Aug 28, 2008 12:06
15 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term

Carillon

Non-PRO French to English Art/Literary Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting projet de carillon
Translation of a project of installation of "carillon" (chimes) in the Parc de la Villette. Can we use the word "carillon" in English? Installing a set of chimes seems to lack all the elegance of the word "carillon". Thanks for your feedback!

Proposed translations

18 mins
Selected

Carillon (bells)

Like you, I think 'carillon' is much more evocative than 'chimes'. Perhaps if you add 'bells' it would be more explicit.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thanks!"
+6
7 mins

yes, you can use it.

see the wiki entry.
Peer comment(s):

agree Jean-Louis S. : In most dictionaries.
11 mins
agree David Vaughn : Yes, it is commonly used.
16 mins
agree daruuntje (X)
36 mins
agree sktrans
44 mins
agree writeaway : with jlsjr-and there is lots of info on the www
59 mins
agree Helen Shiner
1 day 4 hrs
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5 mins

bells

bells are generally much more substantial than chimes - in churches for example we talk about bells

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Note added at 10 mins (2008-08-28 12:16:41 GMT)
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unless the thing being installed is a carillon - this term is used in English to describe a very large musical instrument that includes a large number of bells see the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carillon
Peer comment(s):

agree Christopher Crockett : Yes, it depends upon what is intended, here most likely a free-standing set of bells (as oppsed to a set of bells in a church tower, for example).
20 mins
disagree David Vaughn : Nope, not at La Villette - this is not an old-fashioned bell tower with a few big bells, but rather a carillon, a musical instrument first & foremost.
36 mins
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+1
34 mins

carillon

In this case it appears that it is going to be a free-standing set of bells --i.e., essentially a musical instrument consisting of bells.

Technically (according to the O.E.D. and the Grove Dictionary of Music) a CARILLON is

‘A set of bells so hung and arranged as to be capable of being played upon either by manual action or by machinery’ (Grove).

Which would also apply to a set of bells in a church tower --but there is no such church tower in your example, I assume.

So, it's a question of a carillion, like this one not far from where I sit as we speak:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2763376090059138099B...

http://www.bloomingpedia.org/wiki/Arthur_R._Metz_Memorial_Ca...

Nothing there but bells, in a freestanding tower.

"Chimes" doesn't really fit here:

CHIME

2. a. An apparatus or arrangement for striking a bell or set of bells so as to make it or them ‘chime’ or emit a musical sound.

b. spec. (Usu. in pl.) Such an arrangement used as a door-bell.

3. Hence, A set of bells in a church tower, etc., so attuned as to give forth a succession of musical notes, or to be capable of playing tunes when thus struck, or when slightly swung.... Applied also to the small set of hand-bells used in the R.C. Ch. service; the set of bells with their strikers in an organ or musical box, etc.
4. The series of musical sounds, or tune, played on such sets of bells when struck in succession.
Example sentence:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2763376090059138099BitxNs

Peer comment(s):

agree Cervin
4 hrs
Thanks, Cervin.
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