Inferno, The

Robert W. Smith

Robert W. Smith

This work is the first movement of the composer's Symphony No. 1, The Divine Comedy.

General Info

Year: 1995
Duration: c. 7:20
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alfred Music Publishing
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $87.00; (digital) - $87.00   |   Score Only (print) - $9.00; (digital) - $9.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Piano
Timpani (5 drums)
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

• Bass Drum
• Bells
• Chimes
• Crash Cymbals
• Heavy Chain
• Marimba
• Suspended Cymbal
• Tam-tam
• Tom-toms (2)
• Triangle
• Whip
• Wind Chimes
• Xylophone

Errata

In Score:

• Baritone B.C., m.79: Add hairpin crescendo starting on beat 1 and lasting full measure
• Tuba, m.107: Add an accent to the dotted half note on beat 1
• Mallet Percussion, Marimba, m.96: Add dynamic marking "f" starting on beat 2

In Parts:

• Flute I, m.79: Add hairpin crescendo starting on beat 1 and lasting full measure
• Flute II, m.72-73: Add a trill (to Gb) lasting for full two measures
• Flute II, m.79: Add hairpin crescendo starting on beat 1 and lasting full measure
• Mallet Percussion, Marimba, m.103: Add marking "molto rall."
• Mallet Percussion, Marimba, m.107: Add an accent to the dotted half note chord on beat 1
• Percussion III, m.104: Add dynamic marking "f" on beat 1
• Percussion III, Crash Cymbals, m.106: Add hairpin crescendo starting on beat 1 and lasting full measure
• Percussion III, Crash Cymbals, m.107: Add dynamic marking "ff"
• Percussion III, m.116: Player should return to the suspended cymbal, not continue with the wind chimes

In Score and Parts:

• Flute I, m.59: The G-flat5 sixteenth note printed on the & of beat 2 should be a G-natural
• Flute I, m.169: The G-flat5 sixteenth note printed on the & of beat 2 should be a G-natural
• Flute II, m.59: The G-flat5 sixteenth note printed on the & of beat 2 should be a G-natural
• Flute II, m.169: The G-flat5 sixteenth note printed on the & of beat 2 should be a G-natural
• Baritone Saxophone, m.173-174: Slur the sixteenth notes starting from the D5 on beat 1 of m.173 to the C6 on beat 1 of m.174 (identical to m.63-64)

Program Notes

The Inferno is the first movement of Robert W. Smith's four-movement work The Divine Comedy based on Dante Alighieri's literary classic of the same name. Dante's vision of hell consists of nine concentric circles divided into four categories of sin. This first movement of the epic work uses visual imagery with huge blocks of sound and explosive winds and percussion.

- Program Note from publisher

Commissioned by the James Madison University Band, Harrisonburg, Virginia, Dr J. Patrick Rooney, Director of Bands.

- Program Note from score

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. George Mason University Wind Ensemble (Anthony Maiello, conductor)
• Audio CD: Symphony Band, Unió Musical of Llíria (José Miguel Micó Castellano, conductor) – 2008
• Audio CD: George Mason University Wind Ensemble (Anthony Maiello, conductor) – 1997

State Ratings

• Alabama: Class A
• Georgia: VI
• Kansas: V
• Minnesota: II
• Mississippi: VI-A
• New York: Concert Band V
• North Carolina: VI
• Ohio: OMEA High School Band C
• Tennessee: VI
• Virginia: V

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Virginia Tech (Blacksburg) Wind Ensemble (Derek Shapiro, conductor) - 14 November 2023
• Adrian (Mich.) College Concert Band (Ryan Cupp, conductor) - 20 February 2023
• Winnipeg (Man., Can.) Wind Ensemble (Virginia Helmer, conductor) - 12 February 2023
• Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles (Chicago, Ill.) Symphonic Band (Kyle Rhoades, conductor) - 19 November 2022
• Sequim (Wash.) City Band (Tyler Benedict, conductor) - 29 October 2022
• North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) Concert Winds (Lawrence Van Oyen, conductor) - 5 December 2021
• Mid America Freedom Band (Kansas City, Mo.) (Lee Hartman, conductor) – 17 October 2021
• Rome (Italy) Banda dell'Esercito Italiano (Italian Army Wind Band) (Filippo Cangiamila, conductor) – 22 September 2021
• Franklin (Mass.) High School Wind Ensemble (Diane Plouffe, conductor) – 10 December 2019
• Newtown (Conn.) High School Wind Ensemble (Kurt Eckardt, conductor) – 24 May 2019 (Carnegie Hall, New York)
• San Dieguito Academy (San Diego, Calif.) Wind Ensemble I (Jeremy Wuertz, conductor) – 23 January 2019
• DuPage Community Concert Band (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) (Terry Redford, conductor) - 3 December 2018
• Los Angeles (Calif.) Symphonic Winds (Stephen Piazza, conductor) – 7 October 2018
• Ohlone Wind Orchestra (Fremont, Calif.) (Tony Clements, conductor) – 1 May 2016
• PEI Senior High Honours Band 2015 (Karem J. Simon, Conductor) – 25 November 2015
• Keene (N.H.) State College Concert Band (Samantha Fowler, conductor) – 30 October 2014
• Mid America Freedom Band (Kansas City, Mo.) (Lee Hartman, conductor) – 12 April 2014
• De Kunstvrienden Sint-Eloois-Winkel (Ledegem, Netherlands) (Dimitri Bracke, conductor) – 7 April 2013
• Ely (Minn.) Senior High Band (Nolan Hauta, conductor) – March 2013

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

• Christmas Declaration (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Glover) (2009/2019)

All Wind Works

• Aces (2015)
• Affirmation Overture (1991)
• Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual (1994)
• African Bell Carol (as arranger) (2001)
• African Holy Night (2017)
• Ain't No Stoppin' Us (2007)
• Alabama Fanfare (2015)
• All Is Calm (as arranger) (2002)
• America the Beautiful (as arranger) (1882/1988)
• American Bell Carol (2012)
• An American Christmas (2004)
• American Dances (Brass Ensemble) (2017)
  • Rag
  • Square
  • Swing
• American Dances (Wind Ensemble) (2017/2018-2019)
  • Rag (2017/2019)
  • Square (2017/2019)
  • Swing (2017/2018)
• American Flourish (2009)
• American Folk Odyssey
  • The Wayfaring Stranger (2021)
• American Landscape No. 1 (2005)
• American Landscape No. 2. See: North Bay Vistas
• And to All a Good Night (2004)
• Angels, from the Realms of Glory (as arranger) (1816/1999)
• The Apes (2013), from Bestiarium
• Apollo Fanfare
• The Ascension. See: Symphony No. 1, "The Divine Comedy"
• Ash Lawn Echoes (1993)
• At Daybreak (2009)
• At the Crossroads (1994)
• Bells! (2009)
• Beyond the Bell Carol (2018)
• Blue. See: Krisanna's Colors
• Brazil: Ceremony, Song and Samba (2009)
• Brazilian Bell Carol (2016)
• Buffalo Dances (2006)
• By Loch and Mountain (1997)
• Cameroon (2004)
• Castle Lore
• Celtic Bell Carol (2010)
• Celtic Carol (2002)
• Celebration Fanfare from "Buffalo Dances" (2006)
• Ceremonium (1994)
• Chautauqua (2004)
• Christmas Concerto (1991)
• Christmas Concerto No. 2
• Christmas Concerto No. 3 (2003)
• Christmas Declaration (2009)
• Christmas Declaration (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Glover) (2009/2019)
• A Christmas Festival (as arranger) (1950/2007)
• Christmas Hymn (2001)
• Christmas in the Round (2001)
• A Christmas Proclamation (2008)
• Christmas Spectacle (as arranger) (2020)
• Cohan Celebration
• Conversations with Matisse (2021)
• Cosmic Harmonies (2023)
• Covenant (1992)
• Crown of Glory (2009)
• Crush (2013)
• Currents (2006)
• Dance Celebration (2000)
• Danza
• Deck the Halls with Drums and Voices
• Declaration and Flourish. See: Vaughan Williams Suite
• Declaration in Blue (2002)
• The Divine Comedy. See: Symphony No. 1, "The Divine Comedy"
• Dramatico
• Dreams (2010)
• Dueling Dragons (2009)
• Dulcinea. See: Symphony No. 3, "Don Quixote
• Earhart (2012)
• El Espiritu de Valencia (2009)
• Encanto (1989/2007)
• Eternal Peaks (2006)
• Evening Alleluias
• Fanfare and Processional on an Old English Carol (1999)
• Fanfare for a Holiday Celebration (2006)
• Fanfare for Tomorrow (2006)
• Fiesta La Vida (2009)
• Flying Fortress (2019)
• Full Throttle (2015)
• Furioso (2001)
• The Gathering of the Yeomen (1993)
• Gemeinhardt Suite (1997)
• Gentle Winds of Spring (2019)
• Georgia on My Mind (as arranger) (1930/1980)
• Gladiator Finale
• Glorioso (1997)
• Goondiwindi
• The Great Escape March (as arranger) (1963/1991/1995)
• The Great Locomotive Chase (2000)
• The Great Steamboat Chase (2003)
• The Greatest Generation (2017)
• Greensleeves. See: Vaughan Williams Suite
• Groovin' Down Cool Street (2009)
• Hadrian's Wall (2010)
• Harry Potter Symphonic Suite (as arranger) (2001)
• Herndon Exaltations (1997)
• High and Low Country
• Highlights from "Ragtime" (as arranger) (1997)
• Holiday March (with Michael Story) (2006)
• A Holst Hymn (as arranger) (1921/2022)
• Holst Winter Suite
  • On This Day Earth Shall Ring (as arranger) (1924/2001)
  • In the Bleak Midwinter (as arranger) (1906/1992)
  • Old Brenton Carol (as arranger) (1910/2001)
• Hoosier Suite
• Hope (2015)
• Hymnsong Variants (1996)
• The Iliad. See: Symphony No. 2, "The Odyssey"
• The Illumination. See: Symphony No. 3, "Don Quixote"
• In a Gentle Rain (2000)
• In the Garden of the Gods
• In Times of Turbulence (2019)
• Incantations (1992)
• Inchon (2001)
• Inchon (adapt. Ninmer) (2001/)
• The Inferno. See: Symphony No. 1, "The Divine Comedy"
• Into the Storm (1994)
• Ireland (1996)
• Irish Songs (2007)
• The Isle of Calypso. See: Symphony No. 2, "The Odyssey"
• Ithaca. See: Symphony No. 2, "The Odyssey"
• Jingle Bells Forever (1998)
• Journeys in Time
• King of Kings (1998)
• Krisanna's Colors (2015-2017)
  • Red (2017)
  • Blue (2015)
  • Yellow (2016)
• Kronos (2003)
• Latin Bell Carol (2008)
• Leroy Anderson, a Legacy in Sound (as arranger) (1991/2008)
• Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (as arranger, with Story) (1945/2008)
• Liturgical Fanfare (1995)
• Lullaby for Band (2007)
• The Maelstrom (1997)
• March Grandioso (as arranger) (1909/2007)
• Mighty Empire (2018)
• A Minor Holiday Celebration (as arranger) (2019)
• Mirages (2009)
• Morpheus (2004)
• A Mother's Hymn (2021)
• Moto Continuo (2009)
• Musical Mayhem (2017)
• Mutations (2023)
• A Nation's Strength (2003)
• Navarro (2009)
• North Bay Vistas (2007)
• The Odyssey. See: Symphony No. 2, "The Odyssey"
• On Eagle's Wings (1999)
• Overture 1812 (as arranger, with Story) (1882/2012)
• Paradiso. See: Symphony No. 1, "The Divine Comedy"
• Peace Like a River
• Postcards from the First Coast (2015)
• The Prairie is My Garden (2018)
• Prevailing Winds (2009)
• Promising Skies (2010)
• Purgatorio. See: Symphony No. 1, "The Divine Comedy"
• The Quest. See: Symphony No. 3, "Don Quixote"
• The Recession, Depression Holiday Blues (2009)
• Red. See: Krisanna's Colors
• Reflections in Moonlight (as arranger) (1801/2007)
• Relativo (2011)
• Rising Dragons (2006)
• Rites of Tamburo (1999)
• Repercussions (2007)
• The Royal Hawaiian (2023)
• The Runaway Sleigh (2007)
• Sancho and the Windmills. See: Symphony No. 3, "Don Quixote"
• Scaling the Mountains of Time (2022)
• Semper Liberi (1998)
• Sensei's Ride on the Cherry Blossom Express (2010)
• Serengeti Dreams (2000)
• Shenandoah (arr. Smith and Story) (2003)
• Soaring Over High and Low Country (2022)
• Solaris (2009)
• Songs of Earth, Water, Fire and Sky (1998)
• Songs of Sailor and Sea (1997)
• The Sound and the Fury (1999)
• Southwest Summer (2009)
• The Spirit of Orpheus (1998)
• Spirit of the Winds (2007)
• The Star of Dreams (2002)
• Star Wars: Episode II, Attack of the Clones (as arranger) (2002)
• Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (as arranger) (2005)
• Stone Gardens (2016)
• Suite for the Heroes Among Us (2018)
• Suite of Appalachian Folk Songs (2016)
• Summer Nights (2016)
• The Sword of Kings (2007)
• Symphonic Festival (1991)
• Symphonic Statement (2006)
• Symphony No. 1, "The Divine Comedy" (1994-1997)
  • The Inferno (1995)
  • Purgatorio (1997)
  • The Ascension (1994)
  • Paradiso (1996)
• Symphony No. 2, "The Odyssey" (1999-2004)
  • The Iliad (2001)
  • The Winds of Poseidon (1999)
  • The Isle of Calypso (2001)
  • Ithaca (2004)
• Symphony No. 3, "Don Quixote" (2008)
  • The Quest
  • Dulcinea
  • Sancho and the Windmills
  • The Illumination
• Symphony of Souls (2007)
• The Tempest (1995)
• Teutonic Tales (2010)
  • Damon-Tanz (2011)
  • Freya (2011)
  • Thor's Hammer (2011)
• Three Fanfares for a Celebration (2007)
• Through the Vulcan's Eye (1996)
• To Dance in the Secret Garden (1996)
• To Challenge the Sky and Heavens Above (2000)
• To the Summit! (2001)
• Top Gun (1986)
• Triton Fanfare (2009)
• Tromba Grande (2016)
• Tuba Christmas (2020)
• 'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime (as arranger) (1995)
• Twelve Seconds to the Moon (1996)
• Twister (as arranger) (1996)
• Ultimatum (2009)
• Upon a Midnight Clear (as arranger) (2014)
• Üsküdar (with Michael Story) (2005)
• Valiance: A Heroic Overture for Band (2007)
• Vaughan Williams Suite
  • Wassail (as arranger) (2006)
  • Greensleeves (as arranger) (2007)
  • Declaration and Flourish (2008)
• Walking the Planks (2012)
• When Saint Nick Comes Marching In (as arranger) (2017)
• When Summer Takes Flight (2002)
• Where the Black Hawk Soars (1995)
• Willson Suite (1997/2000)
• Wind Song (2017)
• The Winds of Poseidon. See: Symphony No. 2, "The Odyssey"
• A World Holiday Celebration (2007)
• Yellow. See: Krisanna's Colors
• Yi Sun Shin: A Call to the Sea. See: Rising Dragons

Resources

• Pease, Andrew. "Symphony no. 1: The Divine Comedy." Wind Band Symphony Archive."" Web. Accessed 21 February 2021
• Robert W. Smith website Accessed 6 September 2021
• Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 549.
• Smith, R. (1995). The Inferno: First Movement from The Divine Comedy [score]. Belwin Mills: Miami, Fla.