The Lost Chord

Sir Arthur Sullivan (13 May 1842 – 22 November 1900) British composer noted for his famous works as one half of Gilbert and Sullivan.

Here is my meagre attempt at Sir Arthur Sullivan's beautiful song 'The Lost Chord' modified from an organ score I have.

He wrote it at the bedside of his dying brother in 1877. Sullivan was proud of the song and later noted: "I have composed much music since then, but have never written a second Lost Chord." The song became the biggest commercial success of any British or American song of the 1870s and 1880s.

In 1888 he recorded it for Thomas Edison's new phonograph machine. He said of the machine:

"I can only say that I am astonished and somewhat terrified at the result of this evening's experiments: astonished at the wonderful power you have developed, and terrified at the thought that so much hideous and bad music may be put on record forever. But all the same I think it is the most wonderful thing that I have ever experienced, and I congratulate you with all my heart on this wonderful discovery."

I fear he is right about the hideous and bad music especially which makes millions these days... We now have the internet and computers to record and share things and I hope my rendition doesn't fall under the "hideous" category! I have been influenced by Virgil Fox's version as well as a couple of others I have heard including one with a choir so have taken the best bits I liked. My swell pedal is out of action at the moment so sorry about the lack of dynamics apart from stop changes.

Hope you enjoy.
John