Restorative Carillon Concert

Which songs carry the key ideas behind restorative justice in the best way according to you? 

For this year’s Restorative Justice Week, Luc Rombouts, the official carillonneur of Leuven, will be performing a special Carillon concert. We are inviting you to submit any songs that fit the theme for Luc to include in the musical programme.

The concert will be held in the center of Leuven (Belgium) in Ladeuzeplein. It will also be live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook.

Send your proposal by the 5th of November 2024.

— The carillon is the largest instrument in the world and its sound transcends the public space. Its sounds invite people to stop, wonder, and see things in a different light. 

— Historically, bells were used to mark important moments for a community: celebrations, commemorations, and to give warning of danger. Bells are made of bronze. In the past, they used the same material to cast cannons. What musical instrument could better represent conflicts and resolution? 

— Leuven has a long tradition of carillon concerts, and its carillon housed in the University Library is one of Europe's largest and finest carillons: with 63 bells with a total weight of 35 metric tons. Leuven’s carillon is also a symbol of restoration. The library and its bell tower seen today have been reconstructed after destruction during World War I. Today, Leuven is one of the main sites for carillon culture in the world, with several weekly carillon concerts. 

— Leuven is an essential hub for restorative justice as a ‘Restorative City’; several organisations in Leuven are committed to working with restorative justice or work restoratively. It is the headquarters of the European Forum for Restorative Justice, and it is also a key place to study restorative justice both for scholars and practitioners. 

You can propose any musical piece from any genre that you believe is related to restorative justice. It can be classical, pop, folk, heavy metal etc. – it is really up to you! The carillonneur will make a selection of the proposed musical pieces and compose the programme based on them. It is important to note that not all songs can be played on a carillon. A tip: when you can whistle or sing the melody, it is probably fitted for the carillon. A musical score (vocal, piano…) will help. 

This is also up to you! We are curious about your approach and will ask you to explain your reason. To kickstart your ideas: think of music that represents the essential values of restorative justice or key principles and concepts connected to it, such as:

• conflicts, crime, harm, and people involved in it or affected by it 
• justice
• restoration, reparation 
• dialogue, inclusion, respect for human dignity
• commitment, responsibility, solidarity
• voluntariness, participation, democracy
• confidentiality
• authenticity, truth
• non-violence, and non-judgmental approach 
• ownership and agency in resolving conflicts
• alternative approach to conflicts and crime

You can also think of composers or performers who embody the values of restorative justice for you, or music that has served acts of conflict-resolution in the past.

Luc Rombouts is a Belgian carillonneur. He is the official carillonneur of the Leuven University Library, of the Great Beguinage (Leuven), of the Park Abbey (Leuven), and of the city of Tienen. He is appointed as the Curator of Carillon Culture of Leuven. He gives carillon concerts world-wide, teaches carillon playing at the Royal Carillon School in Mechelen and has published extensively about historical and social aspects of the carillon culture.