Limerick Daydreams
The subdued and quiet opening of Limerick Daydreams will give the listener little indication of what's to follow. After the quiet opening, the character of the piece completely changes as the percussion lead the way in thematically transforming the Irish reel 'Highway to Limerick' into a thoroughly engaging work for accomplished bands.
Medium: Symphonic Band
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Composed: 2006
Duration: 12:00
Difficulty: Grade 5
Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1/2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2/English Horn
Bassoon
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2/3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2/3
F Horn 1/3
F Horn 2/4
Trombone 1/2
Trombone 3
Euphonium 1/2
Tuba 1/2
Piano
Timpani/Tambourine
Percussion 1 (bells, crotales, xylophone, temple blocks, piccolo snare drum)
Percussion 2 (vibraphone, marimba, 2 congas, 2 bongos, low tom)
Percussion 3 (tam-tam, chimes, low tom, snare drum)
Percussion 4 (wind chimes, suspended cymbal, small China cymbal, sandblocks, triangle, bell tree)
Percussion 5 (bass drum, tam-tam, finger cymbals)
Program Notes
Originally dedicated to Dr. Cort McClaren and the UNCG Percussion Ensemble, Limerick Daydreams was the 2nd Place Winner of the 2005 Percussive Arts Society International Composition Contest. The 12-minute work, now scored for full symphonic band with six percussion and piano, is based on the Irish reel 'Highway to Limerick.' The work opens rather mysteriously with fragments of the tune thrown about the ensemble and echoes of the bodhran (a traditional Irish drum) emulated by a dampened bass drum. A raucous drumming section ensues and gives way to the first full presentation of the reel in the flutes. What follows is a series of melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic transformations of the Irish tune—some quite playful, some beautifully melancholy, and some majestically resolute.
