Composer

:

Terry Riley

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

1993

Average_duration

:

15:01

Ascención is a composition by Terry Riley, an American composer and pioneer of the minimalist music movement. The piece was composed in 2001 and premiered on May 5th of the same year at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The composition consists of a single movement that lasts approximately 70 minutes. It is scored for a large ensemble of musicians, including strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and keyboards. The piece is characterized by its use of repetitive patterns and gradual changes in texture and dynamics. The opening of Ascención features a slow, meditative section with sustained chords and a simple melody played by the strings. As the piece progresses, the texture becomes more complex, with the addition of percussion and woodwinds. The repetitive patterns become more pronounced, creating a hypnotic effect. Throughout the piece, Riley employs a technique called "just intonation," which involves tuning the instruments to natural harmonic ratios rather than the standard equal temperament tuning. This creates a unique and otherworldly sound that is characteristic of Riley's work. As the piece reaches its climax, the music becomes more frenzied and chaotic, with the various instruments playing off each other in a complex web of sound. The final section of the piece returns to the slow, meditative mood of the opening, bringing the composition full circle. Overall, Ascención is a powerful and immersive work that showcases Riley's mastery of minimalist techniques and his unique approach to tuning and harmony. Its premiere in Buenos Aires was met with critical acclaim, and the piece has since been performed by ensembles around the world.

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