I'm so grateful and moved that everyone loves this piece! It's obviously dear to my heart since it's the commission we did for my son, Garrett. He was 2 and half years old when he died. It was an accident that happened in our home while he was playing in our garage. The work depicts perfectly the love that my wife and I have for our son. The piece is extremely deceptively difficult due to the intonation traps and demands, but it's perfect. I'm forever grateful to Mr. Hazo for writing it. We miss Garrett dearly and every time I hear this, I'm reminded of him. We commissioned the piece to touch people's hearts and remind them that music can impact us ever so much more than words. Please keep playing the piece and share it with others. Remember that every interaction with your friends and loved ones could be your last, so don't have any regrets or leave things unresolved. Thank you for all your kind words.

I play the bassoon and we played this in my band and we were lucky enough to have Mr. Hazo be our clinition. He told the story of how he wrote the piece for a 3 year old's funeral and how the father had asked him to compose it and then at the funeral the father conducted it and every one was moved to tears during the performance. One of my favorite songs...

The director that this piece was written for was actually my director, and I was in the band when his son was in the accident. Sadly, I was graduated by the time it was finished, so I didn't play it. But it will always hold a special place in my heart.

I had the wonderful opportunity of being in the band that premiered this piece. It was written for my band director and his family after the passing of his son in a tragic accident. The feeling on the stage during the performance is one I will never forget. His son was such an amazing little boy that I am so very privileged to have known in this life. I was not able to hold back my tears while playing my trombone and there was not a dry eye in the auditorium. This song will forever be one of my favorites because of the love that was put into for an amazing family that I am grateful I know.

I played this for my spring concert this year as trumpet 1. Boy, I can't tell you how beautiful this piece is. It's so much more different from the fast upbeat music the director gives us.

The piccolo solo is unreal. We have a really good piccolo player at our high school and she is a senior and man when she plays it hits hard. She articulates it so beautifully and I love this piece. At first, I didn't like it because it was so slow, but after looking into the piece more and looking at what the piece was actually written about, it just makes it so many times better. My band director said to us today that every time we play this piece he feels hairs stick up on the back of his neck. Honestly, when I am playing it, it is so melodic and beautiful and the band altogether makes the piece sound incredible, and of course, the vibes, in the beginning, are just a start to an incredible journey through the piece. I adore it.

Had the privilege of playing this piece under the direction of my band director, who this song was about. Mr. Mangelson or Mango had a very tragic and unfortunate accident when his child died at just the age of three. The piece uses a theme from the Scottish folk sound "Wild Mountain Thyme" or "Blooming Heather" In the lyrics of this song it has a mother calling to her child, if she will go to the Mountain with her to pick flower and the mountain thyme. Very emotional piece and a very emotional back story.

My band director picked this piece for us to play for our ballad for marching band this year, and it's one of the prettiest songs I have ever heard.

Such a beautiful piece with a very sad story behind it.... it makes me tear up listening to it

I’m playing this price rgtn firstclarjent and I get chocked up every time I play it at rehearsal because of the heartbreaking story and beautiful melodies. This is one of hazo’sn best

Although I will say it's crazy how Samuel Hazo can go from this to Ride. We played ride and it was crazy. He got the idea for Ride from riding with a friend in a bad-A sports car.

I have not yet had the privilege to play this in my high school band, yet, but it is my favorite piece to listen to, and hopefully to play. The story behind it makes it even better.

We got this piece today in band and my band director told me the story behind and it and he knew the little boy. Then he said this piece means a lot to me so treat it how it's supposed to be. It's such a great piece

The story behind it makes it twice as sad.

I had the honor of playing bassoon for this beautiful piece in highschool. RIP Garrett. They might not know it, but orchestras around the world are playing for you 😢❤

Love playing picc in this song! So melodic, Love it!

I was playing this in my wind orchestra. I loved it and I was very moved when the conductor read out a paragraph about the meaning of the song.

I remember playing this, i was on trombone, and I remember this tenderness about the song I really can’t describe and I really don’t think the recording does justice. It’s a feeling you really can’t describe until you’ve played it for yourself.

i played piccolo in this piece in high school and i will NEVER forget it. so much emotion ❤❤❤

I love playing this piece. It's a very beautiful piece. We're playing this in our High School Symphonic Band and it sounds amazing. My lips hurt super bad since I play the 2nd Trumpet Part, but I also feel bad for the 1st Trumpet Part players too. :)

Such an amazing piece. I had tears in my eyes the first time I heard it.

I am currently playing this in my band I got the piccolo part which I’m very excited for

I love this song so much. The backstory is so personal to me. I played this with my honor band, with Scott Hagan as our clinician. Hagan is the director of the Utah symphony and a close friend of Brek Mangleson. Sadly, this recording just doesn’t do it justice. I encourage you to listen to the recording from the 2014 Michigan music conference. That one really captures the emotion of young Garrett as he waits upon his mother Brooke to join him on he mountain of heaven

We're playing this in my college symphonic band this spring, and it's one of my favourite pieces. We're a relatively small band, so we're turning that beginning segment into a trio between the piccolo and first and second flutes. I love playing the second part because that's where the nice harmonies are. Love love LOVE this piece, and I'm so glad I get to play it.

I literally had chills down my spine. This is SOOOO GOOOD.

Playing this in my high school concert band and I must say, it is a fantastic piece.

What a beautiful piece.

Love this piece feels like meditation relaxation

Beautiful gorgeous piece! Halo has done it again

We’re playing this in my high school symphonic band

were playing this in my highschool and holy this is great

Beautiful

Beautiful. The Souhampton Concert Wind Band, conductor Calum Gray, rehearsed this piece last night. It works so well for Concert Wind Band ! So calming after the rush-around of the busy Christmas season ! TIM NORRIS

nice song love it

I had a chance to play this for a spring concert last year

If I am not mistaken, part of this was just played at the changing of the guard in London.

wow. just wow. wish my eighth grade band could play this for our concert!

this is such a wonderful piece. I loved playing alto in this song. we didn't play for the first 26 measures, but the beginning is one of the most beautiful parts of this song, and I loved just sitting there and listening to it while counting the measures.

Such a great piece so sad about the tradey

Playing the Vibraphone part. What a genius Glockenspiel part though in the beginning.

Shout out to my vibe soloists

this sounds like "You Are The Reason" to me, does anyone happen to know if it has inspirations on this song?

what is the back story to this song. I need to know for motivational/educational purposes for my students. Every year i do a unity necklace with them and then make them meditate to a moving peace i cannot find anywhere the back story

is this a rendition of john cage's 4:33

Is it a grade 4 just because of the key?

Before josiah