Cat No. JM47111
Price £64.95
Composer: Paul Lovatt-Cooper
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works)

The 3rd. Section Testpiece for the 2008 Regionals

A short audio extract is provided for you to listen to and get a flavour of the work. Click on "More Details" button on the right to access this extract and to view an image of the Solo Cornet part.

If you enjoyed listening to this extract from this work, you can buy the full CD recording by clicking on the "BROWSE" valve at the top of your screen, then click on the "BRASS BAND CD's" section.

The CD recording is REGIONALS 2008, recorded on DOY CD238.

This piece was commissioned by Dr Nicholas Childs and the Black Dyke Band on behalf of Rotary International for the performance at St David’s Hall, Cardiff. The Dark Side of the Moon was given its world premier at St David’s Hall, Cardiff on January 27th 2007.
The piece is dedicated to the composer’s father, Harry Cooper.
The Dark Side of the Moon was selected by the National Contesting Council for the 2008 3rd Section Regional Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.

Performance Notes
Where metronome markings are given, they should be observed precisely. However, the composer has specifically selected tempo phrases (presto, largo etc.) for certain sections, so that the conductor can put his or her musical stamp on the music. This is also emphasised at rehearsal figure L where the 4 bar phrase repeats as many times as the conductor would like. During this section the instruments drop out one by one leaving just the glockenspiel, basses and cymbal playing two bars before figure M leading into the cornet cadenza.
Duration: c.12’30”

Programme Notes
Have you ever thought of a holiday destination, tourist attraction, event, place, site or period in history and thought “I wonder what it would be like"? - somewhere you have never been and can only let your imagination run wild on.
What would the place be like, and all the things surrounding it such as the mood, feelings you get experiencing it, the temperature? Who would be there and what you would see?
This piece is my musical imagination of the dark side of the moon.

I know from news reports, the internet and other footage that the moon is a very desolate place, very barren and rugged. So from the start the piece gives the listener a musical picture of the rugged landscape with little light and warmth.

However, the one place that has had me thinking about is the side of the moon that we don’t see in our night skies, the side of the moon with no sun and with no light pollution from civilisation. I can only imagine the eeriness one would feel being stood in complete darkness on the moon’s surface looking around.
As you slowly explore the surroundings and your eyes drift up to the night sky, there is an awesome sight unfolding in front of you - countless stars and galaxies, planets and different solar systems and all right in front of you glistening from the light of the sun beaming from the other side of the moon.

The dark side of the moon portrays a musical picture of the whole experience as seen in my imagination taking the listener from the rugged landscape to the awesome beauty that sits endlessly in front of you.
Paul Lovatt-Cooper, September2007

Paul Lovatt-Cooper is the “Young Composer in Association with the Black Dyke Band”. He was born on Alderney in the Channel Islands and raised in the Salvation Army with his parents who were Officers. As a student he studied composition with Peter Graham whilst at the University of Salford.

Paul has enjoyed performances of his works all over the world, including world premiers in the UK and in countries such as Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and The United States. His works have been performed in some of the world’s finest concert halls including Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, Perth’s Concert Hall, Cardiff’s St David’s Hall, Holland’s De Lawei Concert Hall and London’s Royal Albert Hall. He is fast becoming a sought after composer, gaining commissions from bands including the Black Dyke Band, Ratby Co-operative Band, the BI Band and the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain. Paul has also been commissioned to write for international soloists such as David Childs, Brett Baker, Owen Farr, John Doyle and Richard Marshall.

Paul is currently Head of Music at Wardle High School Performing Arts College.