SPITFIRE
Nathan Daughtrey
INSTRUMENTATION Euphonium (Baritone Euphonium (Baritone TC part also included) Tuba (optional) (optional) 3.5 or 4-octave Vibraphone 5-octave Marimba
PROGRAM NOTES Spitfire was inspired by the British fighter planes of the same name used by the Royal Air Force and several other Spitfire was countries during World War II. Designed as a short-range, high-performance interceptor aircraft, the Supermarine Spitfire was one of the fastest planes in service during the war. war. The quick moto perpetuo nature of the composition was an attempt to capture the speed and excitement of this historic plane. The word spitfire is also used to describe a quick-tempered or highly excitable person, which is also appropriate. Spitfire was written for Dr Dr.. Brian Meixner for performance at the Southeast and Northeast Regional Tuba and Euphonium Conferences (SERTEC & NERTEC). Dr. Dr. Meixner and the composer performed the world premiere of the work on March 15, 2013 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL as part of SERTEC. A commerical recording may be found of Brian and Nathan’s CD “Praxis” (available from Potenza Music). The tuba part was added in July of 2014 at the request of James Madison University professors Bill Rice and Kevin Stees.
PERFORMANCE NOTES 1) Spitfire may be performed as a duet d uet for euphonium and percussion OR as a trio for euphonium, tuba, & percussion. 2) Mallet selection is challenging because of the marimba/vibraphone combination. I prefer vibraphone mallets wrapped with cord, placing a slightly softer mallet in the bass position (e.g. Vic Firth Firth M226-225-225-225). M226-225-225-225). 3) The set-up of the marimba and vibraphone is paramount to a successful performance of the piece. I would recommend the following formation: B5
Align the dampening bar on the vibraphone with B5 on the marimba (B just above the treble clef staff).
ABOUT THE COMPOSER Percussionist, composer, & educator Nathan educator Nathan Daughtrey (b. (b. 1975) is a musical chameleon who uses his wide-ranging talents to adapt comfortably to a variety of environments. As a performing artist and clinician for Yamaha percussion, Vic Firth sticks & mallets, Zildjian cymbals, and Black Swamp accessories, he has performed and given masterclasses and clinics throughout the United States and across three continents. Nathan has recorded two solo marimba albums to date – "Spiral Passages" and "The Yuletide Marimba" – as well as several chamber music albums, including a recent collaboration with euphoniumist Brian Meixner titled "Praxis." With over 60 publications for percussion percussion ensemble, concert band, orchestra, chamber ensembles, and soloists as well as an ever-growing number of commissions, Nathan balances his performing with composing, and to great acclaim. He is the only composer in the histor y of the Percussive Arts Society International Composition Contest to procure both 2nd and 3rd place in the same year with his percussion ensemble works "Limerick Daydreams" and "Adaptation," respectively. Nathan's compositions appear regularly on performances at PASIC, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Bands of America National Percussion Festival, and in concert halls and other performance venues around the world. His works have also been recorded on several albums by respected performers, including the FSU Percussion Ensemble, the Mushashino Academia Wind Symphony conducted by Ray Cramer, the RoseWind Duo, and Mississippi State University. Additionally, three of his compositions for wind ensemble have been featured in three volumes of "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band." As an educator, educator, Nathan served as a Visiting Lecturer of Percussion Percussion for three years at the University of North Carolina at at Greensboro, where he taught applied percussion and conducted the Percussion Ensemble. He also served as a sabbatical replacement at the University of Oklahoma, where he taught undergraduate and graduate percussion students and conducted the world-renowned OU Percussion Orchestra. Dr. Dr. Daughtrey is currently a Visiting Lecturer of Per Percussion cussion and Music Composition at High Point University (NC), where he teaches applied lessons, directs the percussion ensemble and works in collaboration with the School of Communication and Department of Dance. Nathan remains active within the Percussive Percussive Arts Society serving as a member of the Composition Contest Committee, organizing the PASIC Fun Runs on behalf of the Health and Wellness Committee, and editing the keyboard percussion articles for Per Percussive cussive Notes. When not performing, composing or teaching, Dr Dr.. Daughtrey can be found running running and biking the trails and greenways in his hometown of Greensboro, NC.
www.NathanDa www .NathanDaughtrey ughtrey.com .com
