Very interesting listening to your career Anna. The interviewer unlike others had knowledge of his subject that helped. Anna, I enjoyed that performance of you with the Pop group. The organ added another dimension to the performance. Do continue the great work you are doing at Pembroke & your performances.
I'm a newbie to your Chronicles and came because of Anna. Congratulations for (a) persuading Anna to give us all a fascinatiing hour of her valuable time and (b) steering her and us through such an interesting series of questions and answers. I am retired now from a long career as a professional director of film, television and theatre, with no musical skills to speak of, yet so much of Anna's insights into her trials, tribulations, fears, mental struggles private triumphs and yes, even failures, resonated with my own experience. I admire her honest self-analysis and willingness to lay bare her vulnerabilities. My private dream is that serendipity may steer her to a meeting with my other favourite keyboard artist and composer, Hania Rani. R (Tasmania)
Spectacular interview! Anna is an amazing person and you did a great job of letting us get to know her better. Excellent thought-provoking questions. Well done!
Organists and conductors have something very special in common. They both have to manage all the parts at once instead of just one like everyone else. The conductor uses everyone in the Orchestra to make his vision heard. The organ has her own two hands and her own two feet.
Thank you for this one! Regarding horrifying moments at the organ... Xaver Varnus (who needs no introduction) was a teenager when he had to play the Resurrection service, the midnight mass on Easter. And that is one of the very few moments in the Catholic liturgy when the organ has to play at a very precise moment. Before that, during the Holy Week, the organ is silent. But on that mass, when the priest sings a particular phrase, the organ has to respond immediately in its full glory. He had his fingers on the keys, he pressed them when he had to, and... nothing.... he forgot to turn on the instrument. Of course it took about a minute for the bellows to get filled with air, and he felt like during that minute the entire universe was staring at him angrily. That threw him off so much, that when the Handel Hallelujah came, he misunderstood the conductor's gesture and he played through the entire part at double tempo. Of course the choir was unable to sing at that tempo, but he didn't even notice it before he got to the end of the piece and he realized that the choir is somewhere in the middle of it. I think that it takes a special kind of drive and personality to get past those horrifying moments and be willing to sit down at the organ again and play for an audience ever again!
Anna , I so appreciated your expression of humour and vulnerability over your career and progression. It gives real encouragement.
What a marvellous interview with Anna from both sides of the world. Well done.
Pleasure is all ours :)
Very interesting listening to your career Anna. The interviewer unlike others had knowledge of his subject that helped. Anna, I enjoyed that performance of you with the Pop group. The organ added another dimension to the performance. Do continue the great work you are doing at Pembroke & your performances.
I'm a newbie to your Chronicles and came because of Anna. Congratulations for (a) persuading Anna to give us all a fascinatiing hour of her valuable time and (b) steering her and us through such an interesting series of questions and answers. I am retired now from a long career as a professional director of film, television and theatre, with no musical skills to speak of, yet so much of Anna's insights into her trials, tribulations, fears, mental struggles private triumphs and yes, even failures, resonated with my own experience. I admire her honest self-analysis and willingness to lay bare her vulnerabilities. My private dream is that serendipity may steer her to a meeting with my other favourite keyboard artist and composer, Hania Rani. R (Tasmania)
Thanks so much for the thoughtful comment hugely appreciated! Kudos for your amazing career as well!
Such a nice lady . And remarkable great musician ❤
Spectacular interview! Anna is an amazing person and you did a great job of letting us get to know her better. Excellent thought-provoking questions. Well done!
Thanks so much and Anna is indeed amazing!
So glad I stumbled across this interview of Anna.
Glad you enjoyed it, Anna is amazing.
Me too, I'll appreciate her playing even more understanding her musical history 😊
Me too. I’m a big fan. Good interview.Anna is so good to listen to.anna is fantastic ❤I’m listening in Nz 😊
Thanks for watching Margaret!
I found your talk fantastically expanding to listen to !!! Thank you for doing this interview. I really enjoyed it !!!!!
Organists and conductors have something very special in common. They both have to manage all the parts at once instead of just one like everyone else. The conductor uses everyone in the Orchestra to make his vision heard. The organ has her own two hands and her own two feet.
Thanks Mark, well put!
Never thought about it like that, Mark ... but you're right of course! R (Australia)
Thank you for this one!
Regarding horrifying moments at the organ...
Xaver Varnus (who needs no introduction) was a teenager when he had to play the Resurrection service, the midnight mass on Easter.
And that is one of the very few moments in the Catholic liturgy when the organ has to play at a very precise moment.
Before that, during the Holy Week, the organ is silent. But on that mass, when the priest sings a particular phrase, the organ has to respond immediately in its full glory. He had his fingers on the keys, he pressed them when he had to, and... nothing.... he forgot to turn on the instrument.
Of course it took about a minute for the bellows to get filled with air, and he felt like during that minute the entire universe was staring at him angrily.
That threw him off so much, that when the Handel Hallelujah came, he misunderstood the conductor's gesture and he played through the entire part at double tempo.
Of course the choir was unable to sing at that tempo, but he didn't even notice it before he got to the end of the piece and he realized that the choir is somewhere in the middle of it.
I think that it takes a special kind of drive and personality to get past those horrifying moments and be willing to sit down at the organ again and play for an audience ever again!
Amazing story thanks for sharing!
Great podcast, good questions and wonderful straight up answers by a terrific person. Love Anna's enthusiasm.
Thanks Wally and yes Anna is amazing :)
So inspirational. Thank you.
Briilant show!
I'm new to this genre - brilliant podcast. Thank you both so much. 😊
Very welcome, Anna is a gem!
she really is!
I'm not an organist at all and yet she is so very relatable for me
another excellent interview Dave 🎹❤
Anna Lapwood play so perfectly the BWV 542 , 543 and the 2° sonata on trio .
To listen those i arrived near to the seat of God.
I was directing my comments to Anna, as I find her very interesting..
Understood and glad you enjoyed it, Anna is amazing!
This is my story, this is my song. I'll worship my saviour all the days long?
🌈
The Good Thing Is They Don't Even See Everything In The Motion Pictures Makings Of.