The Wreck of the Titanic

Free Titanic Workshops at Carlisle Archive Centre

2012-03-15T15:27:55Z

Explore Titanic with these exciting workshops for Primary Schools in Cumbria.

Download the flyer or contact Dawn Hurton on 01228 227245 or dawn.hurton@cumbria.gov.uk for further information.

titanic workshop sessions (PDF)

Titanic Tea at Barrow Library - Tuesday 3 April 2-4pm

2012-03-15T15:20:39Z

Download the flyer below for more details about this special event to mark the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Titanic.

Titanic Tea Event (PDF)

The Wreck of the Titanic - March 29th 2012 - The Royal Hall, Harrogate

2012-03-15T15:07:34Z

North Yorkshire County Music Service

The Wreck of the Titanic - March 29th 2012
The Royal Hall, Harrogate

Venue:
The Royal Hall, Ripon Road, Harrogate, HG1 2RD

Tickets:
Available from the box office
Tel: 01423 502116
£5 full price, £3 concessions, £9 family of 3

Performance: 7.00pm

Programme:

The Shipbuilders
Peter Yorke
i.   Web of Steel
ii.   The Launching
iii.   All Hands at Work
iv.   Maiden Voyage

Music from the film Titanic
James Horner

Titanic Dances
Ian Bangay
i.   The Ship Passes
ii.   Panic
iii.   The Lost Children
iv.   The Pier

The Wreck of the Titanic
David Bedford
Conductor: Stephen Price

The Night of the Titanic is the first event in a series for the North Yorkshire County Council Children and Young People's Service Cultural Olympiad 2012.

The performance features children from local schools and from Harrogate Music Centre

Boroughbridge High School
The Forest School, Knaresborough
Springwater School, Harrogate
Bilton Grange Community Primary School, Harrogate
Coppice Valley Community Primary School, Harrogate
Richard Taylor Church of England Primary School, Harrogate
St Peter's Church of England Primary School, Harrogate
Western Primary School, Harrogate
St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School & Pateley Posse

Harrogate Music Centre -    Blast Off (Wider Opportunities Band)
Harrogate and Skipton School Concert Orchestra

Phoenix Dance Company
The Dance performances tonight feature children from primary schools in Harrogate.
Who have been working with dancers from Phoenix Dance Company .Formed in 1981 in the Harehills area of Leeds, Phoenix Dance Theatre has become one of the UK's most well-known and respected contemporary dance companies. Touring to mid-scale venues internationally and across the UK, Phoenix presents a repertoire of work from both established and up and coming choreographers, focussing on producing compelling, entertaining and diverse mixed programmes. The work on stage is supported by a dedicated education programme which helps widen access to dance for people of all ages and abilities and provides world class training for young, aspiring contemporary dancers.

Conductor's Comments
Harrogate has a special reason to remember the demise of the Titanic by way of a musical performance. Wallace Hartely was a violinist in the Harrogate Symphony Orchestra, based at the Royal Hall. He was also one of the violinists who formed part of the quartet that sank with the ship 100 years ago this year.

Musicians from Harrogate Music Centre are preparing for a Concert in the Royal Hall in Harrogate to commemorate the sinking of the Titanic by performing David Bedford's "The Wreck of the Titanic".

This work enables young musicians from all ages and abilities to come together in one work, without compromising the ability of the more advanced players or being beyond the grasp of those who are relative beginners. This piece will see the combination of Harrogate Youth Concert Orchestra with two 'Wider Opportunity Bands'. One meets as part of Harrogate Music Centre and the other, known as the Pateley Posse, is from a Junior School in the nearby town of Pateley Bridge. The work has also enabled Primary Schools from the area to be involved, either by singing in the choir or producing art work for the occasion which will be displayed in the Royal Hall on the evening of the concert.

The combination of choirs and varied ability musicians has been used to produce some particularly effective music and the children of all ensembles have enjoyed rehearsing it right from the start which is an achievement in itself.
The addition of an adult musician ability band and narrators completes the effectiveness of the piece and I'm sure that this will be a significant musical experience for all the performers involved.

Stephen Price, Conductor of The Wreck of the Titanic
Stephen is a long serving member of the North Yorkshire County Music Service staff and, since September 2010, has been the head of Harrogate Music Centre. Stephen is a French Horn player and, in his weekly teaching, he has taken a lead role in developing a successful model for the delivery of whole class instrumental tuition that is now and will remain a feature of the Music Service.

Teacher Resources - An Undersea Tour of The Titanic

2012-03-07T07:33:29Z

An Undersea Tour of the Titanic

CD Rom>Epilogue>Epilogue

In this short movie, memories of the Titanic are recalled. These are introduced through the hands of a pocket watch, stopped at 2.20am the time Titanic sank.

The following KS2 musical activity provides material for a series of lessons, leading to composition and performance of an imaginary tour of the Titanic wreck. It is one of a number of composition activities based on the Titanic, and is inspired by the example of the late David Bedford, a tireless supporter of musical composition in schools.

A 'prequel' Building the Titanic interprets Harland and Wolf's Belfast shipyard in sound, and imagines a visit by Bruce Ismay, chairman of the White Star Line, and Thomas Andrews, Titanic's designer. This may be found in the curriculum resources at www.thewreckofthetitanic.com

Background
The discovery of the wreck of the Titanic two and a half miles under the Atlantic was made possible through new underwater technology. In 1986, a remote controlled robot called Jason Junior (JJ) swam around and inside the wreck taking still pictures and video.

Objectives
•   Explore, choose, combine and organise musical ideas within a musical structure suggested by JJ's tour of the Titanic
•   Use ICT to capture and change sounds
•   Combine and organise musical elements
•   Record, and perform their music with a graphic score

Starter
•   Introduce the activity with images of the wreck of the Titanic today. Excellent video content may be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/titanic/the_journey/exploring_the_wreck/
•   Children to imagine visiting the Titanic wreck. What will they encounter at those depths? (pitch black/intense cold/intense pressure)
•   Why are underwater robots used to explore the wreck in place of divers? (divers and their equipment could not withstand the enormous pressures at these depths)
•   Find out about some of the objects that have been/might be discovered. These include
a)   rusticles
b)   boiler
c)   chandelier
d)   Titanic's three tone whistles
e)   Musical box

Main Activities

•   Discuss the objects the robot camera meets as it explores the Titanic. Consider ways of describing these through sound. The children will work in groups, each exploring one of the objects. Possible starting points are suggested for each of these:

Titanic's Whistles
The Titanic's three enormous whistles were audible over great distances. Children might suggest these with recorders, other wind instruments, or appropriate electronic keyboard sounds. Try recording these with appropriate sound editing software (e.g. Audacity) lowering the pitch to suggest the deeper toned whistles of the Titanic, Consider adding other effects, like echo. (See David Ashworth's article at www.thewreckofthetitanic.com for further starting points, and ways of using Audacity)

Rusticles
Rusticles are strange stalactite-like growths on iron formed by the oxidising action of bacteria. Spectacular growths can be seen on Titanic's anchor. Would children expect rusticles to make dull or ringing sounds if struck? Will the length of rusticles affect their pitch? Can children select instruments or soundmakers to suggest these?

Morse Key
The SOS distress ... _ _ _ ...consisted of three short sounds/ three long sounds /three short sounds tapped out on a morse key. Practise this pattern on single chime bars using the side of the thumb to damp the vibrations when playing short sounds. Try passing the message from player to player. Try playing it together (this presents quite a challenge!)

Boilers
As the Titanic sank, the heavy boilers ripped through the hull of the Titanic, ending up scattered over the Debris field. Explore drums and large tambours to create hollow, resonating sounds. Compare different qualities of sound made by using fingers/different beaters.

Chandelier
As the Titanic struck the iceberg, first class passengers reported that the glass chandeliers shivered. Explore language, and a range of instruments to describe their movement and sound (Bell sprays, windchimes, etc). In the wreck of the Titanic, surviving chandeliers are moved by underwater currents.

•    Each group goes on to record their music with a graphic score. Some children may need help with representing their ideas clearly.

Putting it all Together

•    Think about the way the robot submarine camera travels around the wreck of the Titanic. Discuss the quality of movement (eg. rapid and jerky or smooth, gliding movements). Compose a short, repeated musical phrase (ostinato) to suggest the robot camera exploring Titanic's wreck. This could be an opportunity to use chime bars to explore interesting melody patterns available with whole tone scales (C D E Fsharp Gsharp B flat (or A sharp) C')
•    Imagine that the Robot camera is vising the Titanic, and viewing each object in turn. Begin with the 'exploring music' (outlined above), then follow this with the music for one of the musical episodes (eg boiler music) As the remote camera travels to the next object, resume the exploring music, following with music forv the next object encountered and son on.
•    Practise and refine the performance of the Undersea Tour of the Titanic

Follow Up
•    Children could record The Undersea Tour of the Titanic using Audacity.
•    They could on to incorporate this as the soundtrack to a photostory presentation.

Assessment
•    Do compositions exhibit clear musical structures and imaginative use of sound?
•    Are musical elements (dynamics/tempo, etc) explored appropriately and effectively?
•    How effectively do graphic scores represent the music?

The Wreck of The Titanic - March 19 The Sage Gateshead

2012-03-06T11:09:04Z

VENUE:
Hall One, The Sage Gateshead, St Mary's Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead. NE8 2JR

TICKETS:
Call 0191 443 4661
Online http://thesagegateshead.org/event/wreck-of-the-titanic/
£7.50 full price, £5.50 seniors, £3.75 students/under 18s

PERFORMANCE:
7pm (finished by 8.15pm)

PROGRAMME:
Cantus in Memoriam
Benjamin Britten
Arvo Pärt

Music Hall Songs
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Knees Up Mother Brown
Oh! I do like to be beside the seaside
It's a long way to Tipperary

The Wreck Of The Titanic:
David Bedford
Alan Fearon: Conductor
Julia Regan: Narrator
Northern Sinfonia,
Orchestra of The Sage Gateshead
Young Sinfonia
Quay Lasses
Quay Lads

Singers from:
Benton Park Primary School
Bow Durham School
Ouston Junior School
Swalwell Primary School

WHY: Over the past few years The Sage Gateshead has promoted an annual large scale orchestral event with Northern Sinfonia for primary school children to participate in. Not only does The Wreck of the Titanic provide the young people with an opportunity to be part of an exciting professional performance, it also introduces the children and their families to a live orchestra. The subject matter is one of great fascination for many and the additional curriculum work that has been done around it makes for a very exciting topic.

CONDUCTOR:

Alan Fearon has enjoyed a long association with Northern Sinfonia - he first played with the orchestra in 1968 (the Sinfonia's 10th anniversary concert), and has continued as a freelance and contract player on timpani, percussion and keyboard ever since. Alan is the founder and Chorus Master of Northern Sinfonia Chorus, with whom he has prepared or conducted many hundreds of performances.   He was actively involved in Northern Sinfonia's education programme from an early stage in its development, and is now doing less work with the orchestra in order to give himself more time to be involved in the many strands of The Sage Gateshead's Young Musicians Programme. He is an Artistic Advisor to the YMP, and works with many of its Youth Ensembles, including Young Sinfonia.

In the 1980s, Alan conducted the music to Abel Gance's epic silent film 'Napoleon', and was asked to reconstruct the scores of two classic Eisenstein films 'Battleship Potemkin' and 'October'.   Since then he has conducted these and other films in the UK and Europe, and with the Israel Philharmonic in Tel Aviv.   Alan's interest in opera and music theatre has led to many successful co-productions involving Northern Sinfonia, including a production of Kurt Weill's 'Threepenny Opera' with Northern Stage, and he often directs ensembles from the Sinfonia in student workshops and performances of contemporary music.

David Bedford's piece tells the fascinating and tragic story of the Titanic using players and singers of all ages from beginners to professionals. A lot of individual hard work by teachers and players has to be done before all the pieces of the jigsaw are finally put together on the stage of Hall One at The Sage Gateshead. I'm looking forward to it!

Wreck of the Titanic Performance - Cherbourg April 14

2012-02-23T13:56:49Z

VENUE: NATIONAL THEATRE, CHERBOURG

TICKETS: to be reserved through 0044 1202 644707

PERFORMANCE: 8pm (finished by 9.30pm)

PROGRAMME:

Music Played On Titanic:        David Bedford

2 pieces for Solo Double Bass and Strings (World Premiere):
Erin's Lament               Ian Pillow
A Nation Once Again:   Ian Pillow / Soloist: David Daly

The Wreck Of The Titanic:       David Bedford

WHY:
The BSO was initially approached about the piece by David Bedford, who had worked closely for many years with Andy Baker, the BSO Community Musician. Having been admirers of David's work in all genres of music, the BSO jumped at the opportunity, not least because of the orchestra's proximity to Southampton as a venue town. As Titanic sailed from Southampton to Cherbourg, the BSO also approached Cherbourg Conservatoire, who also plan a Titanic Celebration in April 2012. The performance in Cherbourg on 14 April will take place exactly 100 years to the day after Titanic hit the iceberg that ended its life. One of the participating musicians,David Daly, the BSO's Principal Double Bass has strong family's links with the Titanic disaster whose Great-Uncle survived the wreck in 1912. Eugene Daly joined the ship at Queenstown (Cobh) on 12th April 1912, emigrating to America. He played two pieces on his bagpipes as Titanic sailed out of the harbour - Erin's Lament and A Nation Once Again. In Southampton and Cherbourg, David will be playing the World Premiere of an arrangement of these two pieces for String Sextet and Solo Double Bass, written by BSO violist Ian Pillow.

'My Great Uncle was travelling to America, and as the Titanic was leaving Queenstown, Ireland on its last voyage he played a piece called 'Erin's Lament' on the Uillean pipes.' says David. 'Although he was travelling third class steerage, he survived the tragedy - and even claimed £50 compensation from White Star for the loss of his pipes!'

When the Titanic sank, its eight-piece band performed aboard the ship, most famously playing 'Nearer My God to Thee' as the ship slipped beneath the waves. Musicians of the Western Orchestral Society, a precursor of the BSO, took part in the memorial service held at the Royal Albert Hall in 1912 for the eight lost musicians.

CONDUCTOR
The BSO's Conductor, Portuguese-born Rui Pinheiro says: 'The tragic story of the ship Titanic transcends all boundaries of race and time, it speaks to all nationalities and peoples even a hundred years later. It is an honour for me to take part in this fantastic project. Thank you to everyone for getting involved - we hope that our performances will be a fitting tribute to all those who perished on Titanic; and also to the memory of composer David Bedford.'

More information on Eugene Daly is available on: http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/eugene-daly-his-daughter.html

Wreck of the Titanic Performance - Southampton March 22

2012-02-23T13:42:17Z

VENUE: CENTRAL HALL, St MARY STREET, SOUTHAMPTON, SO14 1NF

TICKETS: to be reserved through 01202 644707

PERFORMANCE: 7pm (finished by 8.30pm)

PROGRAMME:

Music Played On Titanic:        David Bedford

2 pieces for Solo Double Bass and Strings (World Premiere):
Erin's Lament               Ian Pillow
A Nation Once Again:   Ian Pillow / Soloist: David Daly

The Wreck Of The Titanic:       David Bedford

WHY:
The BSO was initially approached about the piece by David Bedford, who had worked closely for many years with Andy Baker, the BSO Community Musician. Having been admirers of David's work in all genres of music, the BSO jumped at the opportunity, not least because of the orchestra's proximity to Southampton as a venue town. As Titanic sailed from Southampton to Cherbourg, the BSO also approached Cherbourg Conservatoire, who also plan a Titanic Celebration in April 2012. The performance in Cherbourg on 14 April will take place exactly 100 years to the day after Titanic hit the iceberg that ended its life.

One of the participating musicians,David Daly, the BSO's Principal Double Bass has strong family's links with the Titanic disaster whose Great-Uncle survived the wreck in 1912. Eugene Daly joined the ship at Queenstown (Cobh) on 12th April 1912, emigrating to America. He played two pieces on his bagpipes as Titanic sailed out of the harbour - Erin's Lament and A Nation Once Again. In Southampton and Cherbourg, David will be playing the World Premiere of an arrangement of these two pieces for String Sextet and Solo Double Bass, written by BSO violist Ian Pillow.

'My Great Uncle was travelling to America, and as the Titanic was leaving Queenstown, Ireland on its last voyage he played a piece called 'Erin's Lament' on the Uillean pipes.' says David. 'Although he was travelling third class steerage, he survived the tragedy - and even claimed £50 compensation from White Star for the loss of his pipes!'

When the Titanic sank, its eight-piece band performed aboard the ship, most famously playing 'Nearer My God to Thee' as the ship slipped beneath the waves. Musicians of the Western Orchestral Society, a precursor of the BSO, took part in the memorial service held at the Royal Albert Hall in 1912 for the eight lost musicians.

CONDUCTOR
The BSO's Conductor, Portuguese-born Rui Pinheiro says: 'The tragic story of the ship Titanic transcends all boundaries of race and time, it speaks to all nationalities and peoples even a hundred years later. It is an honour for me to take part in this fantastic project. Thank you to everyone for getting involved - we hope that our performances will be a fitting tribute to all those who perished on Titanic; and also to the memory of composer David Bedford.'

More information on Eugene Daly is available on: http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/eugene-daly-his-daughter.html

Teacher Resources - Lifeboats!

2012-01-30T11:14:20Z

CD Rom: CQD-SOS>Lifeboats-Women and Children First!

by Kara Smallman

"It was reported today that the unsinkable White Star Liner the Titanic sank in the early hours of April 15th with the tragic loss of life of over 1500 people. 712 have survived." - Newspaper Report

Your task is to produce a report for the Board of Trade Enquiry into the safety of lifeboats using the information on this sheet.

1.   How many people died?
How many survived?
2.   How many lifeboats were actually needed for Titanic's passengers and crew? (pretend that they are all full size lifeboats, each able to carry 65 passengers)
3.   Work out the total number of spaces available for passengers and crew in the Titanic's lifeboats?

Lifeboat Facts
The Titanic did in fact carry enough lifeboats according to the law at that time. People thought that other ships would always be nearby to rescue people in an emergency. And of course, the Titanic was unsinkable - wasn't it?

Titanic carried 20 lifeboats. These included
•    2 emergency boats that could each carry 40 people
•    14 full size lifeboats that could each carry 65 people
•    4 collapsible lifeboats that could each carry 47 people

The Titanic offered passengers the most modern technology and greatest comfort. On her first voyage from Southampton to New York, she carried 2207 people including crew and passengers. First class passengers could enjoy the swimming pool, the gym, the Turkish bath (like a spa) and could choose from different restaurants and cafes.

Third class rooms were thought very luxurious, as passengers had sinks in their rooms. On most ships of the time, even first class passengers shared bathrooms, so for the Titanic's third class passengers thought they were very lucky indeed!

Answers:
1.    712 survived 1495 died.
324 1st class passengers, 201 survived.
277 2nd class passengers, 118 survived.
708 3rd class passengers, 181 survived.
885 crew members, 212 survived.
13 postmen/musicians, none survived.

Grand total: 2,207 on board, 712 survived.

2.    34 boats

3.    Spaces on board for 1178

Wreck of the Titanic Performance - Cumbria April 16

2012-01-27T10:07:15Z

On Monday April 16 Carlisle's Sands Centre will host the Wreck of the Titanic by David Bedford,

The performance will reflect the wealth of musical activity taking place across Cumbria. Young musicians will include the Cumbria Youth Orchestra, primary school children participating in Wider Opportunities instrumental tuition schemes, youth choirs, Children's Platinum Schools Chorus, and a music technology group from Mayfield School, Whitehaven.

Titanic's legendary band will be recreated by eight members of the Lancashire Sinfonietta orchestra; a fitting tribute to Lancashire-born Wallace Hartley, the leader of Titanic's band.

Members of the After Dark Theatre Company, Best International Act winner at the 2011 Hollywood Fringe, will help interpret the Titanic disaster by drawing on survivor accounts and newspaper reports of the day. During 2012, they will be provide Titanic-themed drama workshops in schools throughout Cumbria

The Sands Centre performance will be led by inspirational conductor, Alice Farnham, equally at home in tackling an educational and community event on the scale of The Wreck of the Titanic as she is conducting the Welsh National Opera, the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Brighton Philharmonic

The Carlisle performance will also feature a silent film made by children and families in the Maryport area recreating a lost 1912 film Saved from the Titanic.

The Wreck of the Titanic will be at the heart of a wealth of Titanic-themed events aimed at communities and schools across Cumbria. These will include living history residential courses for primary school children, who will experience first-hand experience of life on the great liner, including dinner and dancing on the Titanic, through to abandoning ship.

There will be events in libraries, archives and museums, and workshops led by actors, writers, dancers, musicians and Titanic experts. The work also links with a widely acclaimed cross-curricular CD Rom for primary schools produced by Cumbria Music Service.

For more details and to book tickets please contact the Sands Centre at Carlisle on 01228 633766 or www.thesandscentre.co.uk

The Wreck of the Titanic: 2012 UK Performance update

2011-12-09T14:52:45Z

We have received notification of the following performances of David Bedford's The Wreck of the Titanic. Further details will be announced as soon as they become available.

Monday 19 March 2012
The Sage Gateshead
St Mary's Square,
Gateshead Quays
NE8 2JR

Thursday 22 March 2012
Southampton
Venue to be confirmed

Thursday 29th March 2012
Royal Hall
Ripon Road
Harrogate
HG1 2RD

Saturday 14 April 2012
Colston Hall
13 Colston Street
Harbourside,
Bristol
BS1 5AR

Monday 16 April 2012
The Sands Centre
Newmarket Road
Carlisle
CA1 1JQ

Friday 27th April 2012
Charterhouse School
Godalming
Surrey
GU7 2DX

Sunday 29th April 2012
The Malden Theatre
Windlesham House School
Pulborough
West Sussex
RH20 4AY

Tuesday 19th June 2012
St. Martin's School
East Gilling
North Yorks
YO62 4HP

David Bedford RIP

2011-11-08T13:43:01Z

It is with great sadness that we report David Bedford passed away on 1 October 2011. David's music touched the lives of countless young people, and his work inspired a generation of musical educators. His genius, ability and vision will be greatly missed.

David Ashworth has written the following appreciation of David's life on behalf of Cumbria, Lancashire and Liverpool music services.

David Bedford.doc

Teacher Resources: Look Out!

2011-09-20T14:11:40Z

CD Rom>Dinner and Dance-Iceberg!>Iceberg Dead Ahead!

The British and United States enquiries into the Titanic disaster interviewed lookouts Archie Jewel, George Symons, Reginald Lee and Frederick Fleet. Fleet and Lee were on duty when Titanic struck the iceberg. Their evidence can be found at www.titanicinquiry.org

Reginald Lee's testimony was given on day 4 of the British enquiry, and Frederick Fleet's on day15. Frederick Fleet also gave evidence on days 4 and 5 of the United States enquiry.

Frederick Fleet's account on the CD Rom is taken from testimony given at the American enquiry.

Overview
At 10pm on April14 1912, Frederick Fleet and Reginald Lee began their watch. They were told 'to keep a sharp look out for ice and growlers' (small icebergs). Just after seven bells (about 11.30pm), the ship passed through a patch of mist. On the other side, Fleet saw the dark shape of an iceberg. He rang the bell in the crow's nest three times, and telephoned the bridge with the message 'Iceberg dead ahead'. Although the Titanic's engines were put into reverse, it was too late to alter course, and the ship's starboard bow grazed the iceberg, pieces of ice falling on the deck. The lookouts thought it had been a near miss, the fate of the Titanic was sealed.

Although Fleet survived the Titanic, he seems to have left the White Star service a few months later as, according to his biography in www.encyclopediatitanica.com, surviving Titanic seamen were not welcome on board White Star ships.

In later life, Fleet sold newspapers in the streets of Southampton. He finally committed suicide in 1965.

Activities for the Classroom

Compare Frederick Fleet's and Reginald Lee's accounts of the night of April 14 1912 given to the British Enquiry
How do Frederick Fleet's accounts to the British and US enquiries differ?
Why did Frederick Fleet find it difficult to say how big the iceberg appeared or how far away it seemed?
The lookouts on the Titanic had no binoculars. Why not? (See the Key by Robert Edmonds) - http://www.maritimequest.com/liners/titanic_the_key_by_robert_edmonds.htm
Frederick Fleet thought binoculars would have helped him spot the iceberg sooner. Do you think he was right?
What clues might the lookouts have noticed to warn them that an iceberg might be nearby?
In 1912, experienced and alert lookouts played an important part in ensuring the safety of ships crossing the Atlantic. Find out the duties of a lookout and write a job description
In 1912, ships depended on the sharp eyes of the lookouts to warn of dangers ahead. What extra safety features do ships have today?
The iceberg that sank the Titanic was called a 'blackberg'. Find out what this is
Discuss why Titanic crew like Frederick Fleet might not be welcome on White Star ships
Tell the lookouts' story of the iceberg drawing on evidence to both enquiries. (See Richard Krebes' online article cited below)

References
New York Times April 21 1912
Account of warnings from crows' nest to the bridge of the Titanic
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/alarm-from-lookout-ignored-sailor-says.html
Defending Fleet and Lee: Richard Krebes

Description of lookout's duties, and a very thorough defence of Fleet and Lee. Krebes retells the story of the lookouts drawing on evidence from the enquiry
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/defending-fleet-and-lee.html

image of Frederic Fleet taken from Wikipedia

Teacher Resources: The Iceberg

2011-09-20T13:59:49Z

CD Rom>Dinner and Dance - Iceberg>The Iceberg

Due to a faulty hyperlink, this section must be accessed in the following way:

Dinner and Dance - Iceberg>Iceberg Dead Ahead

Go to the Astern/Ahead navigation (top right hand corner) and click 'Astern'

Overview
This section describes the life on an iceberg in the North Atlantic, and the process of melting and calving as it drifts south towards the shipping lanes.

After the British and American enquiries following the Titanic disaster, North Atlantic shipping lanes were moved further south. In 1913, the American and British governments established the International Ice Patrol (IIP). This service monitors and warns shipping about icebergs in the North Atlantic. During the ice season, long-range patrol aircraft scour thousands of square miles of ocean looking for icebergs that could be a danger to ships.

Weather conditions and ocean currents around the Newfoundland Grand Banks affect iceberg drift. The IIP asks ships to report any ice they see, and also to send weather reports and take sea surface temperature readings. All this information feeds into a sophisticated computer programme designed to predict the movement of icebergs.

Today, Coast Guard cutters move icebergs out of the shipping lanes. Every year on April 15, the International Ice Patrol hold a memorial service for the Titanic, and an aircraft drops wreaths of flowers into the water.

Activities for the Classroom

Find out about the work of the International Ice Patrol

The North American and Canadian Ice services now produce a regularly updated iceberg chart. Find out about this at http://www.uscg-iip.org/pdf/NAIS_CHART.pdf

Invent, and make a co-ordinates game in which ships travelling from Southampton to New York steer a course to avoid icebergs

Research the effect of melting ice on sea levels. See http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100428142258.htm

Can we drink iceberg water? How do we know?

Does ice melt at different rates in salt and fresh water? Design an experiment to find out using ice cubes. Think of other ways ice cubes might help us find out more about icebergs.

Half fill two identical plastic bottles with water. There must be exactly the same amount of water in each. Mark the level of water on the outside of each bottle. Now put one of the bottles in the freezer overnight. Compare the water levels next day. What has happened and why?

Newspapers at the time said the iceberg Titanic struck was about as tall as St Paul's Cathedral. Research eyewitness accounts of the iceberg, and think of other helpful comparisons to give an idea of its size and mass

The biggest icebergs are in the Antarctic. Find out just how big these can be

In the film Titanic II, melting at the Greenland Ice Cap creates an iceberg the size of Manhattan. As this falls into the sea, it creates a Tsunami. Although this is pure science fiction, children could

Research global warming at the poles

Research the effect of melting ice in the Atlantic. See http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100428142258.htm

References

International Ice Patrol (schools' pages)
http://www.uscg-iip.org/Students/Default.htm

Webquest's Iceberg Ahead!
http://express.howstuffworks.com/wq-iceberg.htm

How High was the iceberg and other questions
http://www.paullee.com/titanic/iceberg.html

iceberg images courtesy of Martin Prescott

The Wreck of the Titanic: Sands Centre, Carlisle, April 16 2012

2011-08-01T19:08:01Z

Cumbria Music Service are delighted to announce a major performance of The Wreck of the Titanic at the Sands Centre, Carlisle.

The performance will take place one hundred years and a day after the sinking of the Titanic with the loss of over 1500 lives.

It is expected that over 400 children and young people from across Cumbria will be involved in the performance. In addition, eight members of the acclaimed Lancashire Sinfonietta will perform as the Titanic band.

Titanic had its beginnings in Cumbria with Maryport-born T.H. Ismay, first director of the enormously successful White Star Line, and the father of Bruce Ismay, commissioner of the Titanic and her sister ships Olympic and Britannic. Equally important to Titanic's story was the chief engineer, Joseph Bell. Born at Farlem outside Carlisle, Joseph Bell advised Thomas Andrews during the building of the Titanic. During the doomed ship's final hours, he ensured that power was maintained to operate the lights, lifeboat winches and emergency telegraph. Had it not been for his brave devotion to duty, many more lives would have been lost that night.

Further details will be announced on www.thewreckofthetitanic.com

Teacher Resources: Iceberg Music

2011-07-28T17:24:22Z

CD Rom: Dinner and Dance >Building the Titanic>Biggest Ship Afloat
CD Rom: Dinner and Dance - Iceberg! >The Iceberg

Due to a faulty hyperlink, this section must be accessed in the following way:

Dinner and Dance - Iceberg>Iceberg Dead Ahead

Go to the Astern/Ahead navigation (top right hand corner) and click 'Astern'

As the winter of 1911 - 1912 had been very mild, icebergs breaking away from the Arctic glaciers had drifted south towards the busy Atlantic shipping lanes. The Titanic's radio officers received several ice warnings, and two crew members were posted to 'keep a sharp look out for the ice'. Although it was a perfectly clear night, the Titanic passed through a patch of mist to face an iceberg straight ahead. Despite attempts to turn the ship, the Titanic scraped against the iceberg, tearing a 30 metre gash in her hull.

iceberg photo courtesy of Oskar Henriksson

Ice sounds
Ice makes an incredible variety of sounds. Coleridge's description in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is inspired by the accounts of early polar explorers.

The ice was here, the ice was there,
The ice was all around:
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled
Like noises in a swound

In The Wreck of the Titanic, David Bedford provides a group composition activity for ice based on some of these early accounts.

As large icebergs drift south and slowly melt, huge chunks of ice break off and fall into the sea, creating smaller icebergs. The sound is like a tremendous crack of thunder.
Sometimes, icebergs close together scrape against one other to make strange grinding sounds.

Melting icebergs make a fizzing sound as air bubbles trapped in the iceberg pop. Pieces keep breaking off as icebergs drift further south until they become very much smaller. These are called 'bergey bits'. Bergey bits less than a metre high are called 'growlers', and are not a danger to shipping.

Web Links

Icebergs make sounds outside the range of human hearing. Teachers can find out about 'singing icebergs' at Andreas Bick's Silent Listening site (unfortunately, the movies will not be available for classroom use)

Children will be interested in the ice musical instruments of Norwegian musician and sculptor Terje Isungset.

The International Ice Patrol was set up after the Titanic enquiry to alert shipping in the North Atlantic. There is an excellent children's site detailing the life of icebergs.

Activities for the Classroom: Sound Log
A ship's log is an important record of everything that happens on a ship's voyage. It is filled in daily, and records the weather, the ship's course, distance covered each day, etc. It is a bit like the 'black box' of an aircraft.

Children could compose their own 'sound log' plotting the course of the Titanic from the time she reaches the edge of the ice field to the collision with the iceberg.

As the Titanic reaches the edge of the ice fields, she meets with small and harmless pieces of ice. Think of words to describe the sounds they might make as the ship's bow wave disturbs them - high/ringing/ tinkling etc
As the Titanic moves further into the ice field, she meets with very small icebergs called 'growlers'.
The ship bumps against a 'growler', turning it over in the water. It rocks from side to side, making a ringing,'wavery' sound. Try filling a metal saucepan with a little water. Hold the handle, and tap the edge of the pan with a metal rod (e.g. triangle beater). Swill the water from side to side. What happens to he sound?
Think of other ways to make this effect. Fill a washing up bowl with water. Strike a large triangle, and dip it in and out of the water while it is still vibrating. Can you say why the sound changes?
Try other metal instruments like Indian bells and cymbals to suggest different sizes of 'growler' and 'bergey bits'.
As the Titanic sails on, the ice sounds become more threatening. Create fizzing scraping, and distant, rumbling sounds as distant icebergs split, or rub against one another. You could record your sounds using free Audacity software, and add echo effects.
As the Titanic passes through the mist, there is complete silence
As the lookouts spot the iceberg, the ship's bell is rung three times to warn the officers on the bridge
What sounds might the ship make as the engines are put into reverse?
What sounds will be heard as the steel plates of Titanic's hull are torn open as the bow scrapes along the iceberg?

Using ICT

Children could use Audacity to record their completed 'sound log'
They could search the internet for ice sounds created using ICT. Although many sites are commercial, children could explore the sounds online to get ideas for creating their own sounds with Audacity. Try http://www.soundsnap.com/tags/ice
David Bedford's Iceberg composition activity considers how the impact of the iceberg was perceived in different parts of the ship. Visit David Ashworth's Titanic Soundtracks resource at www.thewreckofthetitanic.com for ways of interpreting this using Audacity.