The carillon itself developed in the 15th and 16th centuries in the area of Europe that is now Holland, Belgium and Northern France. Presently, there are about 170 carillons in the United States and several new ones are installed each year; it is a growing art. There are eleven carillons in Michigan (at MSU, the University of Michigan (two - Central & North campus), Grand Valley State University (at the Allendale Campus and in downtown Grand Rapids), Central Methodist Church in Lansing and in churches in Bloomfield Hills, Grosse Pointe and Detroit).

     The MSU carillon contains 49 bells and it is capable of playing the full range of literature composed for the instrument. The first ten bells were installed in the new Beaumont Tower in 1928, and thirteen additional bells were installed so that the instrument became a carillon in 1935. The largest bell weighs two and one-half tons and the smallest bell about 15 pounds. The carillon and tower were completely renovated in 1996.

     The carillon keyboard is located on the fourth floor of the tower, up near the bells. To play the bells, the carillonneur's loosely closed fists strike the wooden keys and the carillonneur's feet depress the foot pedals. When the keys and pedals are depressed, wires move the clappers to hit the bells and the bells sound. The more force used in moving the clappers the louder the bells sound. There is only mechanical assistance involved in playing music on the instrument. A carillon practice keyboard is located on the ground floor of the tower. Some of the bells also have a hammer on the outside and these bells, activated by a computer, strike the Westminster Quarters every 15 minutes during the day.