Music of Grace: Amazing Grace (CD)

From the same producer as the Sacred Treasures series, this compilation features the #1 hymn of all time - "Amazing Grace". It includes 14 intimate, tender, and comforting performances of the hymn by top solo artists, ensembles, and choirs.

"The hymn "Amazing Grace" is one of the best loved and most recorded songs in history. The story behind the lyrics is well-known: English slave trader John Newton, after nearly losing his life in a violent storm at sea, had a profound change of heart and eventually became a prolific writer of hymns - including 'Amazing Grace' - and a passionate abolitionist. The source of the melody is much less certain but appears to have come from Ireland or Scotland and was originally called 'New Britain'. The Scots have certainly made it their own through countless stirring performances on bagpipes. Throughout the world, the piece is cherished and is sung in a vast array of styles, most notably Gospel, Country, Folk, and Celtic.

"Amazing Grace" is an expression of deep personal gratitude that has an extraordinary power to touch the heart, uplift the spirit, and transcend sectarian divisions as few other pieces have ever done.

This compilation brings together 14 intimate, tender, and comforting performances of 'Amazing Grace' - 7 vocal and 7 instrumental - by top artists, ensembles, and choirs. It includes children's voices, sweet Celtic harmonies, angelic solos, and a haunting chant with distant bagpipes sung in the Cherokee language. There is even signing by whales! These voices are joined by instrumental versions of the piece on fiddles, keyboards, harp, harp-guitar - and of course, bagpipes - in a powerful, magical celebration."

- Ellen Holmes, Producer