The Royal College of Organists (RCO) has generously made its considerable library of online video tutorial material available for free during the ‘lockdown’.
If you care to take a look, it is extensive and of course of very good quality as you would expect. iRCO is the RCO’s virtual campus – an online environment where members and guest users can explore and engage with a wide range of resources. Depending on when you read this that link may now require you to be a RCO member to see the material presented there.
The RCO is also making a few more videos available on their YouTube channel like the “introduction to the Pipe Organ” video below. You can subscribe to their channel by clicking on the logo in the video.
Virtual Bach-a-Thon with Anna Lapwood
We are especially excited to bring to your attention an initiative promoted by Anna Lapwood. She is currently running a virtual Bach-a-Thon to help and support musicians for whom this Pandemic is causing extreme financial uncertainty.
This initiative is not restricted to organ music alone but I am sure a good many of the contributions will be organ related. Anna is the Director of Music at Pembroke College Cambridge and very much in the spotlight at the moment presenting the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition which must have been recorded just before lockdown hit.
Anna is clearly very relaxed in front of the camera no doubt helped by a volume of videos, presentations and recitals that she has made over time.
What is it about Bach that just makes time seem to stop? I’m convinced this is one of the most beautiful pieces ever written. #BachAThon pic.twitter.com/lHPbcopydw
— Anna Lapwood (@annalapwood) May 19, 2020
You can follow the Bach-a-Thon inititative on Twitter or Facebook for more videos.
Anna and RCO promoting the organ
Anna has also teamed up with the RCO in presenting an A-Z video series for them. You can see her in the below video taking viewers through 3 different Bach pieces that feature a common theme.
We are really pleased to see her playing her new Viscount practice instrument (which she has fondly named ‘Donna’). We just managed to get it to her before lockdown.
Who else will join in?
I have it on good authority that later in the year William Fox, assistant organist at St Paul’s Cathedral will be contributing to the Bach-a-Thon from his lockdown residence in Yorkshire. And you’ve guessed it, I am delighted to tell you that his contribution will also feature a Viscount organ we managed to deliver to his home.
Keep your eye out, I will make a contribution too so provided it passes editorial control I will be making a brief appearance!
And if you haven’t already seen it then watch Anna take on the challenge of playing Bach with two toilet rolls on her head! And no I’m not going to attempt it, at least not on video.
Can’t resist a challenge… a little extra #BachAThon with added toilet roll. pic.twitter.com/531GFoxtRd
— Anna Lapwood (@annalapwood) April 6, 2020
I have had a passion for church organs since the tender age of 12. I own and run Viscount Organs with a close attention to the detail that musicians appreciate; and a clear understanding of the benefits of digital technology and keeping to the traditional and emotional elements of organ playing.
What a great idea – well done – I will be listenig/watching – especially the 2 toilet roll performance!