In the 1950s, the University of Oregon introduced the “carillon system,” which are the “electronic chimes” that can be heard every 15 minutes within listening distance of the Erb Memorial Union.
In 1995, the university recruited Barbara Baird, a UO School of Music and Dance organ and harpsichord instructor, to replace the pre-programmed songs of the system with recordings of three UO songs and an extended series of “Pomp and Circumstance” for commencement.
Wade Young-Jelinek said that the songs are on a weekly schedule, occurring twice a day at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m., switching which songs play based off of the day and time and maintaining the same pattern every week.
“There’s a collection [of songs] that plays at noon and six, and that appears to be pretty consistent. It’s not always the same song but switches between the four,” Young-Jelinek said.
In 2019, Baird was asked once again to “re-record” songs for the newly modified carillon system.
“I researched and collected the music of school-related songs, which I chose to record. These include the UO fight song [Mighty Oregon], UO Pledge Song and others, mostly written in the early to mid-20th century.”
Baird said the songs were recorded on a keyboard.
“With technical help from the guy responsible for operating the electronic carillon, I did all the playing of the music, which created sound files, which could be played by the carillon [system]” she said.
UO student Katie Jaspar compared hearing the bells this year to past years when she would chat with her friends.
“It’s kind of funny because I talk about the bells all the time with my friends,” Jaspar said. “I remember last year I would talk about how often they go off and people wouldn’t believe me, but now, I live in New Residence [Hall] and I hear it all the time.”
UO student Victoria Mowder said the “Mighty Oregon” and “UO Fight Song” resonated with her.
“The songs remind me of this one very specific toy my little brother used to have when he was a baby,” Mowder said. “It’s just what I think about when I hear them.”
