Ring in the new! After a year of silence, the Cornell University Chimes again are serenading East Hill.

At 11 a.m. today (Thursday, Sept. 30), several Cornell chimesmasters played a few scales and short melodies from the new playing stand in McGraw Tower, as final adjustments were made to the connections and tension on the bell cables, wrapping up the yearlong Cornell Chimes installation and refurbishment project.

In June 1998, the 125-year-old set of bells was removed from the tower and shipped to Meeks, Watson & Co., a bell foundry in Ohio. At the foundry, two new bells were cast, a third was added and the entire set of 21 bells was tuned together for the first time in its history.

The newly tuned set returned to campus in May of this year, and chimesmasters performed for Cornell graduation and reunion from a temporary stand outside of the university's Sage Chapel.

Earlier this month, the bells were reinstalled in the tower, complete with a new playing clavier, linkages and a new configuration designed to improve sound projection across the campus.

All of the chimesmasters will be present this evening to play their first full concert on the restored chime. And many new arrangements are waiting to be played with its newly expanded and more tuneful range.

Beginning Friday, the campus and community will again be graced with the traditional, three-times-daily concerts: a 7:45 a.m. wake-up call with the "Jennie McGraw Rag"; a midday playing of the university's alma mater; and a 6 p.m. "Evening Song" serenade.