Ian Whitcomb and His Orchestra

I have both of Whitcomb's CD's, "Titanic--Music As Heard On The Fateful Voyage" as performed by the White Star Orchestra and "Titanic Tunes-- A Sing-A-Long In Steerage". First, I would highly recommend both of these CD's to get a view of what the different classes listened to. The first one is entirely instrumental and the second is a sing-a-long to popular songs from British Music Halls. It would have been nice however to have heard some of the lyrics on the instrumental album. Didn't anyone sing in First Class?
 
Probably not, except at the Sunday service.

The band played mostly arrangements of popular songs and light classics. They were not intended for sing-along performance. I can't imagine the Countess of Rothes and Margaret Brown warbling their way through the Barcarolle from The Tales of Hoffman, to the applause of Bruce Ismay.
 
Curiously enough, it seems that "Titanic (1953)" nitpick about the Wagner-Dalton dance scene wasn't really valid. ;-(

It seems that "Oh,That Navajo Rag !" was really and truly on the hit parade ca. 1911-1912.
;-)

And "I'm Off To Philadelphia In The Mornin'" on ANTR was also authentic.
 
Here is a link to Ian's web site--

http://www.picklehead.com/ian.html

I think I would have belonged singing popular tunes along with everyone in steerage, they knew how to throw a party! Harold Bride, the young marconi operator, described the merriment of the lower class lounge aboard the Titanic:

"Yes, it was all there, all the answers we seek, in that third class lounge on that ship of champagne and rivets. I like to believe that somewhere today the ship and the show continues to sail and that someday I'll catch up with them and all and then what a merry old time we'll have!"

I can hear them singing "Beer, Beer, Glorious Beer drink yourself right up to hear!"

Cheers
 
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