Daughtrey-Halcyon Days (SP)-Solo M/B/V/C/Cro./P

Halcyon Days by Nathan Daughtrey is a percussion ensemble piece for solo 5 octave marimba and four percussionists. The phrase "Halcyon Days" refers to a period of peace and tranquility. According to Ovid's Metamorphoses, Alcyone was the daughter of Aelous, King of the Winds, and the wife of Ceyx. Alcyone and Ceyx were deeply in love and were never willingly apart. Ceyx decided he must make a long journey across the sea to consult the oracle of Apollo at Delphi then died tragically in a shipwreck. The Gods came to Alcyone in a dream and told her of her husband's death. Stricken with grief, she jumped into the sea, but the Gods took pity on her and before she could be overcome by the waves, she was transformed into a kingfisher (also called a halcyon). Ceyx was changed into a bird as well and their love was blessed for all time. In their honor, Zeus forbade the winds to blow for seven days prior to and seven days following the Winter Solstice so Alcyone & Ceyx could safely brood over their nests near the waters. Their tragic love story has given us the very word that means calm, contentment and happiness.

The music follows the arc of the story fairly closely and divides into six major sections. The melodic/harmonic material is derived from 4 chords/pitch sets that have only 4 pitches in common.

Instrumentation:
Solo Marimba - 5 octave, four mallets.
Percussion 1 - Bells, Crotales (2 octaves), 2 Woodblocks (high and medium low), Tam-Tam (may share with percussion 4)
Percussion 2 - Vibraphone (3 octave), China Cymbal, Bongos
Percussion 3 - Bell Tree, Chimes, Suspended Cymbal, 2 Brake Drums, China Cymbal (may share with percussion 2)
Percussion 4 - Ocean Drum, Concert Bass Drum, Kick Bass Drum (laid flat on stand), Tam-Tam