Immortal Dream Nathan Daughtrey

Maestro Band Series

PROGRAM NOTES
The title, Immortal Dream is taken from a verse of the traditional Irish ballad, Old Skibereen. This poignant song is full of tragedy and passion, describing the Irish famine of 1846-47, in which Skibereen was one of the most severely stricken regions and thousands of people perished. Written by a father to a son, the final three verses of the song had the greatest impact on me.

- NHD

Old Skibereen
(last 3 verses)

Your mother too, God rest her soul,
Fell on the stony ground
She fainted in her anguish
Seeing desolation round
She never rose but passed away
From life to immortal dream
She found a quiet grave, me boy,
In dear old Skibereen.

And you were only two years old
And feeble was your frame
I could not leave you with my friends
For you bore your father's name
I wrapped you in my cóta mór
In the dead of night unseen
I heaved a sigh and bade goodbye
To dear old Skibereen.

Oh Father dear, the day will come
When in answer to the call
All Irish men of freedom stern
Will rally one and all
I'll be the man to lead the band
Beneath the flag of green
And loud and clear we'll raise the cheer,
Revenge for Skibereen!

ABOUT THE COMPOSER
Composer and percussionist Nathan Daughtrey (b. 1975) has distinguished himself in recent years as an artist of great range. Described as fresh and imaginative (Percussive Notes) and evocatively crafted (IU Herald Times), his works have been performed by individuals and ensembles of all levels at festivals and venues around the world, including the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the International Double Reed Society Conference, and the Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic. With several awards to his credit, Dr. Daughtrey is the only composer to win 2nd and 3rd Place the same year in the Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest. He was also the recipient of a 2007 ASCAP Plus Award. With over 50 publications for percussion, concert band, and orchestra, he is in great demand for commissions and clinics.

Dr. Daughtrey is also extremely active and sought after as a solo marimba artist and clinician. His performances have taken him throughout the United States and overseas to Eastern Europe and Japan, appearing as featured soloist with orchestras such as the North Carolina Symphony and the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. His first CD, Spiral Passages, was released in 2001 and features original and adapted works for solo and accompanied marimba. Other recent collaborative recordings include Emma Lou Diemer's work Concerto in One Movement for Marimba and Orchestra, Michael Udow's CD Footprints, and Daniel McCarthy's CD Song of Middle Earth.

Dr. Daughtrey is a Performing Artist and Clinician for Yamaha Corporation and Vic Firth, Inc.