Amazing Grace - Kilted

**Munro** · 5th January 08, 05:41 PM

My husband and I recently watched the movie Amazing Grace which was absolutely wonderful. The Irish Guards Pipe Band and the Balmoral Pipes playing Amazing Grace at the end of the movie gave me chills and I've gone back and watched it over and over. Seeing it reminded me of the chills I got at the Edinburgh Tatoo last summer when we were in Scotland. I've looked at the soundtrack from the movie and didn't see this rendition of Amazing Grace. I've also Googled The Irish Guards Pipe Band as well as the Balmoral Pipes and haven't found it. I found X MARKSTHESCOT.com while looking for that wonderful arrangement of Amazing Grace, saw all the posts and joined. Does anyone know where I can get this wonderful arrangement of Amazing Grace? My husband's father's great, great grandfather came from the Scottish Highlands just north of Inverness. His mother's family came from the Isle of Mull. We had the great fortune of going to Scotland for a Clan Munro Gathering last summer and loved it! We had a wonderful piper for my mother-in-law's funeral last year.

**James MacMillan** · 5th January 08, 05:46 PM

from Rainy Southern California

**Chrissss** · 6th January 08, 10:59 AM

Way, way back when I was in the military and attending Royal Roads Military College we would parade on Remembrance Day.

At a certain point in the parade a lone piper would play Amazing Grace from one of the castle towers, and you could just hear it on the parade square about 1/4 mile away. It was an absolutely chilling experience that always made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

Chris...

**Makeitstop** · 17th January 08, 05:12 AM

I just watched this a few days ago and thought it was pretty good. I was in the mood for something a bit more intense, dramatic and probably exaggerated. This felt far more real and focused on the men fighting the political battle, only hinting at the horrors of slavery. That approach works (particularly because it would be hard to sit through political battles if we had already seen the brutal horrors that were occurring at the time) and makes it far more approachable to the faint of heart, but the trade off is that it loses some of the power it could have had.

It could have been better in several ways, but not without making sacrifices. Instead it manages to be a good movie that knows it's limits and accepts them.

**McClef** · 17th January 08, 05:36 AM

I just got this on DVD and thought it was a very good film and loved the kilted pipers right at the end.

I once lived in Hull for a year and visited the Wilberforce House museum several times.

**Jerry** · 17th January 08, 06:24 AM

The movie was on Directv "Pay per View" earlier this month. I haven't look lately, but if it is still running I will have to order it. It always gives me chills, but the most chilling playing I've ever seen was the memorial service for Payne Stewart, when the song is heard being played on the pipes in the distance, and then he slowly emerges from thick fog, still playing.

**macwilkin** · 17th January 08, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by Jerry

The movie was on Directv "Pay per View" earlier this month. I haven't look lately, but if it is still running I will have to order it. It always gives me chills, but the most chilling playing I've ever seen was the memorial service for Payne Stewart, when the song is heard being played on the pipes in the distance, and then he slowly emerges from thick fog, still playing.

Funny, but I remember the piper at Payne Stewart's memorial service playing "Going Home" whilst walking through the fog...perhaps that was the recessional...

Payne Stewart was from Springfield. We honoured him in 2000 at our games.

T.

**Graham** · 17th January 08, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

The only complaint I have heard yet about the film is that it reportedly portrays Wilberforce as somewhat of a secular humanist and tends to downplay the deep religious motivation he had for abolishing the British slave trade. I haven't seen the film, so I cannot comment, but if it is true then it is one more sad effort to re-write our noble history.
http://catholiceducation.org/articles/arts/al0306.htm

Aye,
Matt

Matt, I think I would agree with that, having seen the film, it's a great film but as you say - it downplays the important stuff.

Great Pipe Band, one of the best parts of the film for me.

**McClef** · 17th January 08, 10:08 AM

I would not say that it downplayed things over much although the emphasis is more upon the fight against slavery than acts of worship but the Christian motivations of not only Wilberforce but also other anti-slavery activists are still there. Albert Finney's portrayal of John Newton for example.

And Amazing Grace isn't just played on the pipes at the end. There is the scene when Wilberforce sings it as a dedication to the Duke of Clarence in the gentleman's club. In fact I would aver that the Portrayal of the Duke is less historically accurate - he is presented as something of a buffoon and as a son of the King he should have been addressed as "your Royal Highness", not as "your Grace." As a Royal Duke the higher title takes precedence over the lesser. The Duke was later to become King William IV (1830-37).

**Jerry** · 17th January 08, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Funny, but I remember the piper at Payne Stewart's memorial service playing "Going Home" whilst walking through the fog...perhaps that was the recessional...

Payne Stewart was from Springfield. We honoured him in 2000 at our games.

T.

You could be right, my memory is not as good as it once was. I have looked online many times for that clip because I'd really enjoy seeing it again.