From Southampton to the Depths of the Sea

A musician, composer and performer myself, I salute the brave orchestra members who played until the end after midnight on April 14, 1912, (one-hundred years ago), on board The Titanic.   This is just part of their story . . .


Pianist W. Theodore Ronald Brailey, age 24 of London, and cellist Roger Bricoux, age 20 of Lille, France had previously served together on the Cunard steamer Carpathia before signing on with the White Star Line. On April 10, 1912, embarquing from Southampton, Brailey and Bricoux joined cellists Percy Cornelius Taylor, age 32 of London and John Wesley Woodward, age 32 of Oxfordshire; bass violist John Frederick Preston Clarke, age 30 of Liverpool; violinists Georges Alexandre Krins, age 23 of Belgium, John Law Hume, age 29 of Dumfries and Wallace Hartley, age 33 of Dewsbury. Wallace Henry Hartley was also the bandmaster and no stranger to the sea and cruise ships who hired entertainers.

They had all been acquired by C.W. and F.N. Black, a booking agency located in London. Musicians engaged on such ships as the Lusitania, Oceanic and Carpathia would be paid when the White Star Line would pay the agency. Until 1912, musicians were paid 6 pounds and 10 shillings a month plus a monthly uniform allowance of 10 shillings. Then the rates were cut to 4 pounds a month with no uniform allowance. Each man hired to perform on the Titanic was registered on the same ticket: 250654 with accommodations in cabin E, second class.

The Worchester Evening Gazette published an article on the Titanic’s perilous voyage, quoting survivor Miss Hilda Slater . . .
                                 “The orchestra played until the last. From the moment the vessel struck, or as soon as the members of the orchestra could be collected, there was a steady round of lively airs. It did much to keep up the spirits of everyone and probably served as much as the efforts of the officers trying to prevent panic."

Other survivors from the lifeboats recalled seeing the musicians standing in knee-deep water and hearing their performance echo into the night air of ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’, ‘Song d’Autumne’ and ‘Nearer My God to Thee', just moments before the great ship was swallowed.

Many often wonder what went through the minds of these courageous and noble musicians. In 1910, Georges Krins entered as first violin at Le Trianon Lyrique in Paris. After that, he traveled to London and played 2 years at the Ritz Hotel until March 1912. The following month, he was recruited by C.W. & F.N. Black in Liverpool to play on the Titanic, while serving as bandmaster of the Trio String Orchestra playing near the Café Français.

The body of John "Jock" Law Hume, was recovered wearing his uniform jacket with green facing and vest, a purple muffler and light raincoat. John Clarke had a crucifix tucked into his uniform pocket and wore a grey muffler and grey overcoat. Wallace Hartley had been a choirboy at the Bethel Independent Methodist Church in Lancashire, where they also held his funeral. He had worked on the Cunard Liner Mauretania before leaving to become bandmaster on the Titanic and planned to return to his fiancée in Yorkshire. John Wesley Woodward joined the White Star Line in 1909 with his first voyage being to Jamaica. He made a number of journeys across the Atlantic, and three across the Mediterranean.

Aforementioned, the bodies of three of the eight band members, Clarke, Hartley and Hume were eventually recovered. The other five were lost to the depths of the icy Atlantic or if recovered, unidentified.  May their souls and songs play on forever.


Nearer My God to Thee

Nearer, my God to Thee, Nearer to Thee
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone
Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee

There let my way appear steps unto heaven
All that Thou sendest me in mercy given
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee

Words: Sarah Adams, 1841. Music: Lowell Mason, 1856