Healing Bells
In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced a sudden shutdown of the University of Michigan campus, journalist Jet Schouten and composer Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra came together to create Healing Bells, a moving carillon composition that would become a global artistic response to both the virus and the rise of social injustices.
This work was conceived not only as a response to the unfolding health crisis, but also as a statement against racism, anti-Asian hate, homo-, transphobic and misogynistic social "viruses" that spread alongside the pandemic.
What began as a farewell collaboration became an international call for connection, resilience, and cultural dialogue through the power of music.
Sound against Silence: how Healing Bells echoed worldwide
Rooted in the medieval belief that bells carry healing properties, Healing Bells weaves together powerful musical symbolism. The carillonist’s hands move in circular gestures called “Viral spirals,” mirroring the shape of the virus itself. This visual and sonic motif alternates with “Plyve Kacha,” a traditional Ukrainian lament that expresses grief and memory.
As the piece evolves, the lament's melody begins to weaken the viral theme, mirroring the hope that science, community, and creative expression can overcome fear and disconnection. On May 21, 2020, Healing Bells premiered globally across six continents and 14 countries, uniting carillonists in solidarity on UNESCO’s World Day for Cultural Diversity, Dialogue, and Development.
The performance resonated not only from university towers but through the collective spirit of artists around the world, proving that music can bridge distance, confront injustice, and amplify healing.
