You hear it on campus every day, but you probably don't know what it is.
Bells heard throughout the school day are those of a carillon, pronounced "CARE-a-lawn."
A carillon is an organ-like instrument that plays music with steel rods.
Currently on campus, a 15-bell carillon plays the Westminster Chimes on each quarter hour. It also plays ASU's Alma Mater and fight song daily at 5 p.m.
Its music travels across campus from speakers located on the roof of Mathews Hall.
But it's only a loaner from carillon manufacturer Maas-Rowe Carillons until ASU's larger carillon returns home.
The University's actual carillon has 148 bells. It is one of 100 carillons like it manufactured by Maas-Rowe Carillons. Its value is estimated at more than $100,000.
ASU is taking steps to return its music to campus after almost 40 years.
The Associated Students of ASU purchased the Symphonic Carillon in 1966. But shortly afterward, it was placed in storage in the basement of the Matthews Center during renovations.
It remained there until Aug. 6 when it was taken out of storage to be sent to Escondido, Calif.
There, it will be retuned and cleaned once the ASU Foundation has raised enough money to pay for the process. The estimated total cost of the project is $50,000.
The restored carillon could be located at Old Main.
Jon Rydberg, a pre-medical sophomore, said the instrument could help boost school spirit.
"The carillon promotes school spirit by having the ability to universally catch all of the students' attention at once," he said.
Reach the reporter at jenifer.javia@asu.edu.
