Water Spirits

Nathan Daughtrey

Subtitle: For 7 Solo Percussion & Band

General Info

Year: 2019
Duration: c. 6:15
Difficulty: IV (solo), III (ensemble) (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $120.00 | Score Only (print) - $20.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-VII, including:

Bass Drum
Bells
Bongos
Chimes
China Cymbals
Concert Toms (4)
Hi-Hat
Low Drum
Marimba
Ocean Drum
Ribbon Crasher, small and large
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tam-Tam
Vibraphone
Wind Chimes
Wood Block
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Water Spirits was initially inspired by tales of a mer-man sighting in Lake Minnewanka, which is located in the eastern area of Banff National Park in Calgary, Alberta, (near the school that commissioned the piece). Minnewanka translates to “water of the spirits” in Nakoda. This inspiration led me down the mer-man research rabbit hole and landed on the myth of Glaucus and Scylla in Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

In essence, the myth is a love triangle between Glaucus (a mer-man), Scylla (a nymph), and Circe (a witch). In short, Glaucus loves Scylla. Scylla does not love Glaucus, as she finds his half-fish form repulsive. Glaucus goes to Circe to ask her to cast a love spell on Scylla so that she will fall in love with him. Instead, Circe falls in love with Glaucus. When he does not return her affections, Circe takes it out on Scylla by poisoning the water in which she was bathing. This turns Scylla into a hideous sea monster with the head of six serpents and a waist of six vicious dogs. The piece follows the outline of the myth, which is filled with darkness, longing, love, denial, and betrayal.

Water Spirits was commissioned by l'École Madeleine d'Houet, Sean Craig, director, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It received its world premiere performance on June 12, 2019, with the composer in attendance.

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Clements High School (Sugar Land, Tx.) Symphonic Band (Daniel Galloway, conductor) - 20 December 2019 (2019 Midwest Clinic)
l'École Madeleine d'Houet (Calgary, Alb., Can.) (Sean Craig, conductor) – 12 June 2019 *Premiere Performance*

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Apollo's Chariot (Flex instrumentation) (2007/2021)
Appalachian Air (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2021)
Dark Matter (Flex instrumentation) (2016/2020)
Downtown Dash (Flex instrumentation) (2009/2020)
Such Small Things (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
Ye Merry Fantasy (Flex instrumentation) (2020)

All Wind Works

Apollo's Chariot (Flex instrumentation) (2007/2021)
Appalachian Air (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2021)
As Above, So Below (2017)
Black Rainbow (2014)
Blaze (2021)
Bounce (2015)
Chasing Infinity (2018)
Dark Matter (2016)
Dark Matter (Flex instrumentation) (2016/2020)
Downtown Dash (2009)
Downtown Dash (Flex instrumentation) (2009/2020)
Ellipsis (2010)
Fidget (2015)
From the Ashes (2017)
Gate City Snapshot (2012)
Imagining World (2010)
Immortal Dream (2006)
Irish Washerwoman (2006)
Legend of the Sword (Daughtrey) (2007)
Limerick Daydreams (2006)
Mercury Rising (2005)
Point of Reckoning (as arranger) (2015)
Power Struggle (2009)
Sensus Vitae (2013)
Shine On! (2017)
Silent Canyons (2014)
Silver Moon (2007)
Spiraling Light (2016)
StarCatchers (2016)
Such Small Things (2017)
Such Small Things (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
Through the Horizon (2007)
True Things (2017)
Twitch (2016)
Water Spirits (2019)
Ye Merry Fantasy (Flex instrumentation) (2020)

Resources

Nathan Daughtrey website Accessed 21 December 2019
Perusal score