Amazing Grace: radio discussion online

Subject: Amazing Grace: radio discussion online
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 02:59 PM

This morning on the Diane Rehm show (from WAMU, broadcast on many NPR radio stations), she spoke with English music historian Steve Turner, who has written a book entitled, Amazing Grace: The Story of America's Most Beloved Song. The show is available to hear after the fact on streaming audio through the WAMU web site, or you can order a cassette of the show through that site.

Unfortunately, the clips of song performances are short and overrun by the interview, however it's an interesting story. The "saw the light and returned the slaves to Africa" legend is debunked. As usual, the real story is more complex and interesting. The book might be worth checking out.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Amazing Grace: radio discussion online
From: masato sakurai
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 10:22 AM

I've read half of Steve Turner's book Amazing Grace: The Story of America's Most Beloved Song. As far as I know, this is the most comprehensive research in book form on the song (Not to be compared with Mary Rouke and Emily Gwathmey's Amazing Grace, which was disapponting to me except for picture plates). Written in non-scholarly style and readable. It would be more enlightening and useful if it contained some (original) score plates of earlier versions (esp. version from The Columbian Harmony) and index(es). The prologue is reprinted HERE.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Amazing Grace: radio discussion online
From: Burke
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 07:55 PM

Becky, thanks for the pointer. I just finished listening & it was quite interesting.

I remember the first time I heard that 'turned around in the middle of the ocean' story. It was at the Old Songs Festival. I sat there telling the person next to me that it was a bunch of bunk. Her response was that it made a good story.

I agree with Turner that the truth is better & much more realistic. Parts of conversion can be sudden & radical, but other parts of the real conversion of life come gradually over time. I realize that Newton & I may have much in common.

Masato, if you tell me that you don't have the Columbian Harmony version, I think I'll scream!