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The Conductor |
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Born
and raised in Toronto, Gordon Slater started playing the
piano when he was 4-years-old and the carillon when he was
seven. He began conducting orchestras, bands, choirs and
musical productions in high school. As well, he assisted
his father, James, the former Carillonneur at the Metropolitan
United Church in Toronto. Gordon retired as the the Dominion Carillonneur,
for the Peace Tower, Parliament, Canada, June 2008 after
31 years of service. He plays the
bassoon and contrabassoon with the Ottawa Symphony
Orchestra and has been Music Director of Divertimento Orchestra |
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 Photo by Bruno Schlumberger, The Ottawa Citizen Reprinted with permission The Peace TowerThe Peace Tower reaches a height 302 feet 6 inches (92.2 metres) and is made of approximately 54,000 stones. The clock face, 214 feet up, measures 15 feet 8 inches in diameter. There are 53 bells in the Carillon
with a musical range of four and a half octaves. The
bells range from the Bourbon Bell, 8 feet 4 inches wide
and 6 feet 10 inches tall weighing 10 tonnes (22,400
lbs.) to smallest bell, 7 inches wide and 6 inches tall
weighing 4.5 kg (10 lbs.). The bells don't move, the
clappers move. The total weight of all 53 bells is 54
tonnes. The interior height of the belfry is 91 feet
(27.73 metres). |
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