Waterlogged Cast Heard ‘Nearer My God ‘

Re: Ian Whitcomb’s “Titanic Sank With a Waltz, Not a Hymn” (Counterpunch, Jan. 12), may I offer a final note? As the film’s credited historical music advisor and the producer-arranger of the recordings of the re-created Titanic orchestra used in the film, I was well aware of the diligent research undertaken by Whitcomb, who was one of the film’s consultants.

During our research, we discovered that “Nearer My God to Thee” was so popular in its day that its lyrics had been set to no fewer than four melodies. We initially elected to record the version likely to have been most familiar to the Titanic musicians. However, “Titanic” director James Cameron did not favor this composition, so recordings of three other versions were dispatched from England to Mexico, where the film was being made.

I learned of his decision at 3 o’clock one morning, when Cameron insisted I sing the entire lyric (to the chosen tune) to him and--via megaphone--to thousands of extras flailing in the giant water tank.

Notwithstanding Whitcomb’s personal conviction that the hymn wouldn’t have been played as the ship sank, none of us will ever really know for sure.

JOHN ALTMAN

London