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Anna Lapwood invites us to join her on tour and on the way discovers an organ whose pipes look like french fries and one that’s as loud as a jet engine.

Anna travels to Scotland to visit the oldest building in Glasgow: its cathedral. She admires the beautifully smooth, round sound of the Father Willis organ there, and shares her tips on how to build a crescendo on different instruments. She also explores orchestral music evoking the Scottish landscape by Mendelssohn, a lament by Errollyn Wallen, a colourful vignette for oboe and piano by Scottish-born Thea Musgrave, and an organ duet performed by two Scotland-based organists. We also hear from Director of Music Andrew Forbes, both speaking about the unusual shape of the cathedral and performing an organ classic.

Plus, a piece that sounds Christmassy without having anything to do with Christmas…

A Tandem Production for 91Èȱ¬ Radio 3

29 days left to listen

56 minutes

Music Played

  • Peter Maxwell Davies

    Farewell to Stromness

    Performer: Kevin Bowyer. Music Arranger: Kevin Bowyer.
    • PRIORY.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony No. 3 in A minor "Scottish" - IV.

    Performer: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Performer: Maxim Emelyanychev.
    • LINN.
  • James MacMillan

    The Gallant Weaver

    Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • CORO.
  • Thea Musgrave

    Night Windows - I. Loneliness

    Performer: Nicholas Daniel. Performer: Huw Watkins.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • John Gardner

    Tomorrow shall be my dancing day

    Performer: Malcolm Sim. Choir: Glasgow Cathedral Choir. Conductor: Richie Pratt.
    • PRIORY.
  • Craig Armstrong

    Glasgow Love Theme (from "Love Actually")

    • J RECORDS.
  • John Powell

    Test Drive

    Performer: Anna Lapwood. Music Arranger: Anna Lapwood.
    • SONY.
  • Errollyn Wallen

    Oi' Crumpling Rocks

    • AVIE.
  • Thomas Tomkins

    A Fancy for Two to Play

    Performer: John Butt. Performer: John Kitchen.
    • DELPHIAN.
  • Uli Roever

    Highland Cathedral

    Composer: Michael Korb. Performer: Gordon Stewart.
    • CLASSIC FOX.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    In dulci jubilo BWV 729

    Performer: Andrew Forbes.
    • PRIVATE RECORDING.
  • Trad.

    Melodies from Scotland - EXCERPT

    Ensemble: The Ayoub Sisters.
    • DECCA.

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