John Twiname Gardner

John Twiname Gardner born South Molton 2 August 1854 died Kensington 15 February 1914. General Practitioner and Composer of much published parlour and light music. From 1888 to 1903 he worked as a family doctor in Ilfracombe, North Devon, where he conducted the local choral society and was generally a mainstay of musical life in the town. He was the grandfather of the well-known composer John Gardner.

There is something of a mystery surrounding the White Star Polka March which is said to have been the theme tune of the Cunard White Star line and in the library of the orchestra on The Titanic. It has been recorded a number of times including the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and an album assembled by Ian Whitcomb of music played on the Titanic. However the music recorded is neither a march nor a polka and it bears no resemblance to the printed sheet music which is in the possession of the composer's Great Grandson.

List of published compositions

Instrumental Works

Bella Vista (Valse)
Britannia - a Patriotic Selection - Francis Day and Hunter (1901)
Carissima (Waltz) - Francis Day and Hunter (1897)
Celestine (Valse) - Francis Brothers and Day
Cherie (Valse) - Francis Brothers and Day
Clair de Lune (Valse) -Francis Brothers and Day
Danse des Lutins - Francis Brothers and Day
Ma Vie (Valse) -Frances Day and Hunter
Marjorie (Gavotte) - Francis Brothers and Day
Mavourneen (Waltz)- Francis Day and Hunter (1899)
Minuet in A -Willcocks and Co
The Pullman Express (Descriptive galop) - Francis Day and Hunter (1904)
Querida (Valse) - Francis Day and Hunter (1892)
Le Reve d'Amour - Francis Brothers and Day
White Star (Polka March) - Francis Day and Hunter

Vocal Works

Against the Stream
The Better Land - Willcocks & Co. The Children's Prayer
Caught at Last - Willcocks & Co.
Come May with all thy flowers - Marriott & Williams
Come back my love to me - Marriott & Williams
Dearest to me - Willcocks & Co.
The Drummer Boy - W.W. Warne
God Bless the Royal Pair - Twiss & Sons, Ilfracombe (1893)
God Save the King - Novello & Co.
Jesu, Lover of my Soul - Willcocks & Co.
The Merry Muleteer - Marriott & Williams (1892)
Old Friends - Marriott & Williams
Peaceful be thy sleeping - Willcocks & Co.
The Roseate Hues - Willcocks & Co.
The song we ne'er may sing -B. Mocatta & Co.
We Fear no Foreign Foe - Marriott & Williams
Zingarella - J.B. Cramer & Co.

^{[1] [2]}