Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

Wes · **Amazing Grace -** 11-14-2009, 10:59 PM

Just heard the most amazing rendition of this old hymn. The setting, lighting, and the orchestration just leave me thinking, "wow". The stage of this song is the Roman Arena of Palu. It was built between 27 B.C. and 68 A.D. The arena was expanded in 79 to accomodate gladiator fights. Soon after, Christians began being martyred in the ancient arena. The voices are amazing, the setting spectacular.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/...tid=1913313052

I hope this doesn't come across as religious to anyone. Like I said, the setting, lighting, and orchestration just blew me away.

davidlc · 11-14-2009, 11:10 PM

Thanks for sharing Wes. I agree it was good.

Jeff_Green · 11-14-2009, 11:10 PM

Beautiful, and as you gave the history of what took place in the arena, I think that makes this song even more powerful when sung there. Thanks for posting it.

Colyn · 11-14-2009, 11:19 PM

Outstanding rendition. Loved it.

That was one of my Mother's favorite of the old hymn's and it was sung at her service..

dbphotos · 11-14-2009, 11:23 PM

Looks like they timed it perfectly for the lighting. The sunset in parts of the background is incredible. THanks for the link.

Ahh! · 11-15-2009, 12:41 AM

Thanks Wes!

Roy · 11-15-2009, 08:52 AM

We saw that some time ago. Afterwards, my wife found a DVD with several videos from this group including this one. It wasn't really what she expected but this one you have linked is the best of the bunch. We got the wow feeling from it too. Awesome venue and light and sound were " Amazing".

C!LLY · 11-15-2009, 09:56 PM

One of my favorite songs ever. I want to learn to play the bagpipe just to learn to play this on it. I played this at my grandmothers funeral on my trumpet.

smoothassilk · 11-15-2009, 10:11 PM

Thanks Wes, I enjoyed video.

cooltouch · 11-15-2009, 10:42 PM

As a musician and a composer, I can appreciate the orchestration, and the professionalism of the singers and the production of this video. It was very well done. But. Just a bit over the top for me.

To me, Amazing Grace, is one of the most amazingly striking, yet simple, tunes ever written. It ranks up there with JS Bach's Air on a G String. And I think Amazing Grace works best when its simplicity is stressed. For example, I think that either it was truly meant for the 'pipes, or the 'pipes were meant for it because they work together so well.

My favorite arrangement of this song, however, was recorded by Hubert Laws back in the '80s. He's a flutist, and what I like so much about his arrangement is not just his superb musicianship, but that he kept the content quite pure. You can view a Youtube video honoring our nation's fallen with his arrangement as the soundtrack here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLo-WtkxmPo

Ahh! · 11-15-2009, 10:53 PM

May I resectufully disagree? All the embelishment on the arrangement of those simple notes no more qualifies it as completely pure. Yet, I still find it very compelling, attractive, and rather amazing that a talent started with something so simple...

Jeff_Green · 11-15-2009, 11:17 PM

Sorry Michael, but I, too, have to disagree. I listened to Hubert Laws version and couldn't stand it... and that is saying something as I love this song.

Nothing grates on my more than unnecessary trills and this version was anything but pure. It's simplicity was not stressed at all because of all the embellishment he did on the notes. You want pure Amazing Grace, try quarter notes, halfs, and a few eights.

How is the OP's video over the top while the one you posted pure? Neither are pure revisions of what the original was.

IMO, just as with the national anthem, the opportunity to play Amazing Grace should not be an opportunity to showcase just how many notes you can make fit and sound listenable. It should be to allow us the opportunity to hear, sing, and be lifted by the meaning behind the song.

cooltouch · 11-16-2009, 02:48 AM

Well, Jeff, we all have our own opinions. As an instrumentalist, I'll admit my bias -- I get caught up in Laws' arrangement, and because I am very familiar with the melody, I can understand what he's doing with it. For most of the piece, he does stick rather closely to the melody, and consistently recapitulates after excursions. But I can see how it might not be to everyone's liking. Heck, some people like rap music, which I'd rather vomit than listen to, so to each his own.

Nonetheless, when it comes to a tune like Amazing Grace, I prefer the skirl of the 'pipes and the snap of the drums to a mega production with full orchestra and a bunch of singers.

Lexie · 11-16-2009, 07:00 AM

Thanks for the link Wes. I agree.......WOW!!

Wes · 11-16-2009, 07:12 AM

The wonderful thing about music is that it touches us all in different ways because we all hear it with our own ears.