Limerick Daydreams by Nathan Daughtrey

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. 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.