Friday, January 8, 2010 at 8:00AM Limerick Daydreams Featured in a Book + a New Recording from Maestro Ray Cramer
While sitting in the audience during a performance of Limerick Daydreams by the UNC-Greensboro Percussion Ensemble, I started to imagine how it might sound to score the piece for wind ensemble. Just a few days later it was all orchestrated and ready for a band to try it out. Dennis Fisher, conductor of the University of North Texas Symphonic Band, agreed to perform the premiere of the new version and had some wonderful tips for me along the way. Since then, the piece has been performed by the UNT Wind Symphony and the Lone Star Wind Orchestra (both under the baton of Eugene Corporon), the NY & NJ All State Bands and the Indiana University Wind Ensemble (all conducted by Ray Cramer) and many other bands around the world.
A little over a year ago, Dennis Fisher told me that "Limerick" would be featured in the 7th Volume of Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. According to the GIA Publications website, "this book includes extensive analyses of a broad range of the best wind band literature being published today. Each Teacher Resource Guide includes a description of the composer, historical perspectives, technical considerations, stylistic considerations, a breakdown of music elements, a form and structure analysis, and more." Dennis did a wonderful job writing the article for the piece.
Unrelated to the book is the new recording I received late in the summer from Maestro Ray Cramer, Conductor Emeritus of the Indiana University Wind Ensemble, of a live performance he had conducted with the Mushashino Academy Wind Symphony in Tokyo, Japan. He tells me that a studio recording is forthcoming, but until then take a listen to this magical performance.
Limerick Daydreams (for wind ensemble)
Musashino Academy Wind Symphony
Maestro Ray Cramer, conductor
Limerick Daydreams is available from C. Alan Publications or any of your favorite music dealers. :)
Reader Comments (2)
I wouldn't have thought of a wind ensemble version when I first heard this percussion ensemble piece. However after listening to it, it does work very nicely! Thanks for sharing and congratulations on the success of this piece! How did the recent trip to Chicago?
Hey Jeff! I just noticed your comment on this post today. Oops! Thanks for the kind words about "Limerick." The Midwest Clinic in Chicago went great. The Valdosta Middle School performance of my piece "Power Struggle" was really first-rate. Hope you're well!