John Randal, Carillonist (1937-1950, 1954-1983)

Photograph from Iris Latham

Biography provided his daugter, Ann Randal

John Hylton Randal was born in 1912 in Wellington. He was educated at Lyall Bay Primary School, Wellington College, Victoria University and Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music in Organ Playing. He had a distinguished career in the Public Service but music was his passion. He served as Organist and Choir Master at St James Presbyterian Church 1934-44, St Peters Anglican Church 1944-48, and St Thomas's Anglican Church 1950-59. He gave frequent organ recitals in various Wellington churches and in the Town Hall.

He studied the Carillon under Gladys Watkins and became Acting Carilloneur in 1943 until 1949. He was concerned with extending the repertoire that was light on music representing the local culture of the time.

Each bell in the carillon had two clappers. The western clappers were connected directly to the hand clavier. The eastern clappers were driven by electro-pneumatic activators, which, in turn, could be driven from either a piano-like keyboard, or by a wide loop of punched paper similar to that used in a player piano. Recitals of the time commonly used all three methods of playing music. John spent many an evening and weekend repairing the existing paper rolls and creating new ones. He carefully transcribed sheet music to new rolls by punching the holes in the rolls on the good dining room table, which was appropriately protected by fiberboard otherwise used as an air-raid blackout blind. He arranged traditional Maori music and popular songs of the time for the clavier.

He became Carilloneur in 1953 and continued extending the repertoire, this time by arranging (Soldiers of the Queen) and writing for the clavier (In Memoriam – a piece that sounded all of the 49 bells of the time). He gave lessons to aspiring pupils.

John played in Carillon recitals in Australia, Canada, USA, England, Eire, Holland, Belgium, France and Germany; represented New Zealand at International Carillon Congresses at Douai, France 1974, Amersfoort, Holland 1978 and Logumkloster, Denmark 1982. He was a member of the Guild of Carilloneurs in North America. He served as Carilloneur until his death in 1983.

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