Time: 6:30pmVenue: The Great Hall, People's Palace, Mile End Campus
Part of a program of events to mark the reopening of the People's Palace
The superb 1936 Spurden-Rutt organ has been successfully restored, and will be celebrated by an inaugural recital given by the Director of Music of this College, Alan Wilson. The organ is the original one from the rebuilt People’s Palace, untouched until the faithful restoration by the Village Workshop (organ-builder: David Stalley) in 2012 (Organ Consultant: John Norman). It is a fine 3 manual concert instrument with a colourful and diverse stop specification. The programme begins with a short talk by Professor Donald Preece on the former organs of the Beaumont Institution and the First People’s Palace, along with a description of this instrument. Professor Preece has just completed a book on the organs of the East End of London.
Alan Wilson will then demonstrate this organ with contrasting music and styles displaying its versatility. As well as being Director of Music here, Alan is also a concert organist, harpsichordist, conductor and composer giving many concerts in the UK and abroad. He is Organist of the Bow Bells Church of St. Mary-le-Bow, London (with its fine Kenneth Tickell organ), is an Honorary Associate of the Royal School of Church Music and a frequent broadcaster on the BBC’s Daily Service.
A reception will follow the performance