{"id":1930,"date":"2025-09-03T08:27:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T08:27:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/annalapwood.co.uk\/?post_type=project&p=1930"},"modified":"2025-09-03T08:27:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T08:27:12","slug":"an-irish-blessing","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/annalapwood.co.uk\/project\/an-irish-blessing","title":{"rendered":"An Irish Blessing"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Irish Blessing<\/a> performed by The Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Sophia Membery (harp), written and conducted by Anna Lapwood.<\/p>\n

\u201cI very rarely compose, but when I do it\u2019s always in response to people or a particular situation. In this case, I wrote \u2018An Irish Blessing\u2019 as a parting gift for one of Pembroke\u2019s organ scholars, Andreana, who was graduating back in 2024. As often seems to be the case (!) I came up with the idea very last minute and so wrote the piece about 24 hours before its first performance, our final concert of the academic year. We then had to engineer an \u2018emergency\u2019 that Andreana had to go and deal with (3 soloists pretending they were really struggling with the notes so desperately needed a sectional), buying us 15 minutes to quickly circulate the copies and rehearse the piece without her noticing. We then performed it as an encore to the concert, and somehow managed to keep the entire thing a surprise until the moment it was performed \u2013 quite something with more than 50 singers to coordinate! Now it takes on a new meaning again as I say goodbye to Pembroke myself after 9 years as Director of Music. I would like to dedicate this to all the amazing singers and organists I have had the privilege of working with over the past 9 years: thank you for being a continual source of inspiration and joy.<\/em><\/p>\n

The piece is written in Andreana\u2019s favourite key \u2013 Db major \u2013 which just happens to be my favourite key too. I think it\u2019s such a great key for voices, and is also great for the harp as it allows most of the strings to freely resonate.The harp on this recording is played by one of our other organ scholars, Sophia Membery, who happens to be a fantastic harpist alongside being an organist. I think my favourite part of the piece is when the opening material comes back at the end and the harmony opens up \u2013 it was one of the last things we recorded in our recording sessions together, and it was a rather emotional moment.\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Anna Lapwood<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was asked to paint Anna\u2019s new release with the Pembroke Choir, I was so excited to get to show people what this music sounds like. I see sound and this music is so full of positivity, of joy and of colour. All the colours, the feeling of joy that you can see in my painting, you will hear in this wonderful music. It truly shines and listening to it and painting it has been a beautiful privilege.\u201d\u00a0\u2013 Kirsty Matheson<\/p>\n

To find out more about the artwork or purchase prints, visit the website of Kirsty Matheson<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An Irish Blessing performed by The Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Sophia Membery (harp), written and conducted by Anna Lapwood. \u201cI very rarely compose, but when I do it\u2019s always in response to people or a particular situation. 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