Based on Jules Vernes 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
I. A Shifting Reef This movement depicts the Nautilus as an unknown
phenomenon that is a threat to navigation. Some mariners thought it was
a sea monster and others thought it was a shifting reef. No one could
conceive that it was a boat capable of traveling under water. The music
is ever changing throughout this movement. It constantly shifts
tonality, melodic ideas, and rhythmic placement of motives. Although
some ideas repeat, they are transformed by combining them in different
patterns with other previously stated ideas.
II. A Walk at the Bottom of the Sea Through a Submarine Forest
Circular breathing is used at the beginning and the end of this movement
to represent an undersea walk. The musical material appears in reverse
at the end representing a return to the Nautilus. The lighter middle
section represents walking over a more rocky terrain. The multiphonics
symbolize the wonders of the submarine forest.
III. The Giant Squids The giant squids have surrounded the Nautilus
and have caused the propeller to jam. In order to free themselves,
Captain Nemo, his crew, Professor Aronnax, Conseil, and Ned Land do
battle with the squids. This energetic scherzo reflects on the dangers
of the battle. Several screams are heard as the squids entangle Ned Land
and other crewmembers. The short multiphonics and syncopations
represent the men chopping away and the arms of the squid. At the end,
the Nautilus finally frees itself after the loss of one life.
IV. Trapped Near the South Pole After discovering the South Pole,
the Nautilus is returning to open waters when it is caught between the
polar icecap and iceberg that flips over. The tremolos reflect the doom
of the Nautilus as only two days of air supply remain. The only means of
escape is to chop through the ice below the Nautilus. The staccato
notes represent the crew members hacking away at the ice. When that
fails, Captain Nemo tries to melt the ice by expelling hot water from
the Nautilus. This is represented by the saxophonist blowing air through
the saxophone and wiggling the keys. A sense of doom returns that is
followed by a final attempt of the Nautilus to crash through the
remaining ice. A triumphant ending reflects the success of this attempt.
V. The Maelstrom As Professor Aronnax, Conseil, and Ned Land
attempt their escape from the Nautilus, the ship enters the feared
maelstrom, a vortex off the coast of Norway where no ship has escaped.
The swirling waters are represented by the triplet passages and the
escape by the duplet passages. An epilogue using the "doom" music of the
previous movement suggests the end of the Nautilus but a brief return
to a slower version of the "Shifting Reef" motive perhaps suggests
otherwise