Nearer My God To Thee Tune: Bethany: All Saints Church Oystermouth Swansea

For my next video here on the Organ at All Saints Church is the hymn "Nearer My God To Thee" to the tune Bethany.
I done a version of this on this Organ here a few years ago and had thousands of views and "hits" using my one camera but this is an updated one. So lets make this one better folks!
This piece was well known in the 1997 Film Titanic as the last piece long before the boat sank.
These video recordings take a huge amount of time to make and Edit, using 3 Cameras Panasonic HC V720, Panasonic HDC SD200, Panasonic HDC SD9 and now the ZoomH2n to capture the generous audio of this fine organ, so please show your support.
For more information on the Organ and Church please Visit:
www.oystermouthparish.com
Many thanks
Rob

[@simonmack782]

Played at my wife passing 10-2-2012 we were together 52 years brings tears to eyes.

[@RobCharles1981]

Thanks Simon I'm sure your wife would have loved it.

[@Elizabeth42069]

i am so sorry for your loss.

[@jodycarter2271]

Iam so sorry for your loss as soon as I read that I started bawling I'm sorry and GOD Bless ❣️🙏❣️❣️

[@mikebledig7208]

The tears coming while I was listening to you play this. Oh how I wish I could play like you

[@RobCharles1981]

Many thanks Mike!

[@abrahamgideon]

Big in size and spirit and majestic sound - the organ is the instrument that God gave to show us how his voice sounds.

[@RobCharles1981]

That's very true! :-)

[@KayJayKe]

Oh how I love this hymn Oh how I love this hymn played on the organ! God has blessed me through you. Praise His Name. ...my song shall be Nearer my God to Thee

[@victoragyei818]

Hi Rob, God bless you for this powerful rendition. Touches my heart to the very core, and is a great inspiration to me as an upcoming organist. You have such great talent. Such a true master of the greatest Instrument you are. PS. I'm playing this for Introit on Sunday.

[@RobCharles1981]

Many thanks Victor, hope it goes well! :-)

[@joecollins8387]

Beautiful nicely played Rob God bless you

[@RobCharles1981]

Thanks Joe! :-)

[@RobCharles1981]

Thanks Joe!

[@spencerhauck690]

My favorite hymn. This particular hymn (in f major) was played at my grandpa's funeral and it still brings s tear to me this very day.

[@RobCharles1981]

Thanks for that!

[@hloydwilliamsjr4971]

VERY GOOD ROB, A GREAT BLESSING! YOU JUST ABOUT MAKE THE ORGAN SING.

[@RobCharles1981]

Many thanks!

[@charliechats9910]

"Bethany" is a great Tune, Rob. I'd agree with David, you younger lads at the Organ are doing a fine job keeping it alive. It's such a bonnie, haunting Tune. God bless you, lads. Charlie, Aberdeen

[@RobCharles1981]

Thanks Charlie!

[@deonlysirjojoaddison5133]

Rob nice tunes. I have enjoyed it here in Ghana and I must say they are heart-field. Kudos

[@RobCharles1981]

Many thanks for that! :o)

[@joecollins8387]

It's that powerful and emotional tune

[@RobCharles1981]

Thanks Joe!

[@joecollins8387]

Downloaded the hymns and I now can sing along

[@RobCharles1981]

Many thanks! :-)

[@trevortomah8508]

This is so sacredly blessed, all glory be to ADONAI.

[@RobCharles1981]

Thank You!

[@jodycarter2271]

Absolutely beautiful I loved it the performance was magnificent ❤️❤️❤️

[@RobCharles1981]

Thank you so much!!

[@Zebra902]

Love this hymn,,,,,,,,when I die I want this at my funeral. You plyed this beautifully.

[@RobCharles1981]

Many thanks!

[@joecollins8387]

Me it to

[@rhondajohnson2512]

Just beautiful love this song

[@RobCharles1981]

Thank You! :-)

[@ernestando8881]

Hi Rob. I don't know you. But thanks for the way you play this divin hymn. God bless you!

[@RobCharles1981]

Many thanks for that! :-)

[@joecollins8387]

Thanks to God for your wonderful organ playing

[@RobCharles1981]

Thanks Joe!

[@cornwall59]

i think thanks to us organists this fine tune is coming back into fashion this sounds lovely Rob.

[@RobCharles1981]

Many thanks Dave, I agree too :o)

[@dafyddjones1525]

Hi Rob, Bethany - always the popular choice for this hymn. Daniel our son mentioned that it was sung on the Titanic when it was sinking, if true, it must have been heart rending at that time. Nicely played Rob. Thank you. Dafydd and family.

[@RobCharles1981]

+Dafydd Jones Many thanks Dafydd - Dan your son is right this was indeed sung when the Titanic was sinking.

[@anshulhandoo4571]

Yeah it is d only hymn played when Titanic was sinking... it really touches the core of my heart... God bless to him...

[@rymeintrinseca]

A lovely hymn, makes me think of Great Grandfather, he disliked to hear this hymn as he was on board the titanic and it was the last song the band played as titanic went down. I guess it stayed with him all his life, he was an organist in my chapel before my grandad and Was a founder member of the chapel in the village.

[@RobCharles1981]

Many thanks!

[@x-fun3149]

The last song played on the Titanic was Songe d'Autumne, so I guess your dad must have gotten off as Nearest my God to Thee was playing

[@scotttee1581]

@@x-fun3149 that song is also contested as to what was played. There doesn't appear to be a clear indication of what was played.

[@bjoeljones]

Brilliant video, Rob. That organ sounds wonderful. Tangnefedd.

[@RobCharles1981]

:-)

[@johnlongwell8839]

Fantastic music!!

[@RobCharles1981]

+john longwell Many thanks!

[@davidjohnson4564]

Thank youi. For your interpretation, for many of the registrations you choose, for giving those of us who aren't organists an opportunity to hear this instrument, for your dedication. Always a pleasure. Do, please, stick with it. I trust you've begun working up the Widor?? Best regards from an old "Yank" from across the pond...

[@RobCharles1981]

Thank you very much David, I will get round to tackling the widor at some stage :o)

[@joecollins8387]

Brings a tear to my eye

[@RobCharles1981]

Thanks Joe!

[@007vauxhall]

Nicely filmed Rob, sounded very nice too :-)

[@RobCharles1981]

Cheers Paul Sounded very also! :o)

[@arthurjdale8684]

Will sing this when I get round to it :-)

[@RobCharles1981]

Crack On KA! :o)

[@tonybarde2572]

The ship rapidly filled up with water. Panicked Passengers desperately tried to reach a lifeboat. Others chose to jump overboard into the freezing water. The ship's band played this hymn right as a huge wave swept them away.

[@RobCharles1981]

So Sad this they will always be remembered.

[@tonybarde2572]

@@RobCharles1981 RIP those lost on the RMS Titanic

[@joecollins8387]

I purchased a few hymns books through Google

[@RobCharles1981]

Thats Cool Joe! :-)

[@joecollins8387]

Lovely hymn but it's emotional especially if it was sung on the titanic

[@RobCharles1981]

That's right, thanks.

[@Parlophonic]

Horbury is THE tune! Just because the Yanks made the film Titanic, they used their own tune. See the British film A Night To Remember and you come to something nearer the truth. However, Rob, you have dealt with this interloper in a most sensitive fashion.

[@RobCharles1981]

Thanks very much! But this is the tune we all know it as :)

[@Parlophonic]

All together now: Oh no it isn't!! Hahahhaha

[@RobCharles1981]

Oh Yes It is!

[@David-sv7by]

@@RobCharles1981 There is disagreement about this but I would say that the Leader of the Band on Titanic was a FREE Methodist from Lancashire. I do not know which hymn book they used but probably not the Wesleyan Methodist one which would have "Horbury". Free Methodists might have used the more evangelical American tune Bethany by Lowell Mason. There is a music professor who has gone into this issue very deeply. By the way I am from Southampton and many many men drowned on that ship which had a huge affect here. Even my great grandfather was due to be on her to the extent that the neighbours came around to commiserate; however due to a re-arrangement...very common then.....he was in bed at home. He became a Chief Bedroom Steward on Olympic though. I have many hymn books from years ago and there are many other tunes used including one called LIVERPOOL.

[@David-sv7by]

Some say that Proprior Deo (Sullivan) was played on Titanic at the end. This has similarities to Bethany but I am no musicologist so cannot comment . Wallace Hartley bandleader was an INDEPENDENT Methodist at Bethel Chapel in Colne, Lancs. That chapel is still in existence. Wallace had a father who was choirmaster and he introduced Proprior Deo to the chapel and choir in addition Wallace's fiance agrees that he would have played that tune. As Independent Methodists they may have been aware of the Sankey book; that had Bethany (Lowell Mason) as the Nearer to God tune. The Cellist was a Methodist as well but do not know which branch of Methodism he adhered to in 1912. I do not know the answer but there is much room for doubt.....I love all three main tunes and there were others used too in several denominations. On Sunday evening 14th.April 1912 there was a hymn singing service accompanied by a piano in the Second Class Dining Room and "For all those in Peril on the Sea" presumably to Melita was sung; very apt.

[@kelvinsmallwood6315]

not often heard, certainly not on an organ.

[@RobCharles1981]

Thanks!