Amazing Grace (arr Edmondson)

John Edmondson

General Info

Year: 1835 / 1971
Duration: c. 3:00
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Hymn
Publisher: Neil A. Kjos
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $40.00 | Score Only (print) - $6.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet/Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II
Euphonium/Bassoon
Tuba
Percussion (3 players), including:

Bass Drum
Bells
Crash Cymbals
Snare Drum

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The immortal folk hymn has never been more sensitively treated than in John Edmondson's highly respected arrangement. Since its original publication in 1971, it has earned an honored place in the literature for young concert band.

- Program Note from publisher

Amazing Grace is a song that transcends all boundaries. Used to inspire, celebrate, mourn, anguish, enlighten or heal, it's been a focus at one time or another in all of our lives. Its solemn phrases speak to all of us in different ways with memories of different times.

- Program Note from Flower Mound High School Wind Symphony concert program, 18 December 2015

The spiritual Amazing Grace was written by John Newton (1725–1807), a slave ship captain who, after years of transporting slaves across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World, suddenly saw through divine grace the evilness of his acts. First published in 1835 by William Walker in The Southern Harmony, it has since grown to become one of the most beloved of all American spirituals. Beautifully crafted, and eloquently scored, Himes’ reflective yet powerful arrangement builds to a glorious climax perfectly blending the traditional melody with sumptuous new harmonies.

- Program Note from University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Symphonic Band concert program, 29 November 2016

Media

Audio: Reference recording (strings). Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

Alabama: Class D
Arkansas: I
California: SCSBOA Band Music List Grade 0.5
Louisiana: I
Mississippi: I-A
New York: Concert Band I
North Carolina: II
South Carolina: II
Tennessee: III
Texas: I. Complete
Virginia: II
West Virginia: I

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Works for Winds by This Composer

ACB March (2008)
Amazing Grace (as arranger) (1835/1971)
America (as arranger) (1971)
America the Beautiful (as arranger) (1882/2006)
American Folk Fantasy
American Spirit March
American Spirit Overture (1982)
Anasazi (1987)
Aztec Sunrise (1990)
And All That Jazz (1991)
Beale Street Strut (1990)
The Candy Man (as arranger) (1972)
Chorale and Recessional (1987)
Christmas Fantasia, A (1985)
A Christmas Finale (1989)
Christmas Recollections (as arranger) (1981)
Clarinet Marmalade (as arranger) (2007)
Command March (1985)
The Debonair Dragon (1994)
Delmar Celebration (1989)
Dixieland Tour
Double Eagle, The (2003)
Encanto Overture
Eternal Father, Strong to Save (as arranger) (2002)
Flores de España (as arranger) (1954/1978)
General Greene (1991)
Glen Canyon Overture (1985)
God Bless America (as arranger) (1939/1979)
Holly Jolly Christmas, A (as arranger) (1964/1986)
James River Festival (1992)
Jazz Chaconne (1989)
Jazz Jubilee (1992)
It's Broadway (as arranger) (1983)
La Fiesta Brava (1984)
Lexington March (1988)
Liberty March
Little Rondo For Band (1994)
Fantasy on a Fanfare
March for Christmas
March from "The Great Escape" (as arranger) (1963/)
Miss Liberty March (1985)
Mount Rushmore March (1995)
The Muppet Movie Medley (as arranger) (1979)
New South Wales March
Norland March
Omega March (1996)
On the Quarter Deck (as arranger) (1917/2005)
Pyramid Power Polka (1990)
A Regal Procession (1995)
Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma" (as arranger) (1943/1982)
Rondo for Winds and Percussion (1981)
Roman Festival Overture (1993)
Saxophonic Boogie (1989)
Scandinavian Folk Fantasy
The Screaming Eagles (Concert March) (1993)
Selections from "Cats" (as arranger)
Serenade (2007)
Serenade and Dance (1994)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (as arranger)
Somewhere Out There (as arranger) (1987)
Song for Winds
Tatum Square Festival (1990)
That's a Plenty (as arranger) (1994)
Those Dynamic Drummers (1995)
Three English Folk Songs (as arranger) (1983)
Three Scottish Folk Songs (as arranger) (1984)
To the Colors (1981)
Trailblazer March (1985)
Twin Cities March (1992)
White Christmas (as arranger) (1940/1979)
Winchester March (1972)
Wind Sketch (1990)
Winter Wonderland (as arranger) (1934/2005)
Wonderful World of Disney, The (as arranger) (1980)

Resources

Edmondson, J. (1990). Amazing Grace [score]. Queenwood Publications: San Diego, Calif.
Hays, Victoria E ."Amazing Grace" Young Band Repertoire Project, Spring 2000. Web. Accessed 15 August 2021