Sunday 16 October 2011

Sunday Sounds 21

One of my favourite hymns back in the day was - and, I suppose still is - Amazing Grace. Sung well, it has an inordinate power to touch something in the human psyche (or, for those of a religious persuasion, the Soul). It has also been adopted as tune that every piper can play at the drop of a hat, as any visitor to Edinburgh in tourist season could testify.

Here, he have the best of both worlds - a beautiful rendition of the first verse with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers giving support for the rest. Rather brilliantly, though, this is an uptempo version which captures the joy of the last verse (although this is not sung in this rendition) and excises the trials and snares of the third verse.



If you're unfamiliar with the hymn, or the lyrics referred to above, here are the most common verses:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.


Andrew

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