Amazing Grace

[johnnym]

Wow! A must watch. Takes a moment to load but worth it...


http://www.coolestone.com/media/1504.../#.V4U_FIY8KnO

Had to pass it on.

[Father Bill]

'Tis rather touching, i'n't it!

[Tarheel]

A certain way to make old vets weep (for the pure joy of life).

[OC Richard]

Love the veterans, but I can't stand Andre's corny schmaltzy egocentric showmanship.

(Is this appropriate for General Kilt Talk?)

[Tarheel]

(Is this appropriate for General Kilt Talk?)

Maybe better for "Kilts in Media" section.

[Lady Grey]

I hope this link will work?
This is a rather lovely BBC radio show about "Amazing Grace"
Well worth a listen
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03z2zmb

[OC Richard]

This should be moved to the 'music talk' section, I think.

Anyhow being from Appalachia, and being the grandson of a fiddler/banjo player, this is hands-down my favourite version of Amazing Grace.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmFKZmcGAW0

In case anyone is unfamiliar with hymnody, hymns are sets of words only. Hymns have no melodies.

A Hymn, to be sung, needs to be married to a tune. In traditional hymnals the hymn title is given, and also is given a tune. Tune titles are traditionally rendered in all caps.

So we've become accustomed to the hymn Amazing Grace being sung to the tune NEW BRITAIN but it can rightfully be sung to any tune whatever which has the same metrical setup. (It's why traditional hymnals have a metrical index in the back, so you can figure out which hymns can be sung to which tunes.)

The point is that I as a bagpiper can't play Amazing Grace, because bagpipes can't sing. What I can play is NEW BRITAIN.

Tim there on the video is singing Amazing Grace to the tune FIDUCIA which appears in The Southern Harmony 1835. It was, as I understand, a popular tune for Amazing Grace in the 19th century, and you can hear why.

[Blupiper]

Richard: I second all your points. AG (piper's shorthand for Amazing Grace) is one of those that speak to many of those who love the pipes, but don't have a depth of training in what is possible through the instrument. Having had played a memorial service last week and one this Saturday, I have had requests on both for AG. While I prefer something that speaks to me, I am speaking for the deceased and their families. So, AG it is. Richard, you are very right about the tunes and meter and AG fitting whatever will match the meter. Even the theme to the TV sitcom Gilligan's Island will fit AG to a 'T'--although it isn't as solemn and courteous as some might wish. I love the, for lack of a better term, "bleak" versions of AG, often found in Appalachian versions and arrangements. To me, it gets to the feelings of having come up short and the redemption that is possible. Thus endeth the sermon.

JMB

[jumary]

AG as most people in America know is is often requested by pipers. It is interesting that some pipers say they can't stand it because, I think, it is played so often. As a piper, I do think there are many better tunes for the pipes, but I still enjoy playing it and doing it respectfully. This honors the occasion and presents the pipes in a positive light. I will add that when people ask me to play, I never choose AG unless they ask for it.

[OC Richard]

BTW Amazing Grace sounds fantastic sung to KINGSFOLD, a huge improvement over NEW BRITAIN in my opinion.

Here's KINGSFOLD on the pipe organ. Sing Amazing Grace along, it's great. There are around a dozen hymns, I think, sung to the tune KINGSFOLD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd7nT8sDrZk

But I love playing Amazing Grace at gigs! It's the ideal tune to play after the pipes have been sitting around for a time getting cold and/or dry, say waiting an hour to play out at a funeral.

Why? Because long stretches of it can be played using only one hand, which frees the other hand to tune the drones.

It goes like this

LA D D (lower hand comes off chanter and starts tuning drones)
F# E D F# F# E (lower hand goes back on the chanter)
D-throw B LA
LA D D (lower hand comes off chanter again if needed, ya gots lotsa time now)
F# E D F#
E F# HA HA
F# HA HA
F# E D F# F# E (lower hand finally has to go back on)
D-throw B LA
etc.

I dread having to play a tune which doesn't allow the lower hand to come off the chanter, when playing a tune after a long period of the pipes going cold.

This all assumes that the piper has the ability to

1) play the tune without a hitch while moving the lower hand on and off the chanter

2) tune the drones accurately with the whole set going.

There's actually an Amazing Grace Drinking Game, where the piper is standing beside a table with a row of shot glasses on it, and downs as many shots as possible while playing the tune. There used to be a YouTube video, I can't find it now.

Highland Cathedral gives opportunities, though shorter ones, for tuning the drones.

My second-favourite tune to play at a gig after the pipes go cold is Ar Eirinn ni Neosfainn Ce Hi, which gives nearly as much tuning opportunity as NEW BRITAIN.