Benediction by John Stevens

MusicWorks - Grade 3
Originally scored for brass choir, composer John Stevens brings us this marvelous version for full band featuring flowing melodies and counterlines in a rich chorale-like setting. The solo part at the beginning and end is scored for euphonium, but is cued for clarinet, trumpet or trombone. Great for teaching a lyric style of playing, and also as an effective performance piece.
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[willfarmer]

This song gets me emotional every time I hear it. When I was a junior, we had been working on this piece to play for our spring concert. During that time my mother had been fighting cancer. Just before the performance my band director says I want to introduce this piece and he talked about how a benediction is a prayer and he dedicated the song to my mother and EVERYONE was so emotional. It few about a week later she had finished her fight but this song always takes me back to that moment

[alexandersmith]

Here I am, coming back to listen to this song 2 years later after I had played it for my senior spring concert in high school. One of my best friends who was also in the band had died in a car accident a couple months prior, and the song was to be dedicated to him. I had been the section leader for the euphoniums for three years, and the drum major for two, and I had the solo for this song. Whenever we played the song for the concert, I still, to this day, believe that that moment was the best I ever have played and the best I will ever play. When the song ended, I found myself and those around me in tears, which had been the first time I had cried in years. Even today, listening to this song brings me to tears as I recall that concert and how it made me feel. I will always remember that moment for as long as I live. Truly, a beautiful song that I feel extremely honoured to have played

[pariah]

I am the Senior section leader for the Euphoniums at my high school and am graduating early. In less than 2 hours from now, I will play the solo for ~1, 000 people at a proper theatre. This is my last concert, and just typing this now I am already nostalgic.
Edit: It went phenomenally, and there were a bit more tears than I expected. Alot of important people were there and the whole night was something fantastic that I will never forget.

[trainsmusicandmore]

This is honestly the best piece of music of have played in 6 years of playing

[ChristopherDefrank]

Just hearing this brings me on the verge of crying from how unfathomably _beautiful_ this sounds.

[_dzrk]

I’m a senior in high school, playing this song at our upcoming concert. We’re playing it to honor all the lives that have been lost from the past few years. People lost that were in this band family, the family and friends each member has and had, the lives lost in all the recent shootings and accidents in our area and everywhere else. My band director pulled me aside a while ago before he assigned this piece after marching season, saying it would also honor my friend and I, as he heard that we nearly lost our lives trying to help people that had gotten in a car accident in front of us. He’s only been our director since last year, but this man really put a lot of thought into this piece when he added it to the concert program, where the orchestras and choirs play their own music as well.
Edits: fixing minor mistakes.

[gavinb]

I remember our band teacher showed us this during a Google Meet a bit more than a month ago, and I was caught off guard by the excellent melody and harmony mixed together at measure 9 and onwards from there. I am glad he showed us this. Please help me remember to recommend this for 8th grade band class.

Edit: My band director finally pulled this piece out!

[HaliPuppeh]

Sublimely beautiful. I can see how this would be a moving experience to play.

[griffintgm]

We’re playing this for this coming concert in 9th grade. I’m a percussionist on the marimba piece, good song.

[hugochinify]

Played this at our school's Year 12 graduation.. Damn, the graduates within our band cried :c

[aarongrafastronaaron]

This is definitely something you would play for your last concert. It's very pretty and emotional.

[lenal.]

today I got a call from my mom during school saying that she might have cancer and she was crying (if never heard her cry) and right before that i found my bf cheating on me with his girl bsf. when i had to play this song at band today i completely broke down when it came to 1:30 . I’m never gonna forget this day.

[lalavx_]

this is the warm up for the top band at my school and its so gorgeous

[orangedustkun]

Im playing this in my spring concert tomorrow man If I was a senior I would be feeling emotional

[thegrimcreaper]

played this a couple years ago, final concert of middle school band. us euphs were the best section our director has had in years and he wanted to give us something in return for being so good. not as emotional as some of the other stories here but i still love the song and it brings back so many good memories of middle school band

[thebestbreaddadd]

i just got to play this for my district band and it was so fun and emotional even tho i dont play

[BlueRoseGeek]

Currently playing this on bassoon in my local community band, lucky enough to sit next to our euphonium player so I have the best seat in the house!

[botfrg]

Played this for 2014 EVSC Mid Honors tour... amazing piece

[personYty]

Baritone Solo tomorrow for our concert. So exited.

[CiriceGhost]

Man this song is so beautiful and emotional. I love it.