Silver Ladders is an orchestral composition by the American composer Joan Tower.
[1] The work is scored for a large orchestra comprising two flutes, piccolo, two oboes, cor anglais, two clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, three trumpets, two trombones, bass trombone, tuba, timpani, four percussionists, harp, piano (doubling celesta), and strings.
[1] Reviewing an eponymous ballet set to the music, Anna Kisselgoff of The New York Times lauded the work, writing, "Like many of her contemporaries, Ms. Tower is strong on dramatic texture.
Beginning with a drum roll and chimes, her score varies light percussion with turbulence.
"[2] The piece won the 1990 Grawemeyer Award for music, making Tower the first woman and first American-born person to receive the prize.