"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman, John Newton (1725–1807). The song was first published in 1779.
Newton wrote the words from personal experience. He grew up without any particular religious conviction, but his life's path was formed by a variety of twists and coincidences that were often put into motion by his recalcitrant insubordination. He was involuntarily forced into service in the British Royal Navy and after leaving the service, he became involved in the Atlantic slave trade. In 1748, a violent storm battered his vessel off the coast of Ireland's County Donegal so severely that he called out to God for mercy, a moment that marked his spiritual conversion. While his boat was being repaired in Lough Swilly, Ireland, he wrote the first verse of his world famous song. He did, however, continue his slave trading career until 1754 or 1755, when he ended his seafaring altogether and began studying Christian theology.
Ordained in the Church of England in 1764, Newton became curate of Olney, Buckinghamshire, where he began to write hymns with poet William Cowper. Amazing Grace was written to illustrate a sermon on New Year's Day of 1773. It is unknown if there was any music accompanying the verses; it may have simply been chanted by the congregation. It debuted in print in 1779 in Newton and Cowper's "Olney Hymns" but settled into relative obscurity in England. In the United States, however, Amazing Grace was used extensively during the Second Great Awakening in the early 19th century. It has been associated with more than 20 melodies, but in 1835 it was joined to a tune named "New Britain" to which it is most frequently sung today.
Recently, the African-American gospel singer, Wintley Phipps, delivered one of the most memorable renditions of Amazing Grace in Carnegie Hall. Before Mr. Phipps sang, he made the comment that a lot of people do not realize that majority, if not all, of the Negro spirituals are written on the black keys of the piano because blacks were originally not permitted to use the white keys. Many believe that John Newton, who wrote the words to the hymn, heard the melody which sounded very much like a West African sorrow chant during one of his trips to Africa as a slave ship captain. Amazing Grace is a song with a haunting, plaintive quality which reaches past a person's arrogance and pride; it speaks to that part of a person that's in bondage, and one feels it. Amazing Grace is one of the most amazing melodies in human history. Mr. Phipps gave a stirring performance of the song which brought the audience to its feet. –Source Unknown/Contributed by Ralph
Newton wrote the words from personal experience. He grew up without any particular religious conviction, but his life's path was formed by a variety of twists and coincidences that were often put into motion by his recalcitrant insubordination. He was involuntarily forced into service in the British Royal Navy and after leaving the service, he became involved in the Atlantic slave trade. In 1748, a violent storm battered his vessel off the coast of Ireland's County Donegal so severely that he called out to God for mercy, a moment that marked his spiritual conversion. While his boat was being repaired in Lough Swilly, Ireland, he wrote the first verse of his world famous song. He did, however, continue his slave trading career until 1754 or 1755, when he ended his seafaring altogether and began studying Christian theology.
Ordained in the Church of England in 1764, Newton became curate of Olney, Buckinghamshire, where he began to write hymns with poet William Cowper. Amazing Grace was written to illustrate a sermon on New Year's Day of 1773. It is unknown if there was any music accompanying the verses; it may have simply been chanted by the congregation. It debuted in print in 1779 in Newton and Cowper's "Olney Hymns" but settled into relative obscurity in England. In the United States, however, Amazing Grace was used extensively during the Second Great Awakening in the early 19th century. It has been associated with more than 20 melodies, but in 1835 it was joined to a tune named "New Britain" to which it is most frequently sung today.
Recently, the African-American gospel singer, Wintley Phipps, delivered one of the most memorable renditions of Amazing Grace in Carnegie Hall. Before Mr. Phipps sang, he made the comment that a lot of people do not realize that majority, if not all, of the Negro spirituals are written on the black keys of the piano because blacks were originally not permitted to use the white keys. Many believe that John Newton, who wrote the words to the hymn, heard the melody which sounded very much like a West African sorrow chant during one of his trips to Africa as a slave ship captain. Amazing Grace is a song with a haunting, plaintive quality which reaches past a person's arrogance and pride; it speaks to that part of a person that's in bondage, and one feels it. Amazing Grace is one of the most amazing melodies in human history. Mr. Phipps gave a stirring performance of the song which brought the audience to its feet. –Source Unknown/Contributed by Ralph
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