Ascend (Hazo)

Samuel Hazo

Subtitle: Movement III of Georgian Suite

General Info

Year: 2006
Duration: c. 3:05
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: MusicWorks through Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts - $65.00 | Score Only - $10.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra Alto 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
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

Bass Drum
Bells
Chimes
Crash Cymbals
Ride Cymbal
Snare Drum

Errata

In Parts:

Mallet Percussion, m.19: The F should be marked as chimes instead of bells
Mallet Percussion, m.75: The B-flat on beat 1 should apply to only the bells and the F on beat 1 should only apply to the chimes (F stem should go down and be disconnected from the B-flat stem)

Program Notes

It was a true honor to compose a piece for such a gifted teacher with such gifted students, at a school with a rich history of commissioning projects. Such a history is very rare at the middle school level. This work followed Erin Cole’s commissioning of A Shaker Gift Song by composer Frank Ticheli. It marked the second time in one year that I immediately followed Frank Ticheli in a commissioning series, and this is not an enviable place to be! Ascend was written to be closer to Tapp’s 2004 Midwest Clinic performance. Erin had previously heard a composition of mine entitled Ride and had asked if Tapp’s piece could be of that energy level, only written for middle level students. It was a privilege for me to oblige, and I even disguised some of Ride’s chordal themes in sections of Ascend.

I incorporated the use of parallel major and minor keys, as well as themes in the mixolydian mode, to give this composition its sense of adventure. Combining the triumphant qualities of a major key with the instant drama of a minor key can give a piece intensity through its harmonic contrast. Mixed meters and syncopations give the themes a unique edge, while keeping them simple enough to the ear to be sung. A brief three-part fugue introduced as the “C” section returns in the end, woven with a trumpet, sax and horn syncopated ostinato.

It was my goal for Ascend to have many musical teaching opportunities for the classroom, while still providing the audience with enough energy and thematic substance to keep their interest. I truly hope Ascend is enjoyable for the conductor, the musicians, and the listener.

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: Tapp Middle School Symphonic Band (Erin Cole, conductor) - 2004

State Ratings

Minnesota: Category 3
North Carolina: IV
West Virginia: III
Wisconsin:: Class B

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Bemidji (Minn.) Area Community Band (Ryan Webber, conductor) - 3 July 2022
Illinois State University (Normal) University Band (Marisa Miko, conductor) – 20 November 2019
Washington Union High School (Fresno, Calif.) Wind Ensemble (Robert Madrid, conductor) - 13 April 2018 (2018 San Joaquin Valley (Calif.) Concert Band Invitational)
Washington Union High School (Fresno, Calif.) Wind Ensemble (Robert Madrid, conductor) -16 March 2018 (2018 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
Bluefield High School (North Hampshire, PEI) Grade 10-12 Concert Band (Christine Blanchard, Conductor) - May 2017
Sandhills (Buies Creek, N.C.) Wind Symphony ( Charles Dwayne Wilson, conductor) – 12 November 2015
Charlottesville (Va.) Municipal Band (Stephen R. Layman, conductor) – 16 June 2015
Edison High School (Fresno, Calif.) Symphonic Band (Robert Madrid, conductor) - 17 April 2015 (2015 San Joaquin Valley (Calif.) Concert Band Invitational)
Heritage High School (Palm Bay, Fla.) Symphonic Band (Brandon T. Jenkins, conductor) - 2013
Tapp Middle School (Powder Springs, Ga.) Symphonic Band (Erin Cole, conductor) – 15 December 2004 (2004 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Our Kingsland Spring (Flex instrumentation) (2005/2015)

All Wind Works

Across the Halfpipe. See: Minnesota Portraits
Ascend. See: Georgian Suite
Alleluia (2012)
Arabesque (2008/2009)
Arrows (2014)
As Winds Dance (2003)
Autumn on White Lake (2010)
Blessings
Blue and Green Music (2011)
Books With Blank Pages (2015)
Bridges (2007)
Chorus Angelorum (2009)
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble (2008/2011)
The Christmas Music of Samuel Hazo
Danny Boy (as arranger) (2013)
Diamond Fanfare (2006)
Drums of the Saamis (2014)
Each Time You Tell Their Story (2003)
Echoes (2005)
Enchanted Spaces (2012)
Everything Beautiful (2015)
- The Stillness of Remembering (2015/2016)
Exultate (2001/2003)
Fantasy on a Japanese Folksong (1997/2005)
For Heaven and the Future (2016)
From Gold (2015)
Georgian Suite (2002-2006)
- Our Kingsland Spring (2006)
- Our Kingsland Spring (Flex instrumentation) (2005/2015)
- Rivers (2002)
- Ascend (2005)
Glorificare (2013)
...Go (2008)
Hennepin County Dawn. See: Minnesota Portraits
In Flight (2000/2008)
In Heaven's Air (2002)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (as arranger) (2012)
Jubilatéo (Fanfare and Allegro) (2013)
Keltic Variations (2003)
Minnesota Portraits (2008)
- Hennepin County Dawn
- Rest
- Across the Halfpipe
Mountain Thyme (2013)
Novo Lenio (2002)
Olympiada (1997/2002)
Our Kingsland Spring. See: Georgian Suite
Our Yesterdays Lengthen like Shadows (2010)
Parkour (2011)
Perthshire Majesty (2003/2004)
Psalm 42 (2004)
The Quest (2002)
Rest. See: Minnesota Portraits
Ride (2002)
Rising Star (2006)
Rivers. See: Georgian Suite
Rush (2006)
Seconds Out (2013)
Sevens (2005)
Siorai September (2011)
Sky Is Waiting (2006)
Sòlas Ané (2006)
Southern Hymn (2009)
Stella Maris (2014)
The Stillness of Remembering. See: Everything Beautiful
Their Blossoms Down (2002)
Three Concert Fanfares (2007)
To Be (2019)
Today Is the Gift (2006)
Voices of the Sky (2005)
We Meet Again (2010)
Whisper to their Souls (2008)
A Zillion Nickels (2015)

Resources

Hazo, S. (2006). Ascend [score]. Hal Leonard Corp.: Milwaukee, Wisc.