The Orchestra

The orchestra on the Titanic was comprised of eight members:

John Woodward (cello), George Krins (violin), John Clarke (double bass), Percy Taylor (piano), Roger Bricoux (cello), Theo Brailey (piano), John Hume (violin), and Wallace Hartley (bandmaster & violin)

The band had no survivors and only 3 of their bodies were recovered

Before being on the boat, none of the musicians had ever played together before

Until the night of the sinking, the orchestra performed as two separate entities: a quintet led by Wallace Hartley, that played at teatime, after-dinner concerts, and Sunday services, among other occasions; and a violin, cello, and piano trio comprising Roger Bricoux, George Krins, and Theodore Brailey, that played at the À La Carte Restaurant and the Café Parisien.

View White Star Line's in-house music book here

Read a poem about the musicians here

Infamously, the band played on the deck of the Titanic as everyone aboard scrambled to the lifeboats. This is often viewed as a touching, heroic act by the musicians who were committed to their music and easing the minds of passengers till the very end.

However, some believe that the music may have accidentally endangered more lives, as passengers felt there was nothing wrong and did not urgently board the boats.

There are also debates on what song the band played last. Many claimed it was the hymn "Nearer my God to Thee" and others claimed it was "Autumn". The musical features the song Autumn, and while it does not include Nearer My God to Thee the musical does include its own hymn.

Click here to read a positive take on the power of music

Click here to read a negative perspective on a false sense of security

“London’s classical music community duly paid homage to them in an extraordinary Royal Albert Hall concert in late May 1912, for the Titanic Relief Fund.”

London Symphony Orchestra was originally booked on Titanic until its North American touring schedule conflict.

Wallace Hartley was the sole victim to be returned to the UK for a funeral, and his violin survived and was sold for 1.7M