American composer Nathan Daughtrey has mined his experience as an accomplished keyboard percussionist for the foundation of his compositional style. Daughtrey credits the following as his creative impetus: “After one too many experiences being a bored, young “drummer” in the back of a band room, he made it his mission to compose wind band music across all difficulty levels with engaging, independent percussion parts that add color and drive, making those players indispensable.” Azul, which translates to “blue” in Spanish, was written in 2009 for the Apollo Duo. The two movements represent the opposing manifestations of the color blue. Cerulean Ice features vibraphone and crotales and evokes the harsh and awe-inspiring glaciers of Antarctica. Sapphiric Fire utilizes the flute and marimba, shifting meter, and a driving tempo to conjure the potentially destructive element. Daughtrey was further inspired by Robert Frost’s poem Fire and Ice: 

Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. 
From what I’ve tasted of desire 

I hold with those who favor fire  

But if it had to perish twice, 

I think I know enough of hate  

To say that for destruction ice 

Is also great 
And would suffice.