8 Facts About Titanic Musicians You Should Know
As the Titanic sank, Wallace Hartley and his band played to calm passengers until the end. Their courage and sacrifice remain an enduring symbol of bravery.
The orchestra onboard the RMS Titanic included eight people who performed in two groups for most of the journey.
Wallace Hartley was a violinist and the music band leader onboard the Titanic. He was a famous musician who had performed on ships like RMS Lusitania and Mauretania.
Till 1912, several cruise lines handled their musicians directly, signing them as crew members. Their pay was £6 10s. a month and a monthly allowance of 10s.
There have been many debates regarding their last song. A few survivors said it was the hymn, Nearer, My God to Thee, but there are three different versions of this hymn.
When the ship was sinking, the 8 band members arrived at the 1st-class lounge and played a musical style, ragtime, to prevent guests from panicking.
The band members played in two groups: a Quintet & a Trio, until the night the Titanic sank. They usually played at tea time, after dinner, & on Sundays.
After the death of 8 brave men, their families asked financial benefits. However, they were denied the same stating that musicians were 2nd-class passengers & were not covered.