Michael J Bird

The Dark Side of the Sun

Music

Composer James Harpham was originally commissioned to write the opening and closing signature tunes, which he did, but then Vere Lorrimer, the Producer, contacted Stavros Xarhakos to supply music and Harpham's music was not used. Harpham had written the music for another BBC drama series, Tenko, around the same time.

Xarhakos had written the music which was used for The Lotus Eaters . For Dark Side of the Sun he was said to have taken the folk music of Rhodes as his starting point.

"The music springs not from the sophistication of Athens but from the gritty vibrant spirit of the people of Rhodes. Here Greek bouzoukis clash with Turkish fiddles against a background of pulse-beating drums.In a series of sharp sketches Xarhakos has captured the heat and dust of the villages, the sparkle of the water and the ancient rhythm of country folk. But he has also woven into the music a handful of melodies which tug at the heart, symbolising the eternal romance of the Greek Isles."

Aren't sleeve notes great?

The BBC issued the usual soundtrack LP and also a single (Ref RESL 135) of the main theme, and Anne's Theme (The Love Theme). Copies of both the LP and the single come up from time to time on e-bay for a couple of pounds.

Search e-Bay

I have had the music copied to CD and can make copies if anyone is interested.

There was evidently more than one cassette version
(The NZ version on the right - complete with spelling mistakes - courtesy of Jennifer Menten)

Lavalliere's Masked Ball

I am indebted to Marianne Gilchrist for identifying the music played during the masquerade party at Lavalliere's castle. Marianne tells me it is 'Christian', by China Crisis.

She adds, "It's a lovely song: the flute-like little melody that pops up between the verses has a vaguely medićval feel to it (which might be why Raoul has it on the play-list at his party!).

The lyrics, too, make an interesting juxtaposition with the scenario: the first verse refers to "a long-dead cause", while the repeated line "I could lose myself in this honesty" is, of course, the opposite of what's happening.

Was it chosen for the scene because of that, I wonder, or simply because it was a fashionable song at the time?"

This is emotion
Emotionless war
A torn shirt and a long dead cause
I can't sleep
This kind of thing gets me down
Don't say walk
I may lose my fear

I could lose myself
In this honesty

I read all sorts of things
There's so much to learn
I've seen the hand that rushes in
As it rush over you

I could lose myself
In this honesty

"Christian"

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