Georges Alexandre Krins
Encyclopedia
Georges Alexandre Krins was a Belgian violin
ist on the on its maiden voyage. He died in the disaster.
, France. His family was from Belgium
and soon after his birth they moved back there to the town of Spa
. He first studied at Academie de Musique de Spa. He then moved to the Conservatoire Royal de Musique in Liège
, Belgium where he studied from 30 October 1902 until 1908 where he won first prize for violin
, with the highest distinction
As a young man he wanted to join the army, however his parents persuaded him otherwise. He worked in his father's shop and played in La Grande Symphonie, Spa
. In 1910, he moved to Paris
to be first violin at Le Trianon Lyrique. He subsequently moved to London and played for two years at the Ritz Hotel
until in March 1912. He lived at 10 Villa Road, Brixton
, London and became bandmaster of the Trio String Orchestra which played near the Café Français. This led to him being recruited by CW & FN Black, Liverpool
to play on the Titanic.
He boarded the Titanic on Wednesday 10 April 1912 in Southampton
, UK. His ticket number was 250654, the ticket for all the members of Wallace Hartley
's orchestra. His cabin was 2nd class and he was the only Belgian musician aboard the Titanic.
After the Titanic hit an iceberg and began to sink, Krins and his fellow band members assembled in the first class lounge and started playing music to help keep the passengers calm. They later moved to the forward half of the boat deck, where they continued to play as the crew loaded the lifeboat
s. Krins was 23 years old when he died. His body was never recovered.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist on the on its maiden voyage. He died in the disaster.
Life and career
Georges Alexandre Krins was born on 18 March 1889 in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France. His family was from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and soon after his birth they moved back there to the town of Spa
Spa, Belgium
Spa is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liège. It is situated in a valley in the Ardennes mountain chain, some southeast of Liège, and southwest of Aachen. As of 1 January 2006, Spa had a total population of 10,543...
. He first studied at Academie de Musique de Spa. He then moved to the Conservatoire Royal de Musique in Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, Belgium where he studied from 30 October 1902 until 1908 where he won first prize for violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, with the highest distinction
As a young man he wanted to join the army, however his parents persuaded him otherwise. He worked in his father's shop and played in La Grande Symphonie, Spa
Spa, Belgium
Spa is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liège. It is situated in a valley in the Ardennes mountain chain, some southeast of Liège, and southwest of Aachen. As of 1 January 2006, Spa had a total population of 10,543...
. In 1910, he moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to be first violin at Le Trianon Lyrique. He subsequently moved to London and played for two years at the Ritz Hotel
Ritz Hotel
The Ritz London is a luxury 5-star hotel located in Piccadilly and overlooking Green Park in London.- History :Swiss hotelier César Ritz, former manager of the Savoy Hotel, opened the hotel on 24 May 1906...
until in March 1912. He lived at 10 Villa Road, Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, London and became bandmaster of the Trio String Orchestra which played near the Café Français. This led to him being recruited by CW & FN Black, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to play on the Titanic.
He boarded the Titanic on Wednesday 10 April 1912 in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, UK. His ticket number was 250654, the ticket for all the members of Wallace Hartley
Wallace Hartley
Wallace Henry Hartley was an English violinist and bandleader on the on its maiden voyage. He became famous for leading the eight member band as the ship sank on 15 April 1912. He died in the sinking.-Life and career:...
's orchestra. His cabin was 2nd class and he was the only Belgian musician aboard the Titanic.
After the Titanic hit an iceberg and began to sink, Krins and his fellow band members assembled in the first class lounge and started playing music to help keep the passengers calm. They later moved to the forward half of the boat deck, where they continued to play as the crew loaded the lifeboat
Lifeboat (shipboard)
A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...
s. Krins was 23 years old when he died. His body was never recovered.