Milton Keynes has hosted the premiere performance of a specially composed song, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the beloved Christian hymn, Amazing Grace.
The 250 Voices Choir, put together especially for the event, sang the song on Saturday at the Milton Keynes Community Choirs’ Festival.
The world’s most recorded hymn, Amazing Grace was written by curate Rev John Newton for his sermon at St Peter and St Paul Church in 1773. It was his habit to write hymns to acompny his weekly sermons to help congregants understand the message.
The lyrics of Amazing Grace narrate his personal experience of grace.
Scheduled for a world premiere on 22nd July, the song Forever? was commissioned for the milestone anniversary, with music by composer Roderick Williams and words by poet Rommi Smith.
Musical director Craig McLeish told the BBC: "What's interesting about this new piece is that it's a response to some amazing interviews that Rommi Smith, the lyricist, did in Olney.
"It's not exactly a version of Amazing Grace. It's people's thoughts around the hymn and their responses to it - it's very interesting."
For many, the world’s most recorded hymn, Amazing Grace was written by curate Rev John Newton for his sermon at St Peter and St Paul Church in 1773. It was his habit to write hymns to acompny his weekly sermons to help congregants understand the message.
The lyrics of Amazing Grace narrate his personal experience of grace.
The event is part of Amazing Grace 250, a year-long programme of activity and special events led by the Cowper & Newton Museum in Olney, in Buckinghamshire where Newton wrote the hymn.
