Olden-days MOB practice - with a violin

[tcm]

In the good ole days the crew and captain went down with the ship! None of that dreadful MOB drill practise, and anyway, only a cad would learn to swim.

So, in readiness for a true traditional sea disaster or perhaps even just a minor mishap, I have practiced a rather wonderful version of “Nearer My God To Thee” for an upcoming sailing trip. Solo notes for the first pass and then an octave higher and double stopped for second time through. It was originally for a quartet, but traditionally played solo violin as the Very Last Piece before the boat goes down - the rest of the quartet escaped with three of them floating away on the 'cello with 2nd violin and viola as paddles. True story. Maybe.

Anyway, playing “Nearer My God To Thee” is bound to add a bit of zest and urgency to collecting fenders out of the sea. No?

 

[Spuddy]

I'd like to do "What a waste" as a down with ship accompaniment but doesn't really work on a tenor horn (brass band instrument). There's be some bubbles as I submerged but might get squid type propulsion for a bit.

 

[AndrewB]

Something a bit more secular for me, I'll go down to the tune of Clara Smith "Shipwreck Blues".

Oh, the gale is raging and my ship's without a sail
If the wind keeps on a-blowing, I won't be left to tell the tale.

Now the ship is sinking and the lightning struck the mast
And my crew is done deserted, I've got to stick here to the last.

No, I don't mind drowning, but the water is so cold
If I must leave this good world, I wanna leave it brave and bold.

Mama's shipwrecked, shipwrecked, she ain't got no time to lose
Lord, if someone don't save me, I'll go down singing the shipwrecked blues.

 

[tcm]

Well, i checked “Shipwreck Blues" on Youtube - it’s a bit miserable? I mean, really miserable? Okay, yes the ship is going down but i think this is a bit melodramatic and OTT?

However, since the "boat sinking" thing might take a while, i will take any requests, and thanks for the extended repertoire tip. Maybe they play the sad stuff to get a few more to chuck themselves in anyway?

I suppose one can see how the violinist ended up going down with the ship - people making requests for extra-miserable songs ... and then aha! - hoiking off in a lifeboat while the violin guy is trying to find the right key or playing the third verse ...