We just watched the second and final episode of the new Masterpiece Theatre new production of Kidnapped. It was quite good, imo, and the scenery was HOME and breathtaking. They were doing really well, until near the very end, when there was a quick bit of a sour note, imo. STILL worth the watching regardless, don't get me wrong.
The character, Alan Breck, had a bagpipe-playing duel with a ferryman for the use of one of his skiffs(?). Of course, Breck won. The last piece he played, just before the bounty hunters came upon them, was "Amazing Grace." It seemed a gratuituos addition to what had been a wee bit of fun piping.
Now, Kidnapped was first published in 1886. I found the following on Wikipedia, which I know is not infallible, but I would appreciate knowing if you lot agree with what it says about Amazing Grace being lost to the pipes until the 1960's. If so, I'd think MT ought to have done a bit more research!:-) Thanks, here 'tis (Nice to see the Ritchie family noted!):
For the Spiritualized album, see Amazing Grace (album).
"Amazing Grace" is one of the most well-known Christian hymns. The words were written by John Newton; they form a part of the Olney Hymns that he worked on, with William Cowper and other hymnodists.
John Newton (1725–1807) was the captain of a slave ship. On 10 May 1748 returning home during a storm he experienced a "great deliverance". In his journal he wrote that the ship was in grave danger of sinking. He exclaimed "Lord have mercy upon us". He continued to traffic in slaves thereafter, nonetheless.
The now familiar and traditional melody of the hymn was not composed by Newton, and the words were sung to a number of tunes before the now inseparable melody was chanced upon.
There are two different tunes to the words. "New Britain" first appears in a shape note hymnal from 1831 called Virginia Harmony. Any original words sung to the tune are now lost. The melody is believed to be Scottish or Irish in origin; it is pentatonic and suggests a bagpipe tune; the hymn is frequently performed on bagpipes and has become associated with that instrument. The other tune is the so-called "Old Regular Baptist" tune. It was sung by the Congregation of the Little Zion Church, Jeff, Kentucky on the album "The Ritchie Family of Kentucky" on Folkways (1958).
The association with bagpipes is a relatively modern phenomenon; for over a century the tune was nearly forgotten in the British Isles until the folk revival of the 1960s began carrying traditional musicians both ways between the British Isles and the United States (where Amazing Grace had remained a very popular hymn). It was little known outside of church congregations or folk festivals until Arthur Penn's film "Alice's Restaurant" (1969). Lee Hays of the Weavers leads the worshipers in "Amazing Grace".
Newton's lyrics have become a favourite for Christians of all denominations, largely because the hymn vividly and briefly sums up the Christian doctrine of Divine grace. The lyrics are loosely based around the text of Ephesians 2:4-8.
It has also become known as a favorite with supporters of freedom and human rights, both Christian and non-Christian, as it is believed by many to be a song against slavery, as Newton was once a slave trader. He continued to be a slave trader for several years after his experience, but with more compassion. Later he became a clergyman. The song has been sung by many notable musical performers.
The hymn was quite popular among both sides in the American Civil War. While on the trail of tears, the Cherokee were not always able to give their dead a full burial. Instead, the singing of Amazing Grace had to suffice. Since then, Amazing Grace is often considered the Cherokee National Anthem. For this reason, many contemporary Native American musicians have recorded this song.