Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Rockefeller Memorial Chapel

In contrast to yesterday's sunny skies, today was cloudy with sporadic rain. It was nice enough, though, for a tour of the University of Chicago campus in Hyde Park with an emphasis on the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel.

The title "chapel" seems a bit odd in this case given the size, although, to my knowledge, the building does not serve as an active church so the title is probably accurate.

Here is an exterior shot of the building.




Here is a shot of the front of the sanctuary.




The highlight of the RMC is its carillon and the tower within which it is contained. The RMC carillon and it's sister carillon at Riverside Church in New York City are the largest carillons by weight in the world.

The carillon is played from a room 240 steps up tight spiral staircases, near the top of the tower. Here is a shot of University Carillonneur Joey Brink at the console prior to his half hour recital this afternoon.




Another 31 steps up the spiral staircase and you're atop the tower with really nice views of the Chicago region. Here are some shots from the top of the tower.








To learn more about the chapel and the carillon and to hear some audio clips visit http://rockefeller.uchicago.edu/the-carillon.

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