A MUSICIAN who has played before the Queen at a host of Royal Film Performances will give a concert on the historic Compton organ at Bournemouth’s Pavilion Theatre.

The instrument is one of the Pavilion’s original 1929 features, with its sound coming from 1,852 metal pipes stacked behind two 48ft concrete chambers.

Donald Mackenzie, who has long been associated with the Odeon Leicester Square, will play on Thursday, November 4, at 1pm. His repertoire typically features popular music from the 1930s to the 1950s plus some light classical music.

The performance is one of a series of concerts which give people a chance to hear the organ that many people does not know is there.

Christian Knighton, technical consultant at BH Live, which runs the Pavilion, said: “The Pavilion was built in 1929, not as a theatre but as a concert hall. It housed the Municipal Orchestra which later became the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

“The organ was included as a concert organ to play with and enhance the municipal orchestra.”

In 1932, the building was closed for six months and converted into the theatre as it is now, and the stage was extended to take musicals which had been in the West End. That meant a change of use for the organ.

“At some point it was painted gold and they started playing more light music, so it was used as part of the entertainment in the interval and before the show started,” said Mr Knighton.

The organ’s console is concealed beneath the Pavilion’s floor and rises out of the stage when needed.

“All the component parts are original 1929, with things like cotton-covered wiring,” Mr Knighton added.

Maintenance of the instrument is costly and it has been looked after for around 20 years by Dorset-based organ builder Tim Trenchard.

The Pavilion’s original organist was Philip Dore, who went on to be organist at Ampleforth Abbey and made recordings of Mendelssohn’s organ sonatas.

He handed over in 1932 to Percy Whitlock, who also played at Bournemouth’s St Stephen’s Church and wrote many pieces for the church organ. He stayed at the Pavilion until his death in 1946.

Doors open for Donald Mackenzie's concert at 12.30pm on Thursday, November 4, and the 1pm performance will last around an hour and10 minutes. Admission is £5 on the door.