Name: The Sinking of the Titanic
Brand: Gavin Bryars

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

SV161

Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

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Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2022-12-09

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Forte

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

0855985006048

Total Cap

Artist

Gavin Bryars

Genre GB

Modern Composition

Label GB

Superior Viaduct

Gavin Bryars is an English composer and double bassist known for his diverse range of musical styles, including jazz, free improvisation, minimalism, experimental music, and neoclassicism. Born in Goole, East Yorkshire in 1943, Bryars has been active in the music industry for decades. His works have been published on Mnemonic Publishing.

With a career spanning multiple genres and artistic movements, Bryars has collaborated with renowned musicians and ensembles such as Ingram Marshall, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, Kronos Quartet, Philip Glass Ensemble, and many more. His innovative approach to composition has earned him a reputation as one of the most influential figures in contemporary music.

Whether it's his mesmerizing minimalist compositions or his avant-garde experimentation with soundscapes, Gavin Bryars continues to push boundaries and challenge traditional notions of music. His vast body of work showcases his immense talent and unwavering dedication to artistic exploration.

Superior Viaduct is an archival label based out of San Francisco. With a focus on reissuing rare and overlooked gems from the past, they bring lost classics back to life for music lovers around the world.
Since their founding, Superior Viaduct has become known for their meticulous attention to detail in every release. From sourcing the best available master tapes to creating high-quality vinyl pressings, they ensure that each album sounds as good as it did when it was first recorded.
With a diverse catalog spanning genres such as punk, post-punk, experimental, jazz, and more, Superior Viaduct offers something for every music enthusiast. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just starting your vinyl journey, you can trust Superior Viaduct to deliver exceptional releases that will enhance your listening experience.

Inaugural release on the seminal Obscure Records, Produced by Brian Eno in 1975. Featuring Derek Bailey, Michael Nyman and John White, First-time vinyl reissue. Gavin Bryars was born in Yorkshire, England in 1943. His first musical forays were as a jazz bassist working in the early 1960s with improvisors Derek Bailey and Tony Oxley. Bryars later worked with composers John Cage and Cornelius Cardew, founded the Portsmouth Sinfonia and collaborated with Brian Eno on his famed Obscure imprint. The Sinking of the Titanic, Bryars' first major composition, was inspired by the tragic event of the British passenger liner's cross-Atlantic maiden voyage. Bryars eloquently reconstructs the passengers' experience – at once forlorn and eerily calming – through assemblages of understated strings and indeterminate elements. A core principle of the piece is that the ship's band continued to play as the vessel went down. One of the most sublime works in the modern classical canon, Titanic remains Bryars' magnum opus.

Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet, the album's second sidelong track, is based on a tape loop of a London street singer captured in the early 1970s. Featuring Derek Bailey, Michael Nyman and John White, Bryars' composition gradually builds around the cripplingly poignant voice until its emotional force is almost too much to bare. It's no surprise that Jesus' Blood is known as Tom Waits' all-time favourite piece of music.

Produced by Brian Eno in 1975 as the inaugural release on Obscure, The Sinking of the Titanic draws the listener in to a majestic world. While these exquisite, hymn-like recordings have not changed in nearly 50 years, their deeply personal nature and the audience's attention to their subtlety have only strengthened over time.

The Sinking of the Titanic

Music GB