SYMPHONIC BAND

Commissioned by the George Mason University Band, Fairfax, Virginia

Professor Anthony Maiello, Director of Bands

The Ascension
(From The Divine Comedy)

Composed and Arranged by Robert W. Smith (ASCAP)

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INSTRUMENTATION

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1 Conductor 1 1st Horn in F 3 Percussion I (Piccolo Triangle,

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1 C Piccolo 1 2nd Horn in F Large Tom-Toms, Bass Drum,
6 C Flute 1 3rd Horn in F Snare Drum, Water-filled
2 Oboe 1 4th Horn in F Crystal)

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3 1st B b Clarinet 1 1st Trombone 2 Percussion II (Suspended Cym-
3 2nd B b Clarinet

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1 2nd Trombone bal, Crash Cymbals, Water-
3 3rd B b Clarinet 1 3rd Trombone filled Crystal)

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1 E b Alto Clarinet 1 Baritone 3 Percussion III (Wind Chimes,
2 B b Bass Clarinet 1 Baritone Treble Clef Tambourine, Conga Drums,

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2 Bassoon 4 Tuba Gong, Water-filled Crystal,
2 E b Alto Saxophone 1 Piano Crash Cymbals)
2 B b Tenor Saxophone
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2 Mallet Percussion (Bells, Gong, es
2 E b Baritone Saxophone Chimes, Bowed Vibes, Crash
2 1st B b Trumpet Cymbals)
2 2nd B b Trumpet
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1 Timpani
2 3rd B b Trumpet
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program notes
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The Divine Comedy is a four-movement work based on Dante Alighier’s literary classic of the same name. The story
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of Dante’s trilogy is basic: One day Dante finds himself lost in a dark wood. Virgil, a character based on the revered
Roman poet, appears and rescues him. Virgil guides Dante to a contemplation of Hell and Purgatory. Dante, having
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confessed his faults, and with Beatrice as his guide, is led into Paradise and attains a glimpse of the face of God.
“The Ascension” is the third of four movements in The Divine Comedy. The movement begins with Dante on the
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Mountain of Purgatory. Having been instructed and purified in Purgatory, he is prepared for his journey to Paradise.
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Beatrice, his guide, lifts her eyes toward the sun. Following her example, Dante looks to the sun and is at the moment
transformed (“trans-humanized”) in preparation for his great adventure. He is surprised to discover wonderful music,
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the music of the spheres, surrounding them. Swifter than thought, their flight of incredible speed begins. Dante and
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Beatrice, accompanied by sounds of wondrous beauty and intensity, ascend to the Sphere of Fire.
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Robert W. Smith
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Please note: Our band and orchestra music is now being collated by an automatic high-speed
system. The enclosed parts are now sorted by page count, rather than score order. We hope this
will not present any difficulty for you in distributing the parts. Thank you for your understanding.
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