The Light Eternal - James Swearingen (with Score)

A powerful work that recounts the magnificent story of four U.S. Army Chaplains who heroically sacrificed their lives during World War II. “The Light Eternal” is based on the well-known hymn, “God Of Our Fathers”, and is filled with an abundance of musical inventiveness that will produce a startling emotional impact on the listener. Audiences will be overwhelmed!
Performed by the Washington Winds under the direction of Edward S. Petersen.
Click here to purchase: barnhouse.com/...

[@Mchan126]

This was my band director’s favorite piece. He passed away over the weekend and I’m coming here to try and learn it so I can play with the rest of the band alumni at his funeral 💕

[@thechief3029]

My band just started playing it

[@sierraj4262]

So we’re all here trying to find the music for him😭

[@nell_nile23]

My band is playing this for our spring concert and I really like it, im also the only 1st trumpet 🫶

[@Mchan126]

@@nell_nile23 that’s awesome! I hope that goes well for you and the band 💕

[@saccostudios.]

@@Mchan126SAME!!! IM PLAYING THIS AT FRIDAY AT MY FESTIVAL! im da timpani

[@Artandstuff-ov2jn]

I play in a high school band and every time we play this gives me chills that we have come so far to understand this music and how precious music is! ❤

[@user-rm8nn4wy2x]

Indeed played this in middle school. Shaped me to the be part of the musician I am today

[@timothy4664]

Such a great composition

[@ThatweirdEMTnerd]

Agreed. Fantastic backstory aswell.

[@stella_130]

Once you know the story behind this piece you can really hear it in the music. Such a tragedy composed brilliantly.

[@dark_starr346]

playing this in wind ensemble in high school and the first part of the second page is 🩷

[@lynnfielding4942]

TEARS. This piece always brings me to tears. And shivers. I played trumpet in High School; this was one of my favorite pieces. Thirty years later and I still come to hear it with all the emotion still powerfully present.

[@surpremeleaderren8019]

after months of searching. I finally found this song. I play clarinet and my band director decided that we were gonna play this song my freshmen year. Unfortunantly never got to play it because of lockdown. When I hear this song it always brings me to tears. My grandpa was in the navy.

[@ansleywimer9873]

Salute 🫡 I was going to play this in Veteran's day concert but it got moved and moved. Finally we played it in the May concert in 7th grade. Sorry you didn't get to, truly fun thing to play. The little feud (Idk how to spell it loll) was always hard for me, but I got it. RIP to your Grandfather, bet he was an amazing man. Y'know, in a way, your story reminds me of this song, and how your loss must have felt. I salute you and your Grandfather, I hope you both lead amazing lives that satisfy you in the end. ❤❤❤

[@Chizinky]

​@@ansleywimer98737th grade is crazy

[@leightongossard9753]

​@ansleywimer9873 my school played this and a few others for our state comp, ISSMA, we got gold on it. Truly an amazing piece, I played the snare for it.

[@forrestmoody7292]

Brings back memories from playing this in middle school symphonic band

[@SuzieRehage]

Yes! I played trumpet in high school almost 30 years ago and this piece still moves me

[@AnyaBee-k5o]

We played this my junior year of high school and I was lucky enough to have that flute solo. One of my faves.

[@BJLucas5]

Played this many times when I was in High School!

[@MIDORI-t8n]

This is a memory of my youth.

[@user-rm8nn4wy2x]

Me too the good ole days

[@kraigwalker2351]

3:47 to 4:20 timestamp of the best part imo

[@riding_arizona]

My band had a senior drum major that conducted this piece a year ago. He just graduated and I’m our band made it our yearly tradition for our drum major to conduct it at every graduation. Graduation is coming up soon and I just know I’m going to sob.. again. This piece is absolutely beautiful and has so much meaning.

[@SarahLovesBoobahandErEr]

We won a competition in Georgia (during the Peach Bowl 1998, Best concert band performance). We were just a tiny school from VA! I miss my bass clarinet days. This song def gives me the chills and makes me choke up. 2:34-3:31 😢 We sounded so lovely. I guess it was a favorite part of the song for me because I was the only bass line during that played.

[@jellorbs495]

Playing this in band rn and damn it hits hard

[@SarahLovesBoobahandErEr]

We won a competition in Georgia (during the Peach Bowl 1998, Best concert band performance). We were just a tiny school from VA! I miss my bass clarinet days. This song def gives me the chills and makes me choke up.

[@absolutelyangy]

Yay, another bass clarinetist! I miss my bass clarinet days too so i feel you

[@fkt11013]

めちゃくちゃ懐かしいっす

[@user-rm8nn4wy2x]

Mannn the slow part wit the flute sounds like im in a rainforest and it’s raining…and I just beat up the villain and the town is alll celebrating lmaoooo. I love music

[@godmello]

Played this in middle school and tore up the competition. Missed it so much.

[@Noah-u6r]

Middle school is impressive how many people

[@bean217]

I played this piece on tuba in orchestra my final semester of high school. I remember that concert vividly through the conductor/orchestra director's conductioning style. So passionate and emotion-filled. I like coming back to this piece to think about how much my life has changed since then.

[@JamesSmith-ym3op]

Then I bet you remember 5:45

[@WonderBearLemon]

5:15 is my fav

[@levithewolf7922]

I played this last year for my band the teays valley band

[@JamesSmith-ym3op]

What state?

[@gottagosyndrome4185]

2:32 just a timestamp for my fav part

[@2EL69]

Wow

[@09fastdude73]

Hays High Alumni, if you're here, give this a like and share your favorite Monty stories

[@麗月-j2f]

2:32

[@levithewolf7922]

Are band is good friends with hi

[@2EL69]

Good friends with hi?

[@BJLucas5]

Are band?

[@JamesSmith-ym3op]

@@BJLucas5is?