composition / percussion ensemble / immortal dream
immortal dream
Medium: Keyboard Percussion Ensemble (7 players)
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Composed: January 2006
Duration: 4:00
Difficulty: Grade IV
Instrumentation:
Player 1 (bells)
Player 2 (vibraphone)
Player 3 (chimes)
Player 4 (4-octave marimba)
Player 5 (4-octave marimba)
Player 6 (4.3-octave marimba)
Player 7 (5-octave marimba)
*All 2-mallet parts
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Immortal Dream for Percussion Ensemble by Nathan Daughtrey
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UNC-Greensboro Percussion Ensemble
Nathan Daughtrey, conductor
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Performed by the University of Arlington Percussion Ensemble, Michael Varner, director
UTA Percussion Studio | UTA Music YouTube Channel
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!