***
A larger than expected post, but a good one - I feel.
Similar in content to the previous two posts of:
in which we compared two songs - their common origins and their eventual, different finished versions. This time, the post involves the controversy concerning which was the last song played by the heroic band on the RMS Titanic, as she sank.**
Was it?:
-Nearer My God To Thee ( Sarah Flower Adams )
or
-Songe d'Automne ( Archibald Joyce )
**Regardless of which song was played, the band members helped maintain calm on board the doomed vessel as she slipped under the waves, and probably helped save many lives. All of the Titanic's Orchestra perished in the catastrophe.**
The members:
Wallace Hartley (33 y.o.) - band leader/violinist
Roger Bricoux (20 y.o.) - cellist
Theodore Brailey (24 y.o.) - pianist
John Woodward (32 y.o.) - cellist
John Clarke (30 y.o.) - bassist
Georges Krins (23 y.o.) - violinist
Percy Taylor (32 y.o.) - cellist
John Hume (21 y.o.) - violinist
All of them very young
.
and here are the two famous songs:
Nearer My God to Thee
.
Songe d'Automne
Conflicting accounts from survivors, recalled either of these tunes being played, but with no single testimony being for certain. There was much confusion and panic - well duhhh - and the eyewitness accounts, by many of the survivors, turned out to be inaccurate.
 |
| "Well now, let me think.....I SAY OLD BOY!, is that Nearer My God to Thee I hear?" |
However, many historians speculate, that the popular waltz of the day - Songe d'Automne, was more than likely, the last song the orchestra played. The Titanic's wireless operator - Harold Bride recalled hearing this song being played.
Oh, and as I see it, the somber hymn - Nearer My God to Thee would probably have been a little too much to bear by the passengers. ( we're all going to die!!!!!!!! )
However, former band mates of William Hartley ( the band master ) claimed that Hartley had always said, that if he was ever on a sinking ship, that he would play either: Nearer My God to Thee or O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Also, the church where Hartley and his family attended, was introduced to the hymn Nearer My God to Thee, by none other than Hartley himself..... hmmmm
 |
| Titanic Musician's Memorial (Southampton) |
Both pieces of music are very beautiful.
Nearer My God to Thee with it's heart-breaking lament
Songe d'Automne and it's ageless melody.
***This is the famous violin, last played by band master Wallace Hartley as the Titanic sank. It was found in a music case, strapped to his body. It sold at auction Oct 19 2013 for $1,454,400
Thanks To:
- Wikipedia
- YouTube
- Titanic.com
- GoogleImages
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