Cat No. JM49462
Price £69.95
Composer: Paul Lovatt Cooper
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works)

Within Blue Empires was commissioned by Graham Taylor and is dedicated to his son, Colin and the Coalburn Silver Band.

Composers Notes :

Within Blue Empires follows a programmatic story focussing on the whale, its habitat, and unique characteristics associated with the mammal such as feeding, spouting, breaching and the relationship between mother and calf.
The music is based around a 4-bar leitmotif representing the whale itself. This leitmotif undergoes a variety of thematic devices including inversions and retrogrades throughout the work, but can first be heard in its original form at bar 23.

Within Blue Empires is divided into several sections. The Deep depicts the lone voice of the calf represented by baritone, horn, and then bass trombone. Mother and Calf introduces the E flat bass as the whale calling after her calf. Accompanied by schools of fish represented by muted comets, the mother and calf begin to swim together gracefully with chords from the middle of the band symbolizing the deep blue waters beneath. A change in oceanic momentum is highlighted with an accelerando and key change as the music builds in colour and volume towards the next section.

Prepare to Set Sail takes the music out of water and onto land, highlighting the human element of ocean life through an original sea shanty. Beginning with the solo euphonium, the shanty is passed around the band depicting bustling activity at port as sailors prepare to set sail.

Feeding returns to the murky depths of the ocean where the music depicts the whale releasing a cloud of bubbles to the water’s surface in order to trap and confuse its prey. As the whale draws closer to its panicking prey the tension is heightened through rhythmic elaboration before a crescendo in the lower brass signifies success for the mammal as it gorges its captured shoal of fish.

Out at Sea paints a picture of turbulent seas, howling winds and crashing waves as various instruments battle with the stormy waters before the brutality subsides depicted by a relentless rhythmic figure in the euphonium and percussion which slowly dies away.

During Calm Waters various whale voices can be heard calling to each other over a gentle hush of breaking ocean. The whales are joined by music as this section seeks to exemplify the gentle nature of these wonderful mammals as they graze in calm waters illuminated by glorious sunshine. An aleatoric section symbolises varied sea life living together in harmony before the whales’ ‘spouting’ is musically replicated and the percussion portray the spray of water as it hits the seas surface. Cadenzas for E flat bass, solo cornet and euphonium lead to a lyrical section celebrating the serenity and majesty of the whale and its habitat.

The Breach starts deep down in the ocean, the music depicting the start of the whale’s vertical journey to freedom. Beginning very slowly (44bpm) the music gathers momentum increasing in speed and building in texture with the whale accelerating towards the water’s surface. As the whale breaches out of the water there is a moment when it hangs in the air; this is represented by a pause on a top C in the comets. Once gravity takes hold the whale crashes back into the sea with a tumultuous E flat major chord portraying the awesome power of this fantastic mammal.
More whale song and a final spouting effect lead into the Finale which begins as a chase through the ocean. Running demi-semiquavers emulate the ripples and bubbles in the water as the whales sprint demonstrating their speed and agility. Following rapid changes in key, time signature and dynamic the music builds in tension before finally reuniting with the whales at the climax of the work, bar 425. A brief moment of reflection provides a prelude to a colossal close bringing the music to a fitting conclusion.

Through the composition of this work my aim was to create an exciting score capable of pushing both the technical and musical boundaries of the modern day brass band whilst taking both the listener and performer on a unique journey with one of the most extraordinary creatures we share this planet with. Whether performing, listening or conducting this work, I hope if brings you great enjoyment.

© Paul Lovatt-Cooper 2009