Golden State Today

After 30-plus years, Jeff Davis is stepping down from UC Berkeley's Campanile, where he built a rare and preeminent carillon instruction program. Davis’ workspace is unique: It’s UC Berkeley’s iconic Campanile, one of the world’s tallest clock-and-bell towers and home to 20 tons of ancient fossils, a famous falcon family, and its centerpiece — a 61-bell grand carillon.

Davis' position as university carillonist and the teaching program he developed are just as distinctive. Retiring on July 1 at the age of 80, Davis is one of only six full-time paid university carillonists in North America. Berkeley’s carillon instruction, part of the Department of Music, is among the most extensive and prominent globally.

Davis has spent about half his career in the Campanile. On the sixth floor of the historic granite monolith, just below the clock faces, he has a small live-work studio that includes a practice carillon. Over the years, he’s taught about 200 students to play the bells, which are suspended above a playing cabin on the tower’s observation deck and connected to clappers controlled from a keyboard. The bells — ranging in weight from 20 pounds to 5.25 tons — can be heard several miles away and are central to daily life on campus.

“The coolest job in the world” is how Davis has described it. “My work at Berkeley lets me focus each day on three things: exploring the mind and work of the very greatest composers, working with young musicians in that exploration, and performing the music,” he explained. “What could possibly be cooler?”

A June 29-30 carillon festival at Berkeley — free and open to the public — will celebrate Davis with an hourlong recital each day at noon and 2 p.m. About a dozen carillonists, including Davis, will perform.

Berkeley News recently asked Davis about his program on campus:

Berkeley News: Since childhood, you’ve learned to play various instruments. When did you first study the carillon?

Davis: "I joined Berkeley’s music department in 1983... Eventually I met Ronald Barnes...and eventually asked if I could study with him... There’s a hidden tradition in carillon lore than if someone wants to take lessons they must wait a year."

Your job and teaching program are rare. How did they come to be?

Davis: "Many people listen to the bells on campus and think the music is mechanical... The multi-million dollar endowment given to Berkeley in 1983 by Jerry and Evelyn Chambers makes this rarity possible."

How do you select your students?

Davis: "Students are selected by audition... They are required to have a basic working knowledge of music... After the initial semester...students continue into private lessons..."

There’s a bench you sit on to evaluate your students’ performances...

Davis: "I like to listen where there is as little noise as possible... My general location is the bench to west side of Physics South..."

What prompted DeCal class Learning to Play Sather Tower Bells?

Davis: "Early in my tenure…carillon students created Berkeley Carillon Guild…they came up with idea of creating DeCal class..."

You also compose and arrange music...

Davis: "I wrote my first piece when I was six… I get up every day…write…I always try follow what I’m hearing in my head…"

The tower is unique place for work...

Davis: "I like working in Campanile…it’s generally quiet—except when bells strike hour one floor above my studio..."

Berkeley initially had twelve bells...

Davis: "Carillon mechanisms have useful life about twenty-five years... Now over forty years since grand carillon installed needs complete overhaul..."

In interim who will take your place?

Davis: "Simone Browne accepted into law school last year…music department hired her teach next year..."

What’s next for you? Will you keep playing?

Davis: "My plans continue composing…imagine I’ll do some playing…I can’t imagine not teaching..."

What have you gained from working with students?

Davis: "...working with students guarantees keeping one young…I will miss them more than any other part of my job."