The Greatest Song Ever Written

 

     Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney says that the greatest song ever written is God Only Knows by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. This is indeed a beautiful and masterfully orchestrated piece of music and echoes the tragically sad life story of Brian Wilson.

     Some, however would insist that the song is only one of many claimants to the title. They would include the works of Richard Carpenter, Wolfgang Mozart, Frank Zappa, John Williams, Ennio Morricone, Dominico Scarlatti, Michael Oldfield, and many others.

     I am not an expert in musical theory or musical history, but I would suggest another song. It is a very simple song which has appeared in countless versions over the years.

     Amazing Grace (1772) was written by a man who for many years was a slave trader, responsible for destroying the live of hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of people. If anyone ever knew about guilt, regret, repentance, and forgiveness it was John Newton. After his conversion experience, he became an Anglican clergyman.

     Newton wrote the words to Amazing Grace. The music, which comes from a traditional folk tune, was paired with the poem in 1855 by an American composer named William Walker.

The most well-known performance of the song is by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. I am of Anglo-Norman and Scottish ancestry and this one always makes my eyes tear up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8AeV8Jbx6M

My own personal favorite performance is a far-less known one by The Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpPHH7wQz_M

A Drum and Bagpipe Version of "Amazing Grace"

Click on the title line to start the video.

This is a very Scottish drum and 

bagpipe version of “Amazing Grace.”  This version, especially, stirred my Scottish roots.  I am descended from the Grier family, a sept of Clan Gregor (Grier, from Grierson, which is from Gregorson, which is from MacGregor, which is from Clan Gregor and descends from the ancient Kings of the Picts and Dál Riata.  The personal name is Griogar, a form of Gregory, which in Greek means “watchful.” “Mac” in Scottish means “son of.”).  The MacGregors ran afoul of Clan Campbell and were outlawed for almost two hundred years.  Bearing the name of MacGregor was punishable by death. The family still proudly exists. The current chief of Clan Gregor is Sir Malcolm Gregor Charles Mac Gregor of Mac Gregor, 7th BT, of Lanrick and Balquhidder, 24th Chief of Clan Gregor.

The song, "Amazing Grace," is very closely associated with Scotland.

For those who do not know: the “skirts” that the musicians are wearing are called kilts.  The plaid designs (tartans) on the kilts are specific to and identify individual families (clans) and were the traditional everyday clothing, worn with great pride.  There is a legend that during World War I, Germans on the battlefield called their kilted Scot adversaries “the ladies from Hell.”  The last time that Scots wore kilts in battle was at Dunkirk in 1940.

  

Bagpipes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagpipe

Tartan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartan

Scottish clan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_clan

Kilt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilt