Carillon is dedicated in Dugo's honor

Carillon is dedicated in Dugo's honor

WATKINS GLEN--The sweet sound of bells pealing out across downtown Watkins Glen from St. James Episcopal Church on 6th Street can be heard once again, thanks to a bequest from the late Nick Dugo, beloved teacher, father, husband, friend, long-time churchwarden and village justice.
Until about five years ago, the church had a venerable old carillon system Dugo took great pleasure in operating. He made sure it chimed the hours and played a short selection of hymns every day at 5 pm. Special seasonal hymns were programmed in for holidays. And friends say he was very sad when it stopped working. Using his bequest and memorial gifts from friends, family and community, including the Watkins Glen High School class of 1983, one of the still-active graduating classes Dugo advised, St. James was able to purchase a new system. Installed this past January, it was dedicated this Pentecost Sunday, May 23, with Dugo's children, extended family and friends in attendance.
Traditionally, a carillon is a set of tuned bronze bells, often operated with a keyboard; but since the late 1940s, many churches have used electronic carillons. The re-allocation of raw materials, particularly metals, for production of weaponry during the Second World War meant bells could not be cast during the war years. Fortunately, advances in technology during this time made electronic versions of carillons feasible. In fact, the previous electronic carillon, installed at St. James in the late 1950s, lasted more than 60 years.
The enormous machine, which ran on tapes, also weighed about 300 pounds, says Kate LaMoreaux, whose husband David worked on removing the old system and taking it to recycling. The new carillon, at least 200 pounds lighter, sits appropriately on an old maple school desk in the vestry. Made by the Schulmerich Company, which also made the previous long-lasting carillon, this one came pre-programmed with more than 700 hymns and secular music which may be played in a variety of bell-tones including Flemish, English, harp - which doesn't sound like a harp at all but rather has a subtly different resonance - and bagpipes, which indeed sounds like bagpipes, not bells. These different tones, created from the sounds of individual bells [or bagpipe players] offer a freshness and authenticity to the music.
Kate LaMoreaux, retired English teacher and active musician, is the current expert on the carillon and programs its daily music. She did most of the research into getting a new carillon and spends time compiling playlists and programming them into the system several days in advance. It's possible to sample the carillon offerings in the vestry before deciding what to broadcast - and when - through the speakers in the tower. [The tower had to be rewired for the new carillon, which means anyone in the market for four high quality speakers that don't match this carillon is invited to contact her.] Demonstrating its possibilities, she plays a bell version of "Alexander's Ragtime Band," then "Amazing Grace" on the Bagpipes setting; there's also a "Military Funeral" selection which offers the sound of three ceremonial gunshots followed by Taps. She is currently compiling play lists for Memorial Day and Flag Day, partly in tribute to Dugo's proud patriotism. "The digitization sounds wonderful," she says of the new machine.
There was only one small glitch in setting it up, noted politely by a church neighbor when the carillon, in one of its maiden performances, woke her in the middle of the night. The problem was immediately fixed and there have been no other incidents.
"It wasn't a necessity, but it's something Nick would have liked to have redone," says Susann Dugo, Nick's wife. "I think it's a very fitting tribute. He loved the church and loved doing things for the church. I'm sure Nick's looking down and very pleased."
In this past Sunday's service for the dedication of the carillon, LaMoreaux included "Pomp and Circumstance," in honor of Dugo's work as a teacher, "Sunrise Sunset," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," and Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." Many teared up, remembering Nick Dugo.
Father Abi John, priest at St. James, says he never knew Dugo, having arrived in Watkins Glen after his death, but he was moved at Dugo's funeral by how much the community loved him.
"There are three ways of communicating the Good News," Father Abi said. "Music is one of them. It soothes the broken soul and heals the saddened heart. This carillon is an extension of God's love for everyone. Believer and nonbeliever. We can create harmony in a disordered world."