CAIT NISHIMURA
GO L DEN H OU R
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for soloist with concert band
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CAIT NISHIMURA
GOLDEN HOUR for soloist with concert band
Duration: 6:00 Dif culty: Grade 4
Program note and publishing info
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Soloist (in concert pitch in the score) Flute 1 and 2 Oboe Bassoon Clarinet 1, 2, and 3 Bass Clarinet Alto Saxophone 1 and 2 Tenor Saxophone Baritone Saxophone Trumpet 1, 2, and 3 Horn 1 and 2 Trombone 1, 2, and 3 Euphonium (B- at treble part included) Tuba Double Bass Piano (this is an essential part in this piece and should not be omitted) Timpani Mallet Percussion (Glockenspiel, Xylophone) Percussion 1 (Chimes, Wood Block, Triangle, Suspended Cymbal) Percussion 2 (Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Ride Cymbal)
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Instrumentation
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The “golden hour” is the magical period of time just before sunset when the sun is low in the sky and casts a beautiful, warm glow across the horizon. This piece was inspired by an exciting and rewarding journey through Yosemite National Park to reach the Glacier Point overlook before sundown. Driving up the steep mountain roads felt like a race against time, with the sunset already in progress. Along the way, we experienced jaw-dropping vistas over the edge of rocky cliffs; the colours in the sky shifted from vibrant blue and orange to hazy pink and purple. We drove through extensive areas of forest damaged by recent wild res– a visceral reminder of the impacts of our changing climate and the need for balance in nature. When we arrived at the lookout, we were rewarded with a magni cent and exhilarating view of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley set against a glowing sky (as shown on the cover of this score!) It was perfect timing to witness the last moments of sunset before the sky faded calmly into dusk.
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Golden Hour was originally composed for horn and piano in 2020 and was later transcribed for several other solo instruments. This version for soloist with wind band was created in 2025 thanks to the generous support of over 50 consortium members. One dollar from every purchase of this piece will be donated to The Nature Conservancy of Canada.
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A note for the conductor:
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In the score, the solo line is shown in concert pitch and in treble clef. Please be aware that the solo part has been created for various instruments in different transpositions and clefs, and may involve octave displacements to better suit the ranges of different instruments. The piano plays an essential role in this piece and should not be omitted.
Copyright © 2025 Cait Nishimura (SOCAN) All rights reserved. Published by Cait Nishimura Music | caitnishimura.com Distributed by Just a Theory Press | justatheorypress.com Front cover photography and design by Cait Nishimura
Many thanks to the following consortium members for supporting the creation of this version of Golden Hour:
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Appalachian State University - Jason Gardner (Boone, NC, USA) Ashley Killam (Bowie, MD, USA) Benjamin N. Cardozo High School - Michael Oberer (Bayside, NY, USA) Brian Barber (Waterloo, ON, CAN) Carrie Blosser (Bremerton, WA, USA) Cody Ray (Austin, TX, USA) Denise & Tom Hedlund (Grand Ledge, MI, USA) Evan Hardy Collegiate Senior Band - Stacey Mortenson-Spokes (Saskatoon, SK, CAN) Foothills Concert Band - Anthony Reimer (Calgary, AB, CAN) Formation Wind Band - Erin Keeton-Howard & Anne Kreider-Hughes (Seattle, WA, USA) Grand Rapids Community College - Shannon Shaker (Grand Rapids, MI, USA) Horton High School - Lyndsey Mitchell (Greenwich, NS, CAN) Jason Bergman (Bloomington, IN, USA) Jeff Heisler (Lake Orion, MI, USA) Kaitlin Oresky (Boston, MA, USA) Kate Warren (Gainesville, FL, USA) Kawartha Lakes Concert Band - Murray Lefebvre (Kawartha Lakes, ON, CAN) Kelly Watkins (Old Lyme, CT, USA) Kevin Fenske (Houston, TX, USA) Kitchener Musical Society Band - Joshua Crouch (Kitchener, ON, CAN) Lake Forest College Concert Band - Scott Edgar (Lake Forest, IL, USA) Lakeside Pride Symphonic Band - Kyle Rhoades (Chicago, IL, USA) Lethbridge Collegiate Institute - Sam Yamamoto (Lethbridge, AB, CAN) Luke Kranyak (State College, PA, USA) Lyon College Symphonic Wind Ensemble - John Christian (Batesville, AR, USA) MacPhail Center for Music - Ben Bussey (Minneapolis, MN, USA) 陳 文 達 Mandart Chan (Campbell River, BC, CAN) Memorial University Wind Ensemble - Alan Klaus & Dylan Maddix (St. John’s, NL, CAN) Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble - Neal Smith (Decatur, IL, USA) Mount Boucherie Senior Concert Band - Chris Perry & Will Friesen (West Kelowna, BC, CAN) Nick Sullivan (Lethbridge, AB, CAN) Northeastern State University Wind Ensemble - Joseph Bello (Tahlequah, OK, USA) Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan Wind Ensemble - Amy Wilcox (Old Tappan, NJ, USA) Oakland University Symphonic Band - Pamela L. Klena (Auburn Hills, MI, USA) Otterbein University Wind Ensemble - Michael S. Yonchak (Westerville, OH, USA) Our Lady of Sion College - Martin Macaulay & Ryan Parks (Box Hill, VIC, Australia) Paci c Symphonic Wind Ensemble - Christin Reardon-MacLellan (Vancouver, BC, CAN) Portland Community Wind Band (Portland, OR, USA) Reavis High School Bands - Andrew Davis & Brandon Faust (Burbank, IL, USA) San Ramon Valley High School - Brant Nishida (Danville, CA, USA) St. Andrew’s College Wind Ensemble & Jen Stephen, tuba - Dan Horner (Aurora, ON, CAN) State College Area Municipal Band - BJ Hickey (State College, PA, USA) Sunshine Coast Youth Orchestra - Wind Symphony (QLD, Australia) Toronto Concert Band - Tony Field (Toronto, ON, CAN) UCLA Symphonic Band - Justin McManus (Los Angeles, CA, USA) University of Alberta Symphonic Wind Ensemble - Angela Schroeder (Edmonton, AB, CAN) University of Central Florida Concert Band - Dave Schreier (Orlando, FL, USA) University of Oklahoma New Horizons Band - Christopher Baumgartner (Norman, OK, USA) University of Portland Wind Symphony - Patrick Murphy (Portland, OR, USA) University of Texas at El Paso - Brandon Houghtalen & Andrew Hunter (El Paso, TX, USA) University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Wind Orchestra - Jonathan Helmick (Edinburg, TX, USA) University of Victoria - Steven J. Capaldo (Victoria, BC, CAN) William Aberhart High School Music Program - Nathan Gingrich (Calgary, AB, CAN) Zachary T. Fincher (Willard, MO, USA)
SCORE
GOLDEN HOUR
Oboe
Bassoon
B♭ Clarinet 1
B♭ Clarinet 2
B♭ Clarinet 3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
B♭ Trumpet 1
Horn 2
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Tuba
Double Bass
Piano
Timpani
Mallet Percussion
Percussion 1
Percussion 2
gentle and expansive ( = c. 80)
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Euphonium
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Horn 1
B♭ Trumpet 3
gentle and expansive ( = c. 80)
B♭ Trumpet 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
© Cait Nishimura 2025 (SOCAN) All rights reserved. Published by Cait Nishimura Music | caitnishimura.com Distributed by Just a Theory Press | justatheorypress.com
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Flute 2
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Flute 1
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SOLOIST
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gentle and expansive ( = c. 80)
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CAIT NISHIMURA
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Bsn
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
Cl. 3
B Cl.
Tpt. 2
Hn. 1
Hn. 2
Tbn. 1
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 3
Euph.
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
11
Suspended Cymbal
Bass Drum
pizz.
A joyful, with ease ( = 144)
with pedal ad. lib. throughout
A joyful, with ease ( = 144)
A joyful, with ease ( = 144)
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Tpt. 3
T. Sax.
A. Sax. 2
A. Sax. 1
Tpt. 1
E
Ob.
Bar. Sax.
R
Fl. 2
SC
R
Fl. 1
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SOLO
U
11
O
4
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Bsn
Cl. 1
T. Sax.
Tpt. 3
Tbn. 1
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
22
cup mute
cup mute
cup mute
PE Euph.
Tbn. 3
Tbn. 2
Hn. 2
Hn. 1
Tpt. 2
A. Sax. 2
A. Sax. 1
B Cl.
Cl. 3
Tpt. 1
Cl. 2
Bar. Sax.
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Ob.
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Fl. 2
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Fl. 1
E
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22
SOLO
5
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
T. Sax.
Hn. 1
Hn. 2
Euph.
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
33
Suspended Cymbal
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Tbn. 3
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 1
Tpt. 3
Tpt. 2
A. Sax. 2
Cl. 3
35
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Bsn
U
Ob.
Tpt. 1
E
Fl. 2
Bar. Sax.
R
R
Fl. 1
SC
33
SOLO
O
6
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
Cl. 3
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
Tbn. 1
Tbn. 3
Euph.
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
B
43
Wood Block
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Xylophone
Xyl.
51
Ride Cymbal
51
R
Tbn. 2
Hn. 2
cup mute
Hn. 1
Tpt. 3
cup mute
cup mute
B
Tpt. 1 Tpt. 2
T. Sax.
E
Bsn
Ob.
R
O
Fl. 2
Bar. Sax.
SC
Fl. 1
U
SOLO
B
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43
7
8
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Cl. 2
A. Sax. 1
B Cl.
T. Sax.
Tpt. 1
Hn. 1
Hn. 2
Tbn. 1
Tbn. 3
Euph.
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
54
PE
open
open
open
Tbn. 2
R
Tpt. 3
Tpt. 2
A. Sax. 2
Cl. 3
U
Cl. 1
E
Bsn
R
Ob.
O
Fl. 2
Bar. Sax.
SC
Fl. 1
SA L
54
SOLO
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
T. Sax.
Tpt. 3
Hn. 1
Hn. 2
Euph.
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
65
arco
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Tbn. 3
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 1
Tpt. 2
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A. Sax. 2
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A. Sax. 1
B Cl.
Cl. 3
Cl. 2
Glockenspiel
E
Cl. 1
R
Bsn
Tpt. 1
Ob.
O
Fl. 2
Bar. Sax.
SA L
Fl. 1
SC
65
SOLO
9
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Ob.
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
Cl. 3
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
T. Sax.
Bar. Sax.
Bsn
Euph.
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
73
C
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Tbn. 3
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 1
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Hn. 2
Hn. 1
Tpt. 3
C
Tpt. 1 Tpt. 2
E
R
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Fl. 1 Fl. 2
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SOLO
C
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73
O
10
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Cl. 2
Cl. 3
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
T. Sax.
Hn. 2
Tbn. 2
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
83
PE Euph.
Tbn. 3
Tbn. 1
Hn. 1
R
Tpt. 3
Tpt. 2
U
Cl. 1
Tpt. 1
E
Bsn
Ob.
Bar. Sax.
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Fl. 2
R
Fl. 1
O
SC
83
SOLO
11
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Cl. 1
Cl. 3
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
T. Sax.
Cl. 2
Tpt. 2
Tpt. 3
D. B.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
R
pizz.
PE
Euph.
Tbn. 3
D dreamy and distant
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 1
Hn. 2
Hn. 1
Tpt. 1
Pno.
SC
Bsn
Tba
Ob.
Bar. Sax.
SA L
Fl. 2
U
Fl. 1
E
SOLO
D dreamy and distant
O
92
R
12
D dreamy and distant
92
Triangle
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Ob.
Bsn
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
Cl. 3
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
T. Sax.
Tpt. 3
Tbn. 2
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
= 60
98
= 60 molto rit.
PE Euph.
molto rit.
Tbn. 3
R
Tbn. 1
Hn. 2
Hn. 1
Tpt. 1 Tpt. 2
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Fl. 2
Bar. Sax.
Suspended Cymbal
E expressive ( = c. 92)
arco
E expressive ( = c. 92)
E expressive ( = c. 92)
E
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Fl. 1
R
O
SOLO
= 60
molto rit.
SC
98
13
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Cl. 3
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
T. Sax.
Tpt. 1
Cl. 2
Bar. Sax.
Tpt. 2
Tpt. 3
Euph.
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
107
PE
Tbn. 3
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 1
Hn. 2
Hn. 1
Chimes
Bass Drum
Triangle
SC
Cl. 1
Bsn
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Ob.
U
Fl. 2
E
R
Fl. 1
R
107
SOLO
O
14
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Bsn
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
Cl. 3
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
Tpt. 1
Bar. Sax.
Tpt. 2
Hn. 1
Hn. 2
Tbn. 1
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 3
Euph.
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
117
accelerando
PE
Tpt. 3
T. Sax.
= 144
accelerando
cup mute
Wood Block
= 144
Xylophone
cup mute
= 144 mute cup
E
Ob.
R
Fl. 2
O
accelerando
R
Fl. 1
SC
SOLO
SA L
U
117
15
Suspended Cymbal
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Ob.
Bsn
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
Cl. 3
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
T. Sax.
Tpt. 1
Tpt. 3
Tpt. 2
A. Sax. 2
F with growing intensity ( = c. 100)
Hn. 2
Tbn. 1
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
D. B.
open
PE Tba
Euph.
Tbn. 3
Tbn. 2
Hn. 1
U
Bar. Sax.
SA L
Fl. 2
E
R
Fl. 1
R
SOLO
F with growing intensity ( = c. 100)
SC
127
O
16
F with growing intensity ( = c. 100)
127
Triangle
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Cl. 2
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
T. Sax.
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
134
R
open
Chimes
Glockenspiel
PE Tba
Euph.
Tbn. 3
open
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 1
Hn. 2
Hn. 1
Tpt. 3
Tpt. 2
Cl. 3
Tpt. 1
Cl. 1
Bar. Sax.
SA L
Bsn
U
Ob.
E
Fl. 2
R
Fl. 1
O
SC
134
SOLO
17
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Fl. 2
Ob.
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
T. Sax.
Tpt. 1
Euph.
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
G
G
PE
Tbn. 3
U
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 1
Hn. 2
Hn. 1
Tpt. 3
Tpt. 2
Cl. 3
Cl. 2
Cl. 1
Bsn
Bar. Sax.
E
R
Fl. 1
SA L
SOLO
R
O
140
SC
18
G
140
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Cl. 3
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
T. Sax.
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
146
Bass Drum
151
PE Tba
Euph.
Tbn. 3
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 1
Hn. 2
Hn. 1
Tpt. 3
Tpt. 2
SA L
Cl. 2
Tpt. 1
Cl. 1
Bar. Sax.
Bsn
U
Ob.
E
Fl. 2
R
R
Fl. 1
O
SC
146
SOLO
19
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
T. Sax.
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 3
PE
Euph.
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
sub.
sub.
sub.
sub.
sub.
Tbn. 1
sub.
Hn. 2
Hn. 1
Tpt. 3
Tpt. 2
R
B Cl.
Cl. 3
Cl. 2
Cl. 1
Tpt. 1
Bsn
Bar. Sax.
SA L
Ob.
U
Fl. 2
O
Fl. 1
E
SC
152
SOLO
R
20
sub.
sub.
sub.
sub.
sub.
sub.
sub.
sub.
sub.
152
Xylophone
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Cl. 2
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
T. Sax.
Tpt. 1
Tpt. 2
Tpt. 3
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
158
H triumphant
Suspended Cymbal
Mallet Perc. Timp.
H triumphant
PE
Euph.
Tbn. 3
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 1
Hn. 2
Hn. 1
Cl. 3
U
Cl. 1
R
Bsn
Ob.
E
Fl. 2
Bar. Sax.
H triumphant
R
Fl. 1
O
SC
SOLO
SA L
158
21
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Bsn
Cl. 2
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
T. Sax.
Tpt. 1 Tpt. 2
Hn. 1
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 3
Euph.
Tba
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
163
Chimes
rit.
rit.
cup mute
cup mute
cup mute
pizz.
I warmly, fading away ( = c. 126)
I warmly, fading away ( = c. 126)
Glockenspiel
I warmly, fading away ( = c. 126)
PE
Tbn. 1
Hn. 2
Tpt. 3
Cl. 3
Cl. 1
Bar. Sax.
E
Ob.
rit.
R
Fl. 2
SA L
U
Fl. 1
R
SOLO
O
163
SC
22
Suspended Cymbal
NISHIMURA - GOLDEN HOUR
Cl. 1
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1
A. Sax. 2
T. Sax.
Tpt. 1
Hn. 2
Tbn. 1
Tbn. 3
D. B.
Pno.
Timp.
Mallet Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PE Euph.
172
arco
rit.
rit.
Tbn. 2
Hn. 1
Tpt. 3
Tpt. 2
Cl. 3
Cl. 2
rit.
E
R
SA L
Bsn
Tba
Ob.
Bar. Sax.
U
Fl. 2
R
Fl. 1
O
SOLO
SC
172
23
E R SC O L U SA R PE
NISHIMURA: GOLDEN HOUR (SOLOIST WITH BAND) JAT-161-025-FS
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