Most people know the story of the sinking of the Titanic… and that the band played on nobly as the ship went down. What you may not know is that the band leader – Wallace Hartley – was a former member of the Phil.
He appears to have joined the orchestra in 1895 as one of the First Violins and is recorded as having attended rehearsals during the 1896/7 season.
In the 1897/8 season he didn’t attend rehearsals – hence the note on the left.
Addressed to Mr Hartley at his home in Somerset Road, and dated December 1898, it reads: “Dear Sir, The committee of the Philharmonic Soc wish to know if they can rely upon your attendance at the rehearsals and concerts in future.”
He did rehearse again with the orchestra in the following season, but after that we lose track of him. Sadly, the archives don’t confirm which concerts he may have played in.
We seem to have lost the title reference. It relates to an album by American singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, whom I once had the pleasure of interviewing while we shared the pot. I hasten to add that it was a pot of tea!