Titanic: Details (by Listening Companion)

Who composed Listening Companion 9: Titanic, "The Launching: There She Is / Loading Inventory / The Largest Moving Object" (1997)?

Maury Yeston

What high praise did Broadway director and producer Stuart Ostrow give to the segment "There She Is"?

He declared it was "a fanfare to begin the evening worthy of Aaron Copland."

Who was Aaron Copland (1900-1990), and what kind of symphonic sound is he celebrated for creating?

A legendary composer who helped create a symphonic sound for the American frontier.

What three celebrated ballet scores did Aaron Copland compose between 1938 and 1944?

1) Billy the Kid (1938) 2) Rodeo (1942) 3) Appalachian Spring (1944)

What specific musical characteristic gave Aaron Copland a well-deserved reputation, making Ostrow's comparison a high compliment?

He had a reputation for music that, at times, seemed to soar.

How many notes does it take for the melody of "There She Is" to span an entire octave?

Its first three notes.

What real-life physical aspect of the Titanic might this wide-ranging, upward-leaping melody visually resemble?

The sheer height of the great ship alongside the dock, forcing viewers to crane their necks to see the top.

What rhythmic technique is created by sustaining the first two notes of the disjunct tune for three beats each?

A triple-meter hemiola effect against the notated common-time meter.

What psychological effect does the hemiola rhythm create for the audience regarding the tune and the ship?

It suggests that the tune—and the ship it represents—is difficult to hold within ordinary bounds, as if it is trying to surge ahead against its moorings.

What conventional musical structure does Maury Yeston use to pattern the "There She Is" segment of "The Launching"?

The standard aaba "song form" pattern.

How does Yeston make the standard aaba form more interesting when the a melody is heard for the second time?

He transposes the melody a whole step higher on the phrase beginning "Sailing Day!".

How does Yeston explicitly emphasize the transposition in the musical score rather than just using accidentals?

He actually changes the key signature from F major to G major.

What is the subtle, underlying thematic suggestion behind this abrupt key signature change?

It implies that the massive ship is unable to remain within ordinary constraints, bursting past the limits of its original key signature

What are two common nicknames for the b melody within the conventional aaba song form?

The bridge or the release.

How does the melodic motion of the b melody contrast with the wide-ranging, upward leaps of the a melody?

It moves in short, descending stepwise groups of notes (conjunct phrases) that remain within the interval of a perfect fifth.

What rhythmic technique is used in several of the b melody's conjunct phrases against the whole note?

Three broad half-note triplets are set against the whole note.

What is the subtle, physical sensation created by using half-note triplets against the whole note in this section?

It gives the listener a subtle sensation of pulling against the expected pulse.

What is a "segue" (pronounced seg-way) in musical theater?

A seamless transition where one musical number proceeds directly into the next without pause.

In "The Launching" sequence, which song segues directly into "Loading Inventory"?

The choral anthem "There She Is."

What is the primary theatrical purpose of using a segue between musical numbers?

It prevents the audience from breaking into applause, which keeps the show's momentum moving forward and maintains the established mood

How is the musical style of "Loading Inventory" described, and how do the crew members interact?

It is a much more conversational number, featuring the crew greeting each other in a half-sung, half-spoken fashion.

Who are the stevedores, and what is their role during the "Loading Inventory" scene?

They are dockworkers who announce the specific cargo they are bringing aboard to provision the ocean liner.

What happens musically when the crew and stevedores become awestruck by the size of the vessel during this scene?

The "There She Is" melody makes its first reappearance, layering over the ongoing bustle of the loading activity

What is the title of the final short song in Listening Example 9, and what kind of vocal ensemble performs it?

"The Largest Moving Object"; it is a trio sung by three men.

Who are the three characters that sing this trio, and what was each man's real-life role?

J. Bruce Ismay (1862-1937): Chairman of the White Star Line (owner), Edward J. Smith (1850-1912): The ship's captain, Thomas Andrews (1873-1912): The naval architect (designer)

What texture do the three men use to reflect their individual perspectives before returning to harmony?

They diverge briefly into moments of imitative polyphony.

What tempo marking and vocal arrangement are used for the trio's final, shared phrase?

A slower "Grandioso" tempo sung in unison.

What musical symbol prolongs the trio's final note, bringing the song to a clear conclusion?

A fermata.