternary, because carillons were formerly rung on four bells’ (Littré); cf. It. quadriglio ‘a crue, troupe, companie’ (Florio); but some think the carillon was orig. the melody.]
1. ‘A set of bells so hung and arranged as to be capable of being played upon either by manual action or by machinery’ (Grove).
1831. Fam. Tour S. Holland, 111. A fine set of carillons, which emit pleasing silvery tones.
1854. Badham, Halieut., 377. Adjust to each a little carillon of bells.
1872. M. Callaerts, in Ellacombe, Bells of Ch., x. 349. There are, in the tower of Notre Dame at Antwerp, two Carillons…. Accords or harmonies of four and six notes can be played on them.
2. An air or melody played on the bells.
1803. Rees, Cycl., Carillons, a species of chimes frequent in the Low Countries, played on a number of bells.
1873. Longf., Elizabeth, Pref. 81. When ceased the little carillon To herald from its wooden tower The important transit of the hour.
1879. Dowden, Southey, iv. 85. Flanders … where the carillons ripple from old spires.
3. A musical instrument, or appendage to one, to imitate a peal of bells.
1819. Rees, Cycl., VI. Carillon, is likewise the name of a small keyed instrument to imitate a peal of hand bells.
1876. Hiles, Catech. Organ, x. (1878), 98. The Carillon [in the organ] is a series of sonorous steel bars.
1881. C. A. Edwards, Organs, 68. In Mr. Holmes’ organ the echo, the solo, and the carillon are all three commanded from the fourth clavier.
Hence ǁ Carillonneur. [Fr.]
1772. Burney, Pres. St. Mus., 15. The Carillonneur was literally at work, and hard work indeed it must be.
1871. Haweis, Mus. & Mor., III. iii. 472. The best living carillonneurs.
1879. Grove, Dict. Mus., I. 593/1. As carilloneur his duties were to play on all market days,… to keep the chimes in tune and to set fresh tunes … on the drum of the carillon.
