Titanic: Context

Where and when was the oldest known image found of sailing craft?

Kuwait, 6th millennium BCE, earlier than depictions of wheel

What were the first 2 cultures using the sail widespread?

Mediterranean and Southeast Asi

At the end of the 15th century, what did Columbus encounter in the Caribbean?

Dugout canoes

How many people could the dugout canoes at the Caribbean go? How fast were they?

90 people, 6 knots per hour

The year, crew size, and foreign ship nationality involved in the documented trade canoe encounter

In 1606, a canoe paddled by 40 to 50 islanders went out to trade with an English ship

How far is the Caribbean from mainland South America?

150 km / 93 miles

When did European ocean navigation become common?

Mid-fifteenth century

When was the Age of Sail?

1450s to 1850s

When did the Voyages of Columbus begin?

1492

How long did the Mayflower's voyage take in 1620?

Sixty-six days (described as long and perilous).

What type of fast ships began to race across the seas in the nineteenth century?

Clipper ships.

In the first half of the nineteenth century, how long did it still usually take to cross the Atlantic?

Almost five weeks.

What impact did ocean-going vessels have for travelers in the nineteenth century?

They provided ways to reach distant lands that had once been inaccessible

Which two poems by Goethe inspired sea-voyage musical works by Beethoven and Mendelssohn?

"Meeresstille" ("Calm Sea") and "Glückliche Fahrt" ("Prosperous Voyage"), both from 1795.

What type of musical ensemble did Beethoven use for his 1815 setting of Meeresstille und Glückliche Fahrt (Op. 112)?

A chorus-plus-orchestra version.

How did Mendelssohn's 1828 setting of Meeresstille und Glückliche Fahrt differ in instrumentation from Beethoven's?

It was a programmatic setting for orchestra alone (no chorus).

Who composed the programmatic orchestral work Night Voyage in 2012?

Christopher Gunning (1944-2023).

What real-life location and event inspired Christopher Gunning to write Night Voyage?

Standing by the Mersey River in Liverpool on a rainy evening, watching a large grey freighter slip out to sea.

What personal experience drew Christopher Gunning to compose sea-related music?

He owned a small sailing yacht for many years, pitting his wits against the elements and encountering several near disasters.

What narrative arc does the imaginary journey in Night Voyage follow?

It begins with the optimism of a new adventure, encounters a violent storm, and ends with land sighted at dawn as the ship arrives safely—battered and bruised, but intact.

Who developed the first commercially successful steamboat, and what was it called?

Robert Fulton (1765-1815); the Clermont (developed in 1807).

How did the Clermont's trial run between NYC and Albany compare to traditional sailing vessels?

It took 32 hours, whereas sailing vessels needed 4 days to cover the same 150-mile distance.

What was the first ship to cross the Atlantic powered solely by steam, and what year did it happen?

The Sirius (which was also the first iron ship), in 1838.

What fuel shortage emergency occurred during the Sirius's historic 1838 transatlantic voyage?

It ran out of coal for the boiler in the final miles and had to burn various items from the ship to make it to the destination.

What was the speed and daily coverage of the Sirius during its 19-day transatlantic voyage?

It averaged 6.7 knots per hour and covered 161 miles per day.

How long did the Sirius hold its speed record, and what ship broke it later that same day?

About three and a half hours; it was broken by the Great Western, which made the trip from England in 16 days.

What was the average speed and daily coverage of the Great Western during its record-breaking run?

It averaged 8.75 knots per hour and covered 210 miles per day.

What distinction did the Great Western hold regarding passenger travel?

It was the first ship to provide regular passenger service, capable of carrying 148 travelers.

What was the total carrying capacity of the Titanic, and how many of that number were supposed to be crew?

Capable of carrying 3,500 people, about 900 of whom were crew.

How many total people were actually on board for the Titanic's maiden voyage, and what was the passenger/crew breakdown?

2,223 people total: 1,324 passengers and 899 crew.

Why do historical sources give varying figures for the total number of people on board the Titanic?

American and British investigations arrived at different totals, and some tallies omitted non-crew, non-passenger personnel (like the on-board musicians).

What type of engines drove the Titanic, and how long was its maiden crossing expected to take?

Driven by steam turbines; expected to cross from England to the U.S. in an eye-popping 6 days.

How did outdated British regulations impact the safety of the Titanic's passengers?

The legally required number of lifeboats could only carry no more than about half of the people on board.

How many people survived the Titanic's sinking on April 15, 1912, and how many more could have been saved if lifeboats were filled to capacity?

706 people survived; an estimated 500 more could have been saved.

What two real-world events inspired composer Maury Yeston to write a Broadway theater piece about the Titanic?

The rediscovery of the Titanic wreckage in 1985 and the Challenger space shuttle explosion in 1986.

What social inequity and overarching theme troubled Maury Yeston during his research for the musical?

The inequity in survival rates (far more first-class passengers were rescued than third-class), alongside the theme of putting unqualified faith in the infallibility of technology.

What is the meaning and expectation behind classifying a stage show as "musical theater"?

It is a stage genre that expects a show to have a compelling storyline (the book) in addition to sung numbers that are an integral part of the plot.

What are the Tony Awards, and what industry award are they equivalent to?

They are the most prestigious honors for theatrical works on Broadway, equivalent to the Oscars in the movie industry.

Which two creators won Tony Awards for Titanic in 1997, and for what specific roles?

Maury Yeston won for "Best Original Musical Score" and Peter Stone won for "Best Book of a Musical."

How did the Broadway musical distinguish itself from the James Cameron movie with the same title released in 1997?

By framing its story around communicating a meaningful message about human dreams and technological faith, winning 5 Tony Awards (including Best Musical), and utilizing an extensive cast of characters with a unique gradually tilting stage.

According to the text, where did the Titanic stop after leaving England before heading out across the open sea on April 11?

It stopped two more times: first in France and then in Ireland (leaving Ireland in the early afternoon of April 11).

When did the Broadway musical Titanic premiere?

April 23, 1997.

Who wrote the lyrics (the poetry for the songs) for the Titanic musical?

Maury Yeston.

How many total Tony Awards did Titanic win in 1997, and in which specific categories?

5 Tony Awards: Best Original Musical Score, Best Book of a Musical, Best Scenic Design, Best Orchestrations, and Best Musical.

Why was the 1997 Tony for "Best Orchestrations" historically significant for the American Theater Wing?

It was the first time the award-giving body had ever issued a prize in that category.

When and where did the majority of the real-life Titanic passengers board the ship at the start of its journey?

The morning of April 10, 1912, in Southampton, England.

What is the name of the extended musical sequence that captures the grandeur and preparations of the ship, and which three segments make up Listening Example 9?

"The Launching"; the three segments are "There She Is / Loading Inventory / The Largest Moving Object."

What are the first two segments that open "The Launching" sequence?

a. "How Did They Build Titanic?" / "Fare-Thee-Well"

What is segment b of "The Launching," which is also the first part of Listening Example 9?

"There She Is"

What is segment c of "The Launching," which is the second part of Listening Example 9?

"Loading Inventory"

What is segment d of "The Launching," which concludes Listening Example 9?

"The Largest Moving Object"

Which segment features announcements from a crew member paired with desperate pleas to board the ship?

e. "Pitman's Announcement #1" / "I Must Get On That Ship #1" / "Pitman's Announcement #2" / "I Must Get On That Ship #2"

Which segment introduces high-society travelers and mentions a specific character in brackets?

f. "The First-Class Roster" ["Mrs. Beane"]

Which segment serves as the grand, blessing-filled send-off for the ship's journey?

g. "Godspeed Titanic"

What is the final, instrument-only segment of "The Launching"?

h. "Missed the Boat" [orchestra]