The T.O.

(the Titanic Orchestra) 

Above: The brave members of the Titanic orchestra (Top row L-R: Clarke, Taylor. Middle row L-R: Krins, Hartley, Brailey. Bottom row L-R: Hume, Woodward), from The Illustrated London News, May 1912. Bricoux is not shown.

Titanic Musicians

Theodore Ronald Brailey – Pianist (aged 24)

Roger Marie Bricoux – Cellist (aged 20)

John Frederick Preston Clarke – Bassist (aged 30)

Wallace Hartley – Bandmaster, Violinist (aged 33)

John Law Hume – Violinist (aged 21)

Georges Alexandre Krins – Violinist (aged 23)

Percy Cornelius Taylor – Cellist (aged 32)

John Wesley Woodward – Cellist (aged 32)

    Many brave things were done that night, but none were more brave than those done by men playing minute after minute as the ship settled quietly lower and lower in the sea. -Lawrence Beesley, Titanic survivor

100% – the number of these musicians who perished. Showing great courage, and looking to soothe the nerves of others, all 8 are believed to have continued playing as the crew loaded the lifeboats.

1 shilling – the monthly salary of a Titanic band member.

352 – the number of songs contained within a book of music given out to First Class passengers. The musicians were expected to know them all, in case passengers made requests.

*All data for this topic was gathered from only one source, and thusly has not been verified, but it does serve the intentions of my use of it here.  https://titanicfacts.net/titanic-orchestra/

I think that given the reality of the situation only a few options seem worth considering.  After having given it some consideration, about a decade of mindful consideration, I came to the position that the example set by this small group of musicians would be a good model for how I might proceed as I come face to face with what we have sown, and what we are in the midst of.  So onward I go, trying to provoke smiles, and lightness of heart.  Yesterday I watched a grown woman dancing thru a farmer's market to my music and giving me a big thumbs up, smile beaming from her face.  I saw little kids, nervously approach my guitar case and drop in a dollar that their mother's had provided, make eye contact with me, and then scamper off with a grin.

    What else is there to do, given the reality of the situation?

From: https://guymcpherson.com/only-love-remains/

After all, as I’ve known for a long time, birth is lethal. Nobody gets out alive, a notion that applies to cultures and species as well as individuals. My perceived lack of empathy led some to conclude I was a sociopath. Or a psychopath. My two-sizes-too-small brain can’t customarily distinguish the two. Those insulting me cannot distinguish between sociopathy and psychopathy, either.

Long familiar with his talent as a guitarist, I didn’t think the words of Jimi Hendrix applied to my world: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.” Recently I’ve begun to question my earlier sentiments.

    I suppose if I ever had a band I might have called it "The STO" the acronym for "The Sinking of the Titanic Orchestra".

I'll keep playing as long as it's fun, and then I might do an encore.

Peace