# The Lost Chord > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Lost_Chord > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Lost_Chord.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Chord > Source revision: 1326865562 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1877 song by Arthur Sullivan For other uses, see [The Lost Chord (disambiguation)](/source/The_Lost_Chord_(disambiguation)). [Victorian](/source/Victorian_era) postcard "**The Lost Chord**" is a song composed by [Arthur Sullivan](/source/Arthur_Sullivan) in 1877 at the bedside of his brother [Fred](/source/Fred_Sullivan) during Fred's last illness in [Fulham](/source/Fulham), West London, England. The manuscript is dated 13 January 1877; Fred Sullivan died five days later. The lyric was written as a poem by [Adelaide Anne Procter](/source/Adelaide_Anne_Procter) called "A Lost Chord", published in 1860 in *The English Woman's Journal*.[1] The song was immediately successful[2] and became particularly associated with American [contralto](/source/Contralto) [Antoinette Sterling](/source/Antoinette_Sterling), with Sullivan's close friend and mistress, [Fanny Ronalds](/source/Fanny_Ronalds), and with British contralto [Clara Butt](/source/Clara_Butt). Sullivan was proud of the song and later noted: "I have composed much music since then, but have never written a second Lost Chord."[3] Many singers have recorded the song, including [Enrico Caruso](/source/Enrico_Caruso), who sang it at the [Metropolitan Opera House](/source/Metropolitan_Opera_House_(39th_St)) on 29 April 1912 at a benefit concert for families of victims of the *[Titanic](/source/RMS_Titanic)* disaster.[4] The piece has endured as one of Sullivan's best-known songs, and the setting is still performed today.[5] ## Background The composer's brother, [Fred Sullivan](/source/Fred_Sullivan) In 1877, [Arthur Sullivan](/source/Arthur_Sullivan) was already Britain's foremost composer, having produced such critically praised pieces as his *[Irish Symphony](/source/Symphony_in_E%2C_Irish)*, his *[Overture di Ballo](/source/Overture_di_Ballo)*, many hymns and songs, such as "[Onward, Christian Soldiers](/source/Onward%2C_Christian_Soldiers)", and the popular short operas *[Cox and Box](/source/Cox_and_Box)* and *[Trial by Jury](/source/Trial_by_Jury)*. [Adelaide Anne Procter](/source/Adelaide_Anne_Procter) was an extremely popular poet in Britain, second in fame only to [Alfred Lord Tennyson](/source/Alfred_Lord_Tennyson).[5] On the early published sheet music for the song, Procter's name is written in larger letters than Sullivan's.[6] Sullivan's father's death had inspired him to write his *[Overture In C (In Memoriam)](/source/Overture_In_C_(In_Memoriam))* over a dozen years earlier.[7] The composer's brother, [Fred Sullivan](/source/Fred_Sullivan), was an actor who appeared mostly in [operettas](/source/Operetta) and [comic operas](/source/Comic_opera). The playwright [F. C. Burnand](/source/F._C._Burnand) wrote of Fred: "As he was the most absurd person, so was he the very kindliest. The brothers were devoted to each other, but Arthur went up, and poor little Fred went under."[8] Fred played roles in several of his brother's operas: *Cox and Box*, *[Thespis](/source/Thespis_(operetta))*, *[The Contrabandista](/source/The_Contrabandista)* and *Trial by Jury*. He fell ill in 1876 and died in January 1877.[9] During Fred's final illness, Arthur visited his brother frequently at his home on [King's Road](/source/King's_Road) in Fulham, London. The composer had tried to set Procter's poem to music five years previously but had not been satisfied by the effort.[10] As he had been inspired by his grief at the death of their father, he was again inspired to compose by his brother's decline. At Fred's bedside, he sketched out the music to *The Lost Chord*, and the manuscript is dated 13 January 1877, five days before Fred's death.[11][3] Although not written for sale, the song became the biggest commercial success of any British or American song of the 1870s and 1880s. The American [contralto](/source/Contralto) [Antoinette Sterling](/source/Antoinette_Sterling) premiered the piece on 31 January 1877 at a Boosey concert,[12] and she became one of its leading proponents,[10] as did Sullivan's close friend and sometime mistress, [Fanny Ronalds](/source/Fanny_Ronalds),[5] who often sang it at society functions.[11] Dame [Clara Butt](/source/Clara_Butt) recorded the song several times, and many famous singers recorded it, including [Enrico Caruso](/source/Enrico_Caruso) in 1912.[4][6] A copy of the music was buried with Ronalds, who bequeathed the manuscript to Butt in 1914. Butt's husband, [baritone](/source/Baritone) [Kennerley Rumford](/source/Kennerley_Rumford), gave the manuscript to the [Worshipful Company of Musicians](/source/Worshipful_Company_of_Musicians) in 1950.[13] Musicologist Derek B. Scott offers this analysis of the composition: The Lost Chord 1913 recording sung by Reed Miller Problems playing this file? See media help. Sullivan's setting is structurally sophisticated in its treatment of Procter's verses, and offers a contrast to ... simple [strophic](/source/Strophic) setting.... This demonstrates the variety of forms to be found in drawing-room ballads before there were moves toward greater homogeneity in the 1880s.... For the most part, the song steers clear of the predictable.... There are some delightful surprises, such as the sudden coloring of the harmony with the old church Mixolydian mode as the singer recounts the striking of the mysterious chord. Sullivan shows a thorough understanding of the possibilities of the piano, ranging widely across its compass and making powerful dynamic and textural contrasts. He also does a fine job of imitating an organ style in the introduction. Sullivan's compositional skill where words are concerned is evident in the way he treats the quatrains of Procter's poem ... creating a subtle musical structure that avoids an obviously sectional character, despite the poem's hymn-like form.[10] ## 1888 recording for Edison 1888 recording of Arthur Sullivan's "The Lost Chord" Recorded by George Gouraud, and played at the 14 August 1888 press conference that introduced the phonograph to London. Problems playing this file? See media help. In 1888, [Thomas Edison](/source/Thomas_Edison) sent his "Perfected" [Phonograph](/source/Phonograph) to Mr. [George Gouraud](/source/George_Edward_Gouraud) in London, England, and on 14 August 1888, Gouraud introduced the phonograph to London in a press conference, including the playing of a piano and cornet recording of Sullivan's "The Lost Chord", one of the first recordings of music ever made.[14] A series of parties followed, introducing the phonograph to members of society at the so-called "Little [Menlo](/source/Menlo_Park%2C_New_Jersey)" in London. Sullivan was invited to one of these on 5 October 1888. After dinner, he recorded a speech to be sent to Thomas Edison, saying, in part: 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.[14] These recordings were discovered in the Edison Library in New Jersey in the 1950s.[14] ## Text of Sullivan's setting The opening bars of "The Lost Chord"; facsimile of [Sullivan](/source/Arthur_Sullivan)'s manuscript The closing bars, with Sullivan's signature and the date "13 Jan. 1877" **The Lost Chord** Seated one day at the organ, I was weary and ill at ease, And my fingers wandered idly Over the noisy keys. I know not what I was playing, Or what I was dreaming then; But I struck one [chord of music](/source/Chord_(music)), Like the sound of a [great Amen](/source/Doxology). It flooded the crimson twilight, Like the close of an angel's psalm, And it lay on my fevered spirit With a touch of infinite calm. It quieted pain and sorrow, Like love overcoming strife; It seemed the [harmonious](/source/Harmony) echo From our [discordant](/source/Consonance_and_dissonance) life. It linked all perplexèd meanings Into one perfect peace, And trembled away into silence As if it were loth to cease. I have sought, but I seek it vainly, That one lost chord divine, Which came from the soul of the organ, And entered into mine. It may be that death's bright angel Will speak in that chord again, It may be that only in Heav'n I shall hear that grand Amen.[15] ## Cultural influence ### In film and television There have been at least six films titled *The Lost Chord*, as well as one titled *The Trail of the Lost Chord*.[16] In the 1999 film *[Topsy-Turvy](/source/Topsy-Turvy)*, a scene depicts Fanny Ronalds (played by [Eleanor David](/source/Eleanor_David)) facetiously introducing it as "a new composition" at an 1884 party at her house; she then sings it with Sullivan ([Allan Corduner](/source/Allan_Corduner)) at the piano and Walter Simmonds (Matthew Mills) at the [harmonium](/source/Harmonium).[6] Song cover for "That Lost Barber Shop Chord" The *[Strangers](/source/Strangers_(1978_TV_series))* TV series had an episode called "The Lost Chord".[17] ### Music [Jimmy Durante](/source/Jimmy_Durante) recorded a humorous song called "I'm the Guy Who Found the Lost Chord", which he also sings in the 1947 film *[This Time for Keeps](/source/This_Time_for_Keeps)*.[18] [George](/source/George_Gershwin) and [Ira Gershwin](/source/Ira_Gershwin) wrote a song called "That Lost Barber Shop Chord", which was included in their 1926 revue *Americana*.[19] [The Moody Blues](/source/The_Moody_Blues) produced an album called *[In Search of the Lost Chord](/source/In_Search_of_the_Lost_Chord)* in 1968. According to keyboardist [Mike Pinder](/source/Mike_Pinder), the title was inspired by the Durante song.[20] ### Literature and other The novel *Bad Wisdom* by [Bill Drummond](/source/Bill_Drummond) and [Mark Manning](/source/Mark_Manning) concerns their trip to the North Pole with an icon of Elvis to search for the Lost Chord.[21][*[page needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)*] [Edith Wharton](/source/Edith_Wharton)'s novel *[Ethan Frome](/source/Ethan_Frome)* contains references to the song. In [Isaac Asimov](/source/Isaac_Asimov)'s [Black Widowers](/source/Black_Widowers) story "The Quiet Place" (*[Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine](/source/Ellery_Queen's_Mystery_Magazine)*, March 1988), the traditional "Guest" of the Black Widowers hums this tune all through a dinner. [Caryl Brahms](/source/Caryl_Brahms) wrote a 1975 book called *Gilbert and Sullivan: Lost Chords and Discords*.[22][*[page needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)*] ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Proctor, Adelaide Anne. "The Lost Chord", *The English Woman's Journal*, March 1860, p. 36 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Jacobs, p. 2 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Archive1_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Archive1_3-1) ["The Lost Chord"](https://gsarchive.net/sullivan/songs/lost_chord/chord.html), *The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive*, accessed 13 August 2014 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Caruso_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Caruso_4-1) [1912 Caruso recording](http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/lost_chord_caruso.html), Encyclopedia-titanica.org, 2005, accessed 28 August 2014 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AMG_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AMG_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-AMG_5-2) ["The Lost Chord, song for voice & piano"](http://www.classicalarchives.com/work/197215.html#about)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*], All Music Guide, ClassicalArchives.net, 2008 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Buckley_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Buckley_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Buckley_6-2) Buckley, Jack. ["In Search of The Lost Chord"](http://www.musicweb-international.com/sandh/2009/Jul-Dec09/sullivan_chord.htm). MusicWeb International, accessed 22 June 2014 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "Norwich Music Festival", *The Observer*, 4 November 1866, p. 6 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** *Quoted*, in Ayer, p. 408 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Stone, David. [Fred Sullivan](https://www.gsarchive.net/whowaswho/S/SullivanFrederic.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060906063245/https://www.gsarchive.net/whowaswho/S/SullivanFrederic.htm) 6 September 2006 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 21 July 2009, accessed 21 October 2015 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Scott_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Scott_10-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Scott_10-2) Scott, Derek B. ["The Musical Soirée: Rational Amusement in the Home"](http://www.victorianweb.org/mt/parlorsongs/scott1.html), *The Victorian Web*, 2004, accessed 30 September 2009 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Ainger128_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Ainger128_11-1) Ainger, pp. 128–29. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** "London Ballad Concerts", *[The Graphic](/source/The_Graphic)*, 3 February 1877, issue 375 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Mackie, David. *Arthur Sullivan and The Royal Society of Musicians*, The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain, 2006, p. 143 [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9509481-3-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9509481-3-6) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Edison_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Edison_14-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Edison_14-2) [Historic Sullivan Recordings](https://gsarchive.net/sullivan/html/historic.html), *The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive*, accessed 13 August 2014 1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** In Procter's original poem, titled "A Lost Chord", the second verse begins "I do not know", the sixth verse has "and" instead of "but", and "Heaven" is spelled out in the last verse. The British Library holds copies of ten other settings by various composers, and most of these change the title to "The" rather than "A" Lost Chord, and also change Procter's *and* to *but* in the sixth verse, among other changes. See ["Lost Chord"](https://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?fn=search&ct=search&initialSearch=true&mode=Basic&tab=primo_central&indx=1&dum=true&srt=rank&vid=BLVU1&frbg=&tb=t&vl%28freeText0%29=%22Lost+Chord%22+procter&scp.scps=primo_central_multiple_fe&vl%28297891280UI0%29=any&vl%28297891280UI0%29=title&vl%28297891280UI0%29=any), The British Library, accessed 19 February 2023 1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [The Internet Movie Database listing of films called *The Lost Chord*](https://www.imdb.com) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [Information about the TV episode called "The Lost Chord"](http://www.tv.com/shows/strangers/the-lost-chord-222789/) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Durante, Jimmy. ["I'm the Guy Who Found the Lost Chord"](https://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/IqKE_fF0k18), [NME](/source/NME) magazine, IPC Media Entertainment Network, retrieved 31 December 2012 1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Jablonski, Edward. ["*Gershwin: With a New Critical Discography*"](https://books.google.com/books?id=wCPPPHM44sIC&pg=PA379), Da Capo Press, 1988 1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** [Moody Blues documentary, 2013](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aCbxoiJBAY) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** [Drummond, Bill](/source/Bill_Drummond); [Manning, Mark](/source/Mark_Manning) (1996). *Bad Wisdom*. London: [Penguin Books](/source/Penguin_Books). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0140261189](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0140261189). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** [Brahms, Caryl](/source/Caryl_Brahms). *Gilbert and Sullivan: Lost Chords and Discords*, Boston: Little, Brown and Company (1975) ## References - Ainger, Michael (2002). *Gilbert and Sullivan – A Dual Biography*. Oxford: [Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-19-514769-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-19-514769-3). - Ayre, Leslie (1974). *The Gilbert & Sullivan Companion*. London: W.H. Allen & Co Ltd. Introduction by [Martyn Green](/source/Martyn_Green). - [Jacobs, Arthur](/source/Arthur_Jacobs) (1984). [*Arthur Sullivan: A Victorian Musician*](https://archive.org/details/arthursullivanvi00jaco). Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-19-315443-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-19-315443-9). - [Information about Procter and the song](https://web.archive.org/web/20050216012325/http://www.wolaver.org/Music/lostchord.htm) ## External links - [History and autographed manuscript](http://www.wcomarchive.org.uk/---the-lost-chord) at The Musicians' Company Archive - [Vocal score](http://vmirror.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/7/78/IMSLP75214-SIBLEY1802.9325.6abd-39087012060879score.pdf) at IMSLP - ["The Lost Chord"](http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/l/o/s/t/lostchor.htm) at The Cyber Hymnal - ["The Lost Chord"](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10309) at [Project Gutenberg](/source/Project_Gutenberg) **Performances** - ["The Lost Chord"](http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/lost_chord_caruso.html) link to recording of the song being sung by [Enrico Caruso](/source/Enrico_Caruso) - *[The Lost Chord](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXJeFNo6zGY)* sung by Dame [Clara Butt](/source/Clara_Butt) - [Derek B. Scott singing Sullivan's setting, and information about it](http://www.victorianweb.org/mt/parlorsongs/5.html) - [Richard Holmes singing Sullivan's setting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHH7hc2egAo) v t e Arthur Sullivan List of compositions Critical reputation Operas The Sapphire Necklace Cox and Box The Contrabandista Thespis Trial by Jury The Zoo The Sorcerer H.M.S. Pinafore The Pirates of Penzance Patience Iolanthe Princess Ida The Mikado Ruddigore The Yeomen of the Guard The Gondoliers Ivanhoe Haddon Hall Utopia, Limited The Chieftain The Grand Duke The Beauty Stone The Rose of Persia The Emerald Isle Incidental music to plays The Tempest The Merchant of Venice The Merry Wives of Windsor Henry VIII Macbeth The Foresters Ballets L'Île Enchantée Victoria and Merrie England Orchestral works Symphony in E, "Irish" Overture in C, "In Memoriam" Cello Concerto Overture di Ballo Choral works with orchestra The Masque at Kenilworth The Prodigal Son On Shore and Sea Festival Te Deum The Light of the World The Martyr of Antioch The Golden Legend Te Deum Laudamus Song cycle The Window Church music "Christ Is Risen! Christ Is Risen!" "I Will Mention the Loving-kindnesses" "Nearer, My God, to Thee" "Onward, Christian Soldiers" Other songs "The Absent-Minded Beggar" "The Long Day Closes" "The Lost Chord" Family, partners and assistants Gilbert and Sullivan Wilfred Bendall F. C. Burnand J. Comyns Carr Helen Carte Alfred Cellier Francois Cellier Hamilton Clarke Eugene d'Albert Richard D'Oyly Carte W. S. Gilbert Sydney Grundy Basil Hood Arthur Wing Pinero Fanny Ronalds Julian Sturgis Fred Sullivan Herbert Sullivan Portrayals Portrait of Arthur Sullivan (1888 painting) Category Authority control databases MusicBrainz work --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Lost Chord](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Chord) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Chord?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.