Carillon festival draws music fans to Springfield park

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A series of carillon concerts is getting underway at a park in Springfield.

The International Carillon Festival starts Sunday in Washington Park at the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, a bell instrument housed in a 12-story tower.

The festival runs through June 10 with two free concerts each evening, except for Wednesday when there are no performances. Listeners are encouraged to bring picnics. The final evening will include fireworks.

The music of five carillonists will be featured, including Carlo van Ulft, who became director of the Rees Carillon in October. Players from Australia and Belgium are expected to perform.

The Rees Carillon has 67 cast bronze bells that are tuned and played with a keyboard. The instrument in Springfield is among the world's largest.