The Silken Ladder

0 Full Score A3 - 1 Full Score - 1 Piccolo - 8 Flute - 1 Oboe I - 1 Oboe II - 2 Bassoon - 1 Clarinet Eb - 5 Clarinet I - 5 Clarinet II - 5 Clarinet III - 1 Alto Clarinet Eb - 1 Bass Clarinet - 1 Contrabass Clarinet - 2 Alto Saxophone I - 2 Alto Saxophone II - 2 Tenor Saxophone - 1 Baritone Saxophone - 2 Cornet I - 2 Cornet II - 2 Horn I Eb - 2 Horn I F - 2 Horn II Eb - 2 Horn II F - 3 Trombone I C - 1 Trombone I Bb (TC) - 1 Trombone I Bb (BC) - 3 Trombone II C - 1 Trombone II Bb (TC) - 1 Trombone II Bb (BC) - 2 Euphonium C - 2 Euphonium Bb (BC) - 2 Euphonium Bb (TC) - 2 Bas Bb (TC) - 2 Bas Bb (BC) - 2 Bas Eb (TC) - 2 Bas Eb (BC) - 4 Tuba C - 1 Stringbass - 2 Percussion I - 1 Timpani

The opera or ‘farsa comica' in one act ‘La Scala di Seta' (The Silken Ladder) by Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) was first performed at the ‘San Moisé' theatre in Venice on 9 May 1812. It is the story of the beautiful Giulia whose guardian wants her to marry a rich young man. However, Giulia is already married to a young man who climbs every night into her room by means of a silken ladder. In the splendid overture of this opera Rossini gave an important part to the wind ensemble. This classic of the early 19th century repertoire has been most skilfully and enthusiastically arranged for wind band by Lorenzo della Fonte.