Amazing Grace (with Choir)

Featuring Choir and Orchestra

Amazing Grace was composed by John Newton, who had one of the most wretched jobs in history: Captain of a slave ship. In 1748, as a violent storm assaulted his ship at sea, Newton cried out to God for mercy.

This near disaster inspired Amazing Grace.

Title: Amazing Grace (with Choir)

Composer: John Newton. Arranged by Tim Berens

Description: Our arrangement begins with a brief orchestral introduction, then the choir performs a harmonically rich, unaccompanied chorale setting of Amazing Grace. The orchestra joins the choir for the second chorus. In the third chorus, the woodwinds play the melody for the first half, then a swinging gospel groove kicks in and the brass play the melody in the second half.

The choir sings the melody atop a joyous gospel groove in the third chorus, then the key changes and the energy builds in the fourth chorus, leading toward a spectacular ending.

Instrumentation: 3333/4331/Timp+2/Drum Set/Guitar(opt.)/Harp/SATB Choir/Strings

Length: 4:00

Rental Fee: $300.00 first performance. $100.00 per subsequent performance.

The Cleveland Orchestra, with the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus, led by Dr. William Caldwell, premiered Amazing Grace on January 15, 2024. Enjoy a video of the performance below.