Gavin Bryars /Philip Jeck /Alter Ego — The Sinking of the Titanic

Gavin Bryars' The Sinking of the Titanic is a work which was begun in 1969, and is continually evolving. The concept of the piece is the exploration of sound as a never ending phenomena, aside from Bryars' general, and quite obsessive interest in the actual event. Marconi, the inventor of the the wireless is tied to the Titanic disaster because the vessel contained one of the first wireless transmitters used for purposes of alerting surrounding vessels. Marconi theorised that sound, though it dissipates to levels beyond human hearing, reverberates forever. His ideal invention is thought to be a device which could pick up sound waves generated from centuries past.

What also ties the Sinking of the Titanic to sound phenomena is the fact that the band on the Titanic somehow managed to continue playing as the ship went down. This feat is amazing, due to the fact that eye witness accounts documented the vessel was in a vertical position as it went down. Also important is the fact that sound is transferred with great efficiency by water, and this piece communicates the idea that the playing of the band would continue to reverberate below water, and differently than above the water, for an extended period of time, at audible levels.

Now this is quite an involved bit of theory, and, at the present moment, a great amount of supposition as well. After all of the explanation as to the reasoning of the piece has dissipated, the question which remains is, what about the music? This piece differs from previous recordings in that it is much less musical, and more theatrical. Sounds of the clangor on the boat and the upbeat music the band was playing previous to the Hymn they played upon sinking are presented amongst the sound of the sea. The sounds of the passengers come across as sepia toned ghost voices.

What really makes this recording distinctive, though, is the inclusion of Philip Jeck, an artist who some might refer to as a turntablist. A deceiving term, as Jeck's style is quite unique. His music collages ancient records, and it's fair to say he seems just as concerned with the crackles, pops and imperfections of the vinyl, as the music etched upon them. His works sound like explorations into some ghost world via these vintage slabs of vinyl. So if there is a perfect collaborator for Gavin Bryars in relation to this piece, Philip Jeck may indeed be that person. His contributions add not only a ghostly quality, which is perfectly in line with the concept, but, as with his own recordings, he manages to "age" the piece. Jeck's ability is to make music sound like the aural equivalent to a grainy black and white film, and since the Titanic went down in 1912, his sounds are entirely appropriate.

The music of the Titanic's band is performed by the Italian ensemble Alter Ego, who perform the music, as with previous versions, as faithfully as possible to the actual music played as the ship went down. The music is, perhaps fortunately, not necessarily the focal point here, because it's quite dry. But Alter Ego approach it with an edgy melancholy, as if they tried to put themselves into character as much as possible. The music works together with every other piece of the puzzle to make this piece a wholly fascinating look into a piece of history. Mr. Byars' obsession has payed off, as this is undoubtedly the most compelling reading of this work to date.