This weekend would have been our Summer Concert (Summertime in Paris) which has been cancelled due to the COVID19 crisis. We also lost the legend and national treasure, Dame Vera Lynn. During World War Two, Vera performed at the Regal Cinema, Kingston-upon-Thames, accompanied by our Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ in its original home. Chris and the Musical Museum team want to share just a few of the songs that Vera was so well-known for, and which captured the nation's spirit - and our hearts. 

 

Please excuse the video quality; the session was recorded live at very short notice, with an improvised setup!   If you like this video, please consider subscribing to our new channel; or consider donating to us via Patreon.

Wurlitzer Concerts

All Tickets: £15.00

 

Re-Opening Concert with Chris Barber - Live Stream

Date & Time to be confirmed

Join Chris Barber, Director of Music and resident organist for an afternoon of popular tunes drawn from stage and screen to celebrate the re-opening of the Musical Museum. Chris is well known for his melodic playing and romantic styling of popular songs from motion picture scores, a talent which has taken him to venues all over the UK and the USA. Enjoy an afternoon of music where the emphasis is very much on melody and harmony, from the comfort of your own home!

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At this time we are unable to confirm any future concert dates or organist appearance.

Exhibitions & Special Tours

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World War One

This new exhibition Homecoming: Music and the Returning Soldier commemorates the period after the end of the First World War. The museum holds the UK’s largest library of recordings for use on reproducing pianos, and a collection of instruments that were at the height of popularity in the 1910s and 1920s. The music that emerged from the war is sometimes upbeat and incongruous with the tragedy of the period, while other music seeks to capture the trauma of the front-line. The exhibition has been supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and admission is free.

 

The Musical Museum's Mighty Wurlitzer

 Our Mighty Wurlitzer has just celebrated its 90th Birthday, and a specially commissioned set of exhibition panels explore the history of this very special instrument, from the conception of the theatre organ, its manufacture in the USA and working years at the The Regal Cinema in Kingston upon Thames, as well as the decades it has been part of the collection of The Musical Museum, the restoration process and the organists who have played it. The panels can be viewed as part of a standard visit to the Musical Museum.

 

Director's Tours

This year we will be running a series of “behind the scenes” tours led by one of our trustees, featuring an in-depth look at the workings of the Musical Museum not normally accessible to the public, including our roll-library and workshop. The tours will include a full demonstration of The Mighty Wurlitzer, with “virtual tours” of the complex and delicate pipe chambers and a Q&A session. The grand finale is a “mini-concert” with a specially selected series of musical numbers that showcase the sound of this remarkable instrument.

Classic Films

All films have been rescheduled – new dates to be confirmed.

Films are preceded by a prelude on The Mighty Wurlitzer.

 

Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz with a selection of musical films linked to the 1939 classic.

 

 Moon Over Miami (1941)

Jack Haley is best known for the Tin Man who wished he had a heart, but he went on to star in many films including this comedy musical. Betty Grable plays one of three sisters who come into a small legacy when they expected a large one, so they up sticks and head to Miami to hunt for rich husbands.

 

Presenting Lily Mars (1943)

After The Wizard of Oz, Garland starred in an array of musical films. Here she plays a small-town Indiana girl, Lily Mars, who dreams of becoming a stage actress. She begs a visiting Broadway producer, but when he dismisses her, she follows him to New York and finds a way into his show…and his heart.

 

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

80 years after it was first screened, we are delighted to present this perennial favorite starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley. With a cast of 9,200 actors, 68 sets, a 130-piece orchestra and a 300-strong chorus, join us for 100 minutes of unforgettable musical entertainment.