What makes the organ so mighty?
Tom Service explores what makes the organ so mighty with the help of organist Anna Lapwood.
Tom Service takes on the largest instrument created by human hands: the organ. With the help of organist Anna Lapwood, Tom asks: what makes the organ so mighty? Why has it fascinated musicians from Bach to Procol Harum? Along the way, Tom will delve into the Delphian roots of the organ and we’ll hear what its ancestor the Hydraulis sounded like, created in ancient Egypt. And we’ll drop in on Madison Square Garden where Gladys Gooding entertained huge audiences at sports events for over thirty years, starting in the 1930s. Finally, we’ll hear what makes the organ timeless and immortal in music by John Cage and Olivier Messiaen. All hail: the organ!
Last on
Broadcasts
- Sun 4 Oct 2020 17:00±«Óătv Radio 3
- Fri 9 Oct 2020 16:30±«Óătv Radio 3
- Sun 1 Aug 2021 17:00±«Óătv Radio 3
- Fri 6 Aug 2021 16:30±«Óătv Radio 3
- Sun 23 Jul 2023 17:00±«Óătv Radio 3
- Fri 28 Jul 2023 16:30±«Óătv Radio 3
Why do we call it 'classical' music?
Tom Service poses a very simple question (with a not-so-simple answer).
Six of the world's most extreme voices
From babies to Mongolian throat singers: whose voice is the most extreme of all?
How did the number 12 revolutionise music?
How Schoenberg opened a new cosmos for composers and listeners to explore.
Why are we all addicted to bass?
Bass is everywhere, but why do we enjoy it? Join Tom Service on a journey of discovery.
Watch the animations
Join Tom Service on a musical journey through beginnings, repetition and bass lines.
When does noise become music?
We like to think we can separate “noise” from “music”, but is it that simple?
Podcast
-
![]()
The Listening Service
An odyssey through the musical universe, presented by Tom Service
