The ancient, award-winning Fonderia De Poli makes carillons of all kinds, and installs and maintains them.
The carillon is an evocative musical instrument, made up of a group of bells struck by clappers or hammers activated manually, by means of a keyboard or electronically. Although there are instruments with a small number of bells, the World Carillon Federation considers only groups of at least 23 bells. Extensions vary from two to six chromatic octaves, with the exception of the lower notes, where the distance between notes is usually one and a half or two tones. There are also fully chromatic instruments.
Carillon bells are different from those used in motion. They must be perfectly tuned and the partial tones, which are the distinguishing feature of a bell in motion, must be deleted as much as possible. Only an accurately corrected lower octave must remain (it makes the nominal note deeper without muffling it) but all the intermediate partials must be nulled because they are a disturbing element.
The intensity of touch can be adjusted for carillons with a mechanical keyboard. Each bell is matched to a rounded wooden baton that is struck with a closed fist by the carillon player. Usually the two lowest octaves can also be played with foot pedals. This makes it possible to simultaneously play the lowest, heaviest bells with the feet and the central and higher octaves with the hands.