Bryars: The Sinking Of The Titanic / Barnett, Bryars Ensemble, et al

Gavin Bryars (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Gavin Bryars
• Audio CD (February 14, 1995)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B0000040UW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,866 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #93 in Music > Dance & DJ > Techno > Minimal Techno

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Bryars's The Sinking of the Titanic is one of the oddest and at the same time most mesmerizing works to come out of this end of the century. It began in 1972 as an abstract art piece that kept on building and changing in the composer's mind. It's a ghostly tapestry of eerie echoes, distant sounds almost like whale songs, and interjected rifts representing the band that was playing even as the boat sank. This is a masterpiece that rewards repeated listenings. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars probably perfect..., June 25, 2000

By 

Scott D. Cudmore (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bryars: The Sinking Of The Titanic / Barnett, Bryars Ensemble, et al (Audio CD)

This music destroys me. I'm a huge fan of pretty much everything Gavin Bryar's has recorded, but this one probably beats out all else. It's a tough call between this and 'Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet', but I think this one wins out. 'Titanic' is some of the most beautiful, haunting music that I've ever heard. I've heard it called good ambient music, good music to play in the background. I couldn't disagree more. This is music that -demands- every iota of your attention. Put it on, lie down, turn out the lights and just listen to the whole thing. It is a truly overpowering experience. Bryar's has a way of doing this.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meditative, February 5, 2001

By 

Douglas T Martin (Alpharetta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bryars: The Sinking Of The Titanic / Barnett, Bryars Ensemble, et al (Audio CD)

I wonder how many people bought this recording thinking it had something to do with the "Titanic" movie? And if so, how many kept the recording? Their loss. This is a great work, well performed and recorded. Repetitious without being monotonous, it's the aural equivalent of watching light move across the water as seen from beneath the surface. Recommended to fans of Eno, Philip Glass, and their contemporaries.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful, July 26, 2008

By 

A. Laye (Maryland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Sinking of the Titanic (1969-) (Audio CD)

It isnt mentioned in any other reviews or in the product description that this version includes Philip Jeck and Alter Ego. Most viewers already know that the piece of music has been performed with many different ensembles and ranges from 15 minutes to 80 minutes in length. This recording, however, is my favorite. Philip Jecks turntablisms are more for sound construction than for "DJing" in the traditional sense of the term. Alter Ego consists of strings, brass, winds, percussion, keyboard, tape recorder and sound design. This ensembles interpretation of this peice of music is truly breathtaking and beautiful - adjectives I do not use lightly. Besides the georgious instrumentation, I much prefer the production of this record over the 1995 version. I will refrain from falling into the trap of making comparrisons or saying "fans of [x] will enjoy this", but for my personal tastes, this one one of the best pieces of music I have ever heard. Highly recommended.