André Rieu conducts a performance of his arrangement of the classic Christian hymn “Nearer, My God, to Thee” featuring the Johann Strauss Orchestra, along with the Vrijthof Brass Players

About the Hymn: “Nearer, My God, to Thee”

• Origins: The lyrics were written by the English poet and hymnwriter Sarah Flower Adams in 1841, inspired by the biblical account of Jacob’s dream of a ladder reaching to heaven in Genesis 28:11–12.
• Themes: The hymn reflects a spiritual yearning for closeness with God, expressing the sentiment that even life’s hardships and trials (“even though it be a cross that raiseth me”) can draw a person closer to the divine.
• Cultural Significance: Beyond its regular use in Christian worship services across various denominations, the hymn holds a legendary place in history. It is widely famous for the oral tradition that the musicians on the RMS Titanic played it as the ship sank on April 15, 1912.