Programme Notes

 

"Explosion" was composed for the National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain 2019.As the title suggests the piece is an explosion of different popular musical styles — pop, dance, ballad, disco, samba and club.

 

For my starting point, I took the letters from the words Chi/dren’s Band as the notes for the main melody — ChilDrEns BAnD (C,D,E,B,A,D). These notes form the basis for the whole work and are incorporated in each section and varying musical styles in the work. The fanfare style opening does exactly that when you hear the back row and trombones play C, D, E__, then two bars later the resolve: B, A, D__. After the opening you then hear the main theme of the piece — C, D, E__, B_, A_, l_D which repeats.

 

We then come to a rhythmic and dance like 7/8 section. This 2"“ movement uses the original theme but in retrograde (performed backwards). Following that, the original theme returns before a more serene and reflective slower section. Then our build towards the finale see's fragments of the melody developed through samba, disco then a driving club anthems. This all builds to a recapitulation of the opening Children's Band theme that takes the performer and

listener to our grand finale close.

 

This piece is dedicated to the memory of my dear friend Philip Biggs, who was the Administrator of the National Children's Band of Great Britain.

 

Paul Lovatt-Cooper

June 2020