This came up at lunch today. There were five musicians who played on the sinking ship until the waters came up to their knees. We think one of the songs was the hymn “Nearer my God to thee” (English tune) but does anybody know any of the other titles? And did that provide any comfort to the passengers? Please comment!
4 comments
April 11, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Elizabeth Lucas
According to Titanic-Titanic.com. there were 7 musicians: Hartley, Woodward, Clarke, Krins, Brailey, Hume and Taylor. Survivors mentioned the following pieces that were played during the evening and as the tragedy unfolded: ragtime, popular tunes, waltzes, including “The Last Waltz “, “In the Shadows” and “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” The last pieces survivors stated hearing were the hymn “Autumn” also known as “Song d’Autome” by Francois Barthelemon and the hymn “Nearer my God to Thee.” There is the classic story that the musicians went up on deck to keep the passengers in good spirits as they were being put into the lifeboats, not realizing until the ship began to sink the gravity of the ir own situation….then they played the final 2 hymns.
April 11, 2012 at 2:10 pm
clevelandclassical
Forwarded comment from Brian Del Bianco
I only have Facebook access on my phone and couldn’t figure out how to send this link to your page. I posted it a day or two ago and found it to be an interesting read:
http://www.titanic-titanic.com/article_jack_kopstein_titanics_valiant_musicians.shtml
April 11, 2012 at 2:23 pm
clevelandclassical
Forwarded comment from Stole N. Bass
8 musicians were on board comprising 2 different ensembles. They merged on the deck after the collision, but I doubt the pianists were able to participate. They were a sort of music therapy playing rags and jigs to keep spirits up. There is a website that lists many of the songs in the White Star songbook at http://www.melodylane.net
© MELODY LANE: Custom MP3 Music Sing Along Songbook With Lyrics public domain, Illustrated
http://www.melodylane.net
Melody Lane is an MP3 Music Sing Along Song web site featuring vintage public domain music, lyrics, recordings, with song pages adorned with beautiful vintage graphics, and offering public domain sheet music for download
April 11, 2012 at 2:24 pm
J. G. Burdette
Assistant radio operator Harold Bride said he heard ‘Autumn’. which some believe is ‘Songe d’Automne’. Still others hold that it was Nearer My God to Thee. In Titanic and Other Ships, Titanic’s 1st officer, Charles Lightoller said he heard jazz. And then there’s still others who say the band played ragtime songs.