Composer John Stevens (b. 1951) is on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he teaches tuba and euphonium. He is renowned for his series of tuba-euphonium quartets. Benediction began life as one of these. It was commissioned by the Sotto Voce Quartet in 2002 for inclusion on their recording of Stevens’s quartet ouvre. The composer created this version for wind band with the encouragement of Scott Teeple, director of bands at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Benediction is a lyrical piece, intended as a vocal, sonorous contrast to his more lively quartets.
See more about Benediction at JW Pepper, Hal Leonard, and the Wind Repertory Project.
The original version of Benediction:
Version for euphonium and organ:
Wind band version:
I have purchased the Tuba quartet version of Benediction that we perform with a trombone quartet. Is the Euphonium/Organ version available? I would like to have this to perform at our church.