When Kennedy Died, How Did the Boston Symphony React?

On the afternoon of November 22, 1963, the Boston Symphony Orchestra was scheduled to perform in concert.

But then word arrived that President John F. Kennedy had been killed.  Conductor Erich Leinsdorf quickly changed the program:  Instead of their planned concert, he distributed sheet music for the Funeral March from Beethoven’s third symphony, explaining to his musicians that they would be playing this instead of the piece which had been scheduled.

And then the conductor stood on the stage and made an announcement to the audience.

In the first minute of this video, you can hear the audience react to the news with shock.  Then, the orchestra rallies to the challenge, playing the Funeral March.