The band played on during the sinking, their impromptu performance was intended to put passengers at ease. All eight musicians died in the tragedy, but passed into legend. That legend has it that the last piece played by the band before the ship sank was Sarah Adams' "Nearer, My God, To Thee". There are differing versions notably by Lowell Mason, Rev John Bacchus Dykes and Sir Arthur Sullivan. The Lowell Mason-version is preferred in America, the other two in England, the latter by Methodists. All these years later there is disagreement as to the version played. Also others recall "Autumn" as the last piece played, although this might be "Autumn" or the waltz "Songe d'Automne". Most believe "Nearer, My, God to Thee" to be the final piece of music played.

John Law Hume was only twenty-one years of age and lived with his parents in George Street, Dumfries and he played the violin in the orchestra. A memorial to his memory was unveiled in Dock Park, Dumfries; also a memorial to thirty year-old third class steward Thomas Mullin. As with the bandmaster's body, John Law Hume's body was also recovered after the disaster, though it lies in grave 193 on the other side of the Atlantic ocean in Fairview Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The body of Thomas Mullin was also recovered after the disaster. It lies in grave 323 in Fairview Cemetery, Canada.

The inscription on the Dock Park Memorial reads "In memory of John Law Hume, a member of the band and Thomas Mullin, steward, natives of these towns who lost their lives in the wreck of the White Star Liner "Titanic" which sank in mid-Atlantic on the 14th day of April 1912. They died at the post of duty."

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