Angeline Morrison. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne and Jon Bickley A powerful - Grace Will Lead Us Home

  by Nicky Crewe

published: 29 / 10 / 2024

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Review

‘Amazing Grace’ was written as a sermon and hymn in the late 18th century by John Newton. Both the writer and the song have a fascinating history, full of relevance as we move through a time when we try to understand and respond to the terrible legacies of slavery and colonialism. Angeline Morrison’s hugely successful 2022 album, ‘Sorrow Songs’, began this process through the songs she wrote to share the stories of the life experiences of individuals caught up in those darkest of times. Jon Bickley of The Invisible Folk Club was approached to set up a research project to explore the love people have for ‘Amazing Grace’. Working with archives and recent interviews, this research can be accessed through ‘Grace Will Lead Me Home ‘podcasts. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne was invited to be part of the project in recognition of work he had done for the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) with his resource Black Singers and Ballads. Funding came from Arts Council England through the Cowper and Newton Museum in Olney, Buckinghamshire, where John Newton and William Cowper had met in the 1770s. There’s a lot of history to this song and at this stage in this review I have to confess that I had assumed it was American in origin, because of how I first heard it. I can still recall the impact of hearing Judy Collins’ ethereal version on her 1970 album, ‘Whales and Nightingales’. Joan Baez’s version is another favourite. The album starts with ‘Dear Polly’, based on letters from John Newton to his wife. Angeline shares the vocals with Jon Bickley, their contrasting voices giving it a country folk feel. Braithwaite-Kilcoyne’s ‘Press Gang Song’ explores another aspect of seafaring slavery. The album’s title track, ‘Grace Will Lead Me Home’ is a glorious arrangement of one of Morrison’s own songs, with a children’s choir in a doo-wop style. It’s destined to become a standard itself, part hymn, part folk song. A version of Zoe Mulford’s wonderful ‘The President Sang Amazing Grace’ reminds us of the enduring significance of this song. Obama singing it at the Emmanuel Church in Charleston after the 2015 shooting there has become an unforgettable part of its recent history. ‘Turn Round Newton’ and ‘I’m Going to Hear John Newton Preach’ both explore aspects of Newton’s life. Braithwaite-Kilcoyne’s ‘Fantasia on a West Indian Burial Theme is a new instrumental that connects slave funerals with the use of this hymn at funerals throughout the world. Jon Bickley’s ‘The choir still sings Amazing Grace’ and ‘Sorry both address contemporary issues raised by the history explored for this project. Protest songs for our time. There are two versions of’ Amazing Grace’, with different tunes and arrangements on the album. The final version gives the tune we all recognise a folk choir feel, reminding me of the Sheffield Carols that are performed in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire pubs at Christmas. This album is an education and a revelation as well as a celebration of an enduring song. It feels very timely and will in itself become part of the story of ‘Amazing Grace’. It’s 250 years since the song was written and the 300th anniversary of John Newton’s birth. He went to sea as a young man, eventually becoming a captain of transatlantic slave ships. He wrote many letters home to his wife Polly, a great source of inspiration for these songs. When he gave up the sea he became an Anglican minister in Olney, and an abolitionist. Living in Olney, he became friends with the writer and poet William Cowper, also an abolitionist. Originally called ‘Faith’s Review and Expectation,’ it was based on a sermon delivered by Newton on New Year’ Day 1773. It may have been inspired by gratitude for surviving a shipwreck in his earlier career. It’s also thought it may have been a message of hope written for his friend Cowper who suffered from deep depressions during his life. It was first recorded in the US as ‘New Britain’ in 1922, sung by the Original Sacred Harp Choir. The rest, as they say, is history. Starting life as a hymn, it transcends any religious affiliations, and plays a role in secular and religious ceremonies and life affirming occasions, with its powerful message of hope.

Track Listing:-

1 Dear Polly
2 Press Gang Song
3 Grace will lead me home
4 Turn Round Newton
5 The President Sang Amazing Grace
6 Fantasia on a West Indian Burial Theme
7 I'm going to hear John Newton Preach
8 The choir still sings Amazing Grace
9 Sorry
10 Amazing Grace (Jesu Thy Words)
11 Eyes on the prize
12 Amazing Grace

Have a Listen:-