How does a pipe organ actually work? | Anna Lapwood | Classic FM

[@alex0589]

Are you kidding me? I want hours of this. Give her a show, someone.

[@JS-bf9dw]

a very humble request, sir ...I just want to marry her, but I think the probability of her getting a show is much more higher

[@mattiafioravanti8475]

Hear hear.

[@1earflapping]

@@JS-bf9dw Hey! I saw her first!

[@truck6859]

Yes, ideed!

[@vornamenachname9905]

Anna has her own youtube channel with lots of stuff :) She is such a charm…

[@wetwillie]

33 years old and I finally understand where the classic idiom, "pull out all the stops" comes from.

[@carmendevilla2]

My dad is an organist. I’ve known it since birth

[@JelvinCS]

@@carmendevilla2 cool.

[@salebogicevic620]

53 here! :)

[@mattyoung7318]

🤯

[@appliedfacts]

I thought it came from the idea of not letting anything get in your way. Like a train stop. Organs make sense

[@Tacttactification]

I wasn't planning on watching a 15 minute video about how organs work, but Anna is so charismatic that I couldn't stop watching

[@rlt9492]

Not gonna lie I’m crushing on her pretty hard she’s just so pretty and unabashedly intellectual, how could you not fall in love a little? Haha

[@Tacttactification]

@@rlt9492 Totally agree

[@IamCurrentlyAscending]

Same boat.

[@monicahyland8641]

Same 😂

[@rexstuff4655]

Mad respect for someone who is clearly passionate and deeply knowledgeable about her area of expertise. Thoroughly articulate, too. You are a true ambassador for your craft.

[@derekdaniels8649]

The most articulate and comprehensive demonstration ever of the workings of this superb instrument. Thank you.

[@deanedge5988]

Also so charming and engaging.

[@rowanlidbury]

35 years playing and I learnt something from this, very well done.

[@DoahnKea_Tuber]

Great Presentation by the talented Anna Lapwood pulling out most of the stops!

[@ubernate860]

On film? Yeah perhaps

[@WelshHomo87]

Diane bish did it better

[@JoelMurphy77]

There's something very enjoyable about seeing all of the stops pop in and out when you press a preset.

[@MDkid1]

its pretty fun.

[@lupe2947]

Organs are like physical synths!! Never knew they were this flexible! I’m so amazed

[@thetheatreorgan168]

And the synthesizer in turn, was inspired by orchestrally-designed pipe organs that found heavy usage in the silent film era due to their capabilities

[@ellietheverysmellybellybea7984]

not only that but Much like a synth, Organs have oscillators!

[@Solidst8dad2112]

Additive versus subtractive, but yes!

[@torinstorkey]

@@Solidst8dad2112 you can have additive synths. FM synths for example.

[@GotYourWallet]

Right? You have different keyboards for playing multiple timbres at the same time. You have generals which are banks of patches. And each patch is made up of multiple oscillators stacked on top of each other. I never knew this!

[@Alkanen]

"[...] because if we did it wouldn't sound, actually, particularly pleasant. It would sound something like this." *plays most epic sound in the history of the world*

[@zaneclone]

Aside from Anna's musical talents- of which there are many- she is the most wonderful speaker. Wonderful clarity, chosen words, confidence, delivery etc. I could literally listen to her all day- irrespective of the subject matter !!

[@theoryismypraxis3538]

she's also exceptionally beautiful

[@zaneclone]

@@theoryismypraxis3538 Yes, she's gifted in that area also...

[@fyfyi6053]

She looks like a waifu with glasses.

[@pirojfmifhghek566]

I dunno about the rest of you weirdos, but I just appreciate that she's knowledgeable about a very obscure instrument. I don't feel like it's necessary to go on a tangent about how she presents herself. Y'all are just pushing her skills aside to comment on appearances instead.

[@macsmith2013]

Not to mention she doesn't appear to take herself overly serious, which is always a nice thing. Confident, yes, and rightly so, but relatable and down to earth nevertheless.

[@aaronhighfill2959]

i played how to train your dragon as a marching band and that sounds awesome!

[@aaronhighfill2959]

i think that was probably the most extensive version of how to train your dragon i have heard 😂 i wanna know how many octaves there are in the piece you played?

[@OfficialRainsynth]

Also, pipe organs are basically the only musical instruments, that take up a building and they are specifically always built INTO the church or concert hall.

[@roycevanbeethoven]

Carillons exist.

[@jonh284]

Preferably, the building would be built around it. As I’m sure many were. Same idea though.

[@andybrown4284]

It could be argued that the building itself is also part of the instrument due to the acoustics of the architecture

[@annasolovyeva1013]

@@andybrown4284 the buliding is even more important to an academically trained voice.

[@gr8n10city3]

Quite organic

[@samrc8350]

This woman is a genius

[@scheepalicious]

Wow, what a natural born teacher and storyteller. She's amazing to listen to.

[@Twobarpsi]

🤩

[@davemcddd]

I always knew that pipe organs were complicated machines, but I had no idea they were THAT complicated. And the idea they were able to build these machines hundreds of years ago is even more mind boggling.

[@dormilon36]

Wow! She pulled out all the stops for this wonderful explanation! 😊

[@philmckenna5709]

And it was really well organised 😈

[@woodhonky3890]

Literally!

[@robertnewell5057]

Oh dear 😂

[@dielaughing73]

She should write a manual

[@tomvandongen8075]

​@@dielaughing73 under appreciated joke

[@ivanpb1983]

The fact that humans are capable of operating at this level of coordination to produce music makes me proud. ☺

[@turtlezen4292]

I had no idea how badass organs are. The organist at our church growing up made everything sound like a dirge. This was such a fascinating video!

[@Fomites]

I love the word 'dirge'.

[@Vousie]

I think that may have more to do with the speed that some organists play at - a lot of the songs would sound a lot less like a dirge if they were just played a little bit faster...

[@matthiku]

@@Fomites Yeah, I learned a new word today! Nice!

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

She was probably a blue haired old lady.

[@ralanham76]

​@@DavidSmith-sb2ixI've driven her to the hairdresser 😉

[@digitalmediafan]

She's a genius just incredible So much talent on here was this recommended because I'm a fan of Dr K and Ladyva ?! Probably !

[@cannon440]

How do you precisely control 12 appendages simultaneously, while remembering exactly where the 150 + or - keys & buttons are located & plug in the musical piece with your mind. Truly an amazing feat.

[@blahfasel2000]

14 really because you can use heel and toes simultaneously for different things.

[@michaelmascari9785]

Don't you mean, Truly an amazing "feet" 🤣

[@craigborgardt6396]

As an organist at a very basic level, I've always felt that a bit of schizophrenia is involved....when everything is working, there is nothing around me other than the music and those magical moments, rare as they are, are worth the effort and pleasures of learning The King Of Instruments. And no matter one's age!!

[@1962RJP]

And the melody played by her feet!

[@jonh284]

@@michaelmascari9785 you went there. And I laughed.

[@MrAsego]

Test Flight at 9:37 is such a fantastic piece, and I think its swells and dives, plus the the combining of the two characters' themes (Hiccup and Toothless) makes such a wonderful and intuitive example for the generals! If anyone hasn't seen an analysis of Test Flight in the context of the movie and story, I highly recommend looking one up.

[@NicoScorpio]

I find it hugely entertaining she is playing a kids movie

[@steveurbach3093]

@@NicoScorpio KIDS? You don't fly. That flight was brilliant. (and there was a lesson: Stop thinking 'do this' and JUST DO. )

[@trustmeiknow1]

All I wanted to know was what song this was. Never seen the movie. Thank you. I’ve heard this song before somewhere else though

[@Dunkelzeitgeist]

I have never been so fascinated in my life, I'm a 25yo metalhead who does listen to classic FM daily whilst commuting, but this ...this is beautiful and bizarre and just wonderful

[@SpicyTexan64]

You're 25 and you listen to the radio? Lol

[@Dunkelzeitgeist]

@@SpicyTexan64 why yes, if I want to listen to metal or modern music for sure Spotify is better, but when commuting nothing beats classic FM, beautiful music and traffic updates

[@resurgem]

@@SpicyTexan64 why not?

[@okamanokama]

Metal covers of classical music are amazing, they fit the typical chord structures well. I got into more metal music because of them 😊

[@honesteagle98]

@@SpicyTexan64lmao

[@marintoss]

My brain is cooked just from watching. I have new respect for organists.

[@MattAndImprov]

This is so well-presented. I could watch 20 more episodes.

[@jenssajetzki4050]

She could read the phone book to me and I would listen...

[@Antonius1102]

Same , she is magnificent.

[@michallacki9462]

What a fantastic video! I was always curious as to what all the buttons do. I thought it was difficult but now that I know how it works I think it's completely insanely difficult 😂

[@jennhoff03]

;'D Right?! I thought, "this will make it easier. Can't be that hard." ;'D

[@josephsylve6758]

Anna Lapwood is a wonderful teacher. Love from France

[@vervetech9395]

It's amazing how engineers get to make something as complicated as this without any chip or computer programming. Purely mechanical.

[@v3xman]

It is! However she keeps mentioning the phrase “if things go wrong”, which is sadly an inherent characteristic of something large and mechanical.

[@big800wildcat]

@@v3xman Can be fun when a note sticks - especially during a performance. That note will continue to sound until the organist has time to find the bank from which it is coming and push in that stop.

[@AnAnonymousObject]

Luke Redstone vs command blocks

[@MrJdsenior]

@@v3xman Yup. On the very large organs there are always portions of stops and ranks that don't play. On the largest, like the Wannamaker in Penn., they speak of it in terms of percentages operating or non operating, and some of those have a crew of people constantly working on the instrument. And then there is tuning. :-)

[@MrJdsenior]

@@big800wildcat Ours in church had perfect pitch, so he usually hit it in one, but not every time. He would always raise an eyebrow and smile when it happened. Usually a couple of times a year.

[@andyhesford1617]

I could listen to Anna play all day long

[@joshuaswannmusic6462]

I did an apprenticeship back in 2009 restoring and tuning pipe organs. The sheer amount of components that must be maintained on a yearly basis is infact staggering. Highly stressful job too wouldn’t recommend it. Still amazing living works of art.

[@philmckenna5709]

Do you still do that work?

[@big800wildcat]

And then after you get it all perfectly tuned, the temperature and/or the humidity changes....

[@babybloc]

My friend did that. Said you had to wear gloves because the temperature of your hands would make it go out of tune 😵

[@csx_defectdetector]

Yeah, someone fell to their death from the top of , like a 64'

[@telwood15]

As a non musician I am amazed how someone can learn to play what seems such a complex instrument. At least people like me can sit back and immerse ourselves in great music.

[@cellosean]

You may be a non-musician, but I think you have a great appreciation for music and what we musicians do. Not everyone has that.

[@rh5971]

I would love to see her in concert!!! She is so enjoying what she is doing and the way she explains the instrument is amazing. Such talent!

[@JB-cp3bh]

Dear Mrs. Lapwood, your amazing talent at your craft is truly a beacon of hope for humankind. In this age of mindless mediocre entertainment you are the light this world needs. I am so grateful for people like you! 🥰

[@ucheucheuche]

5:09 Was NOT expecting River Dance from an Organist!! 🌊💃

[@richardmeftah2569]

No way, I always loved the sound of these and now have a huge appreciation of just how complicated these things are and just how talented a musician she is! That's amazing! 👏🏼👏🏼

[@mkfmkf55]

Thanks very much for posting this. I always wondered how pipe organs made such a grand sound before electricity was available.

[@theuntapstep7789]

They would have people to pump the bellows

[@wesleyjoseph3997]

Kid power! Sometimes they would pump long handles to keep the air pressure in the bellows up, sometimes walk on a stair treadmill type thing.

[@geoffreydcruz7222]

How would the keys control all the pipes prior to electricity? Mechanical linkages?

[@wesleyjoseph3997]

@@geoffreydcruz7222 You got it! Many organs that post-date electricity still use mechanical linkages (we call it "tracker action") because it's more reliable, durable, and sounds more precise than electronic action, though it's certainly less flexible in terms of where you can place the console and pipes.

[@chrishoover4888]

@@wesleyjoseph3997 I've heard it called "clacker action" - maybe that one needed some work ;-}

[@todd60613]

Omg! Pull out most of the stops vs pull out all the stops! Brilliant! Thank you again!

[@bunkytony]

This lady has it all. She's beautiful, talented, a great musician and speaker. What a dangerous combination! I could listen to her all day too. She should have a show!

[@cornelius8617]

I love her shoes

[@Situated_Curve]

"Fun Fill Music" is the How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack. Wonderful!

[@Token_Nerd]

Freaking how to train your dragon of all film scores

[@aaronstanley6914]

Thanks that was going drive me crazy. As crazy as I was when I found out metrolinx haven't even started cutting the new tunnels.

[@pxlz0729]

One of my favorite soundtracks. Really well composed

[@LoonyYunie]

I thought it sounded familiar! Now I need to watch it 😄

[@Mrcloc]

It will go down as one of the greats of all time.

[@fronkentine]

Omg, I recognize her! She played for Einaudi!!! If you haven't seen it, look it up. Magical.

[@LukeBass1000]

The Saint-Saëns at the beginning brought back so many awesome memories!

[@sparkypeter]

Thank you for giving me a clue to what is was !!👍

[@DrewMakepeace]

This is one of the best explanatory videos on KZbin.

[@Pauley_in_GP]

This is one of the best videos I've ever seen. Your awesome musical talent is so well-matched to your wonderful presentation ability. Thanks so much for a very enjoyable and informative time.

[@staticofmasses3166]

I’ll second that!

[@feminuma9495]

Thirded here. Undisputable

[@leonardgucciardo8386]

This is a most amazing presentation of one of the most complex instruments in the world. You are also one of the most talented watching you play 3 different melodies at once is completely mind bending. The best!!

[@danilorico2668]

It is difficult to find words to express my admiration for the greatest of all instruments created by man. Thank you very much Anna, for your excellent explanation. Greetings from Bogotá Colombia!

[@christopherwilson6527]

This absolutely incredible. I knew it was difficult to play, but this really has blown my mind. Very impressive!

[@MrGreatplum]

Organs are truly bonkers instruments - love them. Thank you for a fine explanation!

[@counterfit5]

@norman-m [KANDAGAIGO] at least until someone makes a quadruple-Bb tuba

[@Roheryn100]

I can’t begin to imagine how you build such a monstrous beast !!

[@pauljb6207]

Anna, you are such a natural in front of the camera, this was amazing.

[@canisrah]

What a striking woman. Impressive knowledge, stunningly articulate and obviously very talented. And seemingly so young! Gives one hope for the future.

[@PavelFomenkov]

6:22 Also sprach Zarathustra Right there.

[@Joshuasbikingandadventures]

Get her on here more often , the most informative thing ever

[@midnight2600]

I really love how the moment your fingers go down and press a key, you just transform into music mode. It shows in the way your face changes, the way your entire body starts to move with what you are playing, how your entire mood and vibe changes completely. which only music lovers and musicians can truly understand.

[@skyecommander2169]

Ok organs are waaaaay more complex than I initially thought.😵‍💫😵‍💫. Beautiful instrument!

[@Pkripper-67]

Anna is clearly immensely talented. She is also an articulate speaker. She gave an excellent, comprehensive overview of the workings of this instrument. She’s also very beautiful.

[@lvref702]

Ms. Lapwood is amazing in every sense of the word.

[@LukeAps]

That was extremely well done! Thank you Anna Lapwood!

[@MCF961]

Having all the stops out sounds amazing.

[@youtubestolemyname]

For some reason, I was entirely too curious as to how organs worked in the days before electricity and found out today. WOW, as if they weren't complex enough as is, to have to employ another human to work the massive bellows is mind blowing.

[@thegamingkaiser2874]

I wouldn't hire one person, I would hire an entire team.

[@davidkennedy4845]

@@thegamingkaiser2874 Or perhaps a team of horses to drive a mechanism for producing the wind.

[@terriblegamer4104]

It’s always a blast to watch someone who’s truly passionate about what they do get to explain their passion. This was very fascinating to watch!

[@deonbotha5020]

Far more that an organist, what a brilliant mind and a wonderful talent to remember all the combinations and the ability to play such a complex instrument! Amazing!

[@gunnarbjorck929]

I really liked that sound with ALL stops acctually!!💪💪💪👍

[@paschalndukwe2248]

I could pay to watch this instructor 😊 she made everything easy and calm. Well explained with smiles all through

[@szymonnowak4628]

Young though she may be, Anna is your national treasure. Everything about that video - Ms Lapwood in especial - is exquisite. No that's too weak. It's sublime.

[@purplealice]

Nothing compares to the sound of someone playing a building full of whistles!

[@phoenix7289]

Man I love Anna. I randomly found her on Instagram sometime over the past several years and have loved everything she uploads ever since! Can't believe I only just now found this video! How wonderful!

[@benjaminniemczyk]

Excellent description and demonstration! Anna has the talent, skills and personality to give a clear idea of a very complex instrument. She is great at this.

[@grosnain]

0:53 Obviously !!! This masterpiece can NOT be avoided :D

[@motle710]

It's like an ancient analogue MIDI keyboard

[@soniccinos]

Aside of the truly exceptional talent of Anna, the technical side of organs really impress me! I mean all of that is ANALOG!!!!

[@wedgeski]

Incredible skill, all the brilliance of a concert pianist combined with the limb independence of a world class drummer! Amazing stuff. :)

[@tim2015]

I like your description.

[@jonh9561]

I realised at the end of the video that I've been watching this with my mouth open and absolutely transfixed! MORE PLEASE!

[@ViliamF.]

Kudos for featuring the Test Drive from HTTYD! I love that song as well as the entire trilogy.

[@chanceheaps6720]

When she started playing "test drive" from how to train your dragon, I fell in love. I had the privilege of getting to play the baritone part of that piece in our local orchestra. Beautiful

[@pawel7318]

For one like me it might seem crazy that someone building such an instrument would think one musician can handle all of those keyboards and buttons... for someone like her it might seem necessary to use the talent she has. The beauty in our species is our diversity. Not every person can handle every thing, but as humans, we have no limits.

[@gerrythompson1721]

Love the concept of a note you feel rather than hear

[@ron88303]

The king of instruments.

[@vale.antoni]

So this video was recommended to me, after watching one about how the theme song of How To Train Your Dragon is so genius in almost every aspect. In effect that video was about how that is the perfect piece to play as a demonstration of a pipe organ's range of possible applications. Best thing is that I didn't know the theme song would actually be played, just by looking at the thumbnail, or reading the title.

[@b.maximebk]

This is actually amazing! Such a fascinating instrument

[@roadkill_666]

Great video, my favorite instrument. 10:55, where you decided to pull out one more stop..... Awesome.

[@paulstannard7985]

Brilliant. Beautifully concise, informative and entertaining. These instruments are a wonder. Thank you so much Anna.

[@hugobiernot9174]

I love how to train your dragon and John Powell and then she plays one of the best pieces out of the movie out of nowhere... i am so happy right now and i smiled as soon as i recognized it. Thank you so much for that :)

[@alejandrosotomartin9720]

Hats off to this lady. Wonderfully played and explained.

[@djtaylorutube]

Thanks for the training course. I think I'm now ready to sound competent with my rendition of one finger "chop sticks" at the RAC.

[@notmyworld44]

Thank you, Anna. I had never before heard that much information about that instrument.

[@itsmephil2255]

Anna how do you remember all of this???? Wow you are incredible

[@P.Atreides]

anna is hopefully inspiring for everything with her energy and joy, if you really want to start making music. may she inspire new people for music and the possibilities

[@murphadam420]

Instant chills when Interstellar hits. Beautiful soundtrack.

[@Nigelrudyardmusic]

Absolutely brilliant - playing and explanation. Thank you Anna. For we lesser mortals, a fantastic guided tour!

[@aphexart]

Pulling out All the stops reminds me of the old THX intro 😁 great info, would've loved more technical info on how it works and worked in the past.

[@TheRimeOfTheAncientMariner]

This was great!! I wish this video was an hour with her going into even more detail. She is great and what an incredible instrument.

[@MSmith-rb3mj]

Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I have a new appreciation for your art!

[@mrcat3493]

That was terrific! We need more of her.

[@jamesa.rodriguez8598]

A true master of your craft.

[@colephelps6202]

Why no one ever made this into a video before I'll never know. This is awesome.

[@shiningarmor2838]

There are many videos on this subject

[@dcamron46]

She’s a great speaker and knows how to draw in the audience. It also helps that she’s entrancingly gorgeous and talented…

[@tc322]

This is one of the most amazing videos I have ever seen on KZbin. A big salute to the engineers who have designed such an instrument and bigger salute to this amazing lady who explains and shows this instrument with such ease. Incredible!!!

[@joaovictormartins2137]

I almost cried when she played the How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack This song is beautiful and this is the movie of my life To this day, I still can't get over the fact that John Powell didn't win the Oscar for Best Original Score

[@fdwyersd]

This is absolutely fantastic... you showed me so many things I didn't know. I have a new appreciation for this instrument.

[@SirMountainpass]

She is exceptionally gifted - I watched in awe…

[@Andy-Mesa]

This video literally and figuratively pulled out all the stops. Well done.

[@iuptubaman]

I loved your video! I really enjoyed the film music section and I wish more organists would perform film music during recitals or concerts. Such a versatile instrument, and by far my favorite (saying that as a tuba player!).