John Twiname Gardner (2 August 1854, in South Molton – 15 February 1914, in Kensington) was a 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.
J.T. Gardner's White Star Polka March was held in the music libraries of the ships of the White Star Line, including Titanic.
List of published compositions
Instrumental works Bella Vista (Valse) Britannia - a Patriotic Selection - Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd. (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.
Copies of all the pieces listed are held by Chris Gardner, the composer's Great Grandson Biographical information is from the Gardner family archive