While we were having a walk around Perth we heard a carillon playing tunes of Robert Burns songs so wandered into St John’s church.  Much of the building is almost 600 years old although a church has stood there nearly a thousand years and it has a magnificent lead clad spire with a unique open bartizan belfry on its north side being the only example of this architectural feature in Scotland.  There are 63 bells in the church, eight of them predating the Reformation, and the carillon has 35 of these including the largest dating from the early 16th century which is just visible at the top in the photo. I believe St Johns has the largest collection of bells in the British Isles.  We were able to watch the carillonneur playing the bells on closed circuit television pictures relayed to screens in the church. It is played regularly and on special days so we were fortunate to hear the tunes of Robert Burns today on Burns Day.
The bells are fixed, and tunes are played on them using a Clavier, or keyboard, like an organ. This has substantial keys and pedals, each connected by a wire tracker to a hammer, which strikes the bell. The carillonneur plays the bells by hitting the keys with his fists. All types of music can be played, including hymn tunes, popular melodies, and music composed especially for bells.