When did the tradition of playing "Amazing Grace" during funerals start?

Answer 1

Short answer -- NOT from the "Trail of Tears" (though that's an interesting story), but from about 1970 with the release of Judy Collins' surprise hit single version of the song.
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The Cherokee "Trail of Tears" explanation is initially attractive, but problematic.

1) First, the association of this hymn with the now familiar tune ("New Britain"), though beginning around 1830, was not yet firmly established as "THE tune" for the hymn. It apears that it continued to be used to a variety of tunes at this time. The true establishment of the 'standard version' (that is, the specific tune, its basic harmonization and the specific verses [including "When we've been there. . ." which came from another source, not Newton's original lyrics]) dates from a series of hymbooks in the first decade of the early TWENTIETH century.

2) Second, the usual statement "they sang 'Amazing Grace'" is a bit muddy. Others say they sang 'the funeral song' to the TUNE of 'Amazing Grace'.** That could simply mean they used the tune mentioned above (which, as noted, was not yet "THE tune" for the hymn), but to an entirely different set of lyrics. (Apparently CHEROKEE words are meant, so even if based on the 'Amazing Grace' lyrics, they would be a translation. But the only purported 'Cherokee version of Amazing Grace' I've found lyrics to, though pretty good in content, is not even a remote translation of Newton's words.)

**see http://www.marionkentucky.us/Marion-Kentucky-trailoftears.htm

3) Finally, there is a HUGE gap between any Cherokee use and modern-day popular use. If the Cherokees did indeed use this specific tune, and perhaps related lyrics (translation?) it is probably best not to look for a direct link to the modern use, but to recognize that suitability of this TUNE for such a use (and, to some extent, the lyrics).

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JUDY COLLINS, etc.

So, no, it's not really from the Cherokee use. Rather, the modern POPULAR use of "Amazing Grace", including for funerals, seems to be less than 40 years old, and directly connected to the sudden, huge popularity of the folk version recordings circa 1970, esp. the top-selling Judy Collins recording in 1970. Indeed the instrumental BAGPIPE version that is most often associated with its 'funeral use' [as seen, e.g., in the recent film "Amazing Grace: the William Wilberforce Story" AND the Star Trek Movie, "The Wrath of Khan"] comes from the Judy Collins version.

To cite an excellent source on the story of this hymn**
"The iconic status of 'Amazing Grace' has been fully realized only in the years following July Collins hit. This was when it began to emerge as a top choice for funeral music. . . ."

**Steven Turner, *Amazing grace : the story of America's most beloved song*(2002), p. 199. Turner includes a useful explanation of the use of this tune, its establishment (and arrangement) in the early 20th century, the story of the popular recordings, and much other carefully researched material on Newton and the lyrics (correcting many popular misunderstandings, e.g., that it was directed against slavery--it was not, and Southerners did NOT have 'a problem with it').

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Long before the song was ever written, the song was in the hearts of the following people who truly had seen it:

The funeral procession of the son of the widow of Nain

The funeral assembly of the daughter of Jairus

The funeral assembly of Lazarus, which according to historical custom would have continued for a period of several days after the burial

And many other examples of God's Amazing Grace can be found at the last link in the list.

Don't be afraid of the facts. Science and historians actually confirm many of these events.

Answer 4

During the 1820's and 30's in America as the anti slavery movement gained strength - - - the tune caught on quickly, like many a song of the time the actual tune was familiar, grafted from earlier songs - - - works great with a set of bagpipes and nothing like wailing bagpipes to set the mood for a funeral. The American Civil War gave a great boost to the spread of the song in the North & South though the Southerners had a problem with lyrics denouncing slavery. (Still do)

Gonna cut & paste - - - the dread WIkipedia --- yikes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace
""" "Amazing Grace" is a well-known Christian hymn. The words were written c. 1772 by Englishman John Newton. They first appeared in print in Newton's Olney Hymns, 1779 that he worked on with William Cowper.
Shape Note version from 1835.The melody is believed to be Scottish or Irish in origin; it is pentatonic and suggests a bagpipe tune; the hymn is frequently performed on bagpipes and has become associated with that instrument. Another tune is the so-called "Old Regular Baptist" tune. It was sung by the Congregation of the Little Zion Church, Jeff, Kentucky, on the album The Ritchie Family of Kentucky on the Folkways label (1958).

Newton's lyrics have become a favourite for Christians, largely because the hymn vividly and briefly sums up the doctrine of divine grace. The lyrics are based on I Chronicles 17:16, where King David marvels at God's choosing him and his house. Newton apparently wrote this for use in a sermon he preached on this passage on New Year's Day 1773, for which he left his sermon notes[2]. (He entitled the piece "Faith's review and expectation.")

It has also become known as a favourite with supporters of freedom and human rights, both Christian and non-Christian, in part because many assume it to be his testimony about his slave trading past. The song has been sung by many notable musical performers, including iconic folk singer Judy Collins.

The hymn was quite popular on both sides in the American Civil War. While on the "trail of tears," the Cherokee were not always able to give their dead a full burial. Instead, the singing of "Amazing Grace" had to suffice. Since then, "Amazing Grace" is often considered like a Cherokee National Anthem[3]. For this reason, many contemporary Native American musicians have recorded the song.""


NOTE --- --- this holds true for North America and Britain but I don't recall any traditional Korean funerals where they played it until after the year 1990---


Joy ----------------------------------------

Answer 5

"While on the "trail of tears," the Cherokee were not always able to give their dead a full burial. Instead, the singing of "Amazing Grace" had to suffice. Since then, "Amazing Grace" is often considered like a Cherokee National Anthem."

Answer 6

"KGB" by coronary heart attack "The Maze" by using the Minutemen significantly, mourning's for dickwads. Drink and get together at my funeral and just play random hardcore punk tunes so i will be able to slam dance my method to Hell.

Answer 7

Too bad it ever had to start in the first place--it's an awful song.

Answer 8

I think from the very begining of the song or soon there after.

1746

History of Amazing Grace, part 1

Today marks the 200th anniversary of the British parliament passing a bill banning the nation's slave trade. In these two articles we'll explore the lives of two men and one song that played a large role in that effort.

John Newton's devoted Christian mother dreamed that her only son would grow up to become a preacher. But he lost his mother when he was six years old, and at the age of eleven followed his sea-captain father to sea. He did not take to the discipline of the Royal Navy and deserted ship, was flogged, and eventually discharged.

In looking for greater liberty, he ended up on the western coast of Africa in Sierra Leone, where he worked for a slave trader who mistreated him and made him a virtual slave of his black mistress. At this time he was described as "a wretched looking man toiling in a plantation of lemon trees in the Island of Plaintains... clothes had become rags, no shelter and begging for unhealthy roots to allay his hunger." After more than a year of such treatment he escaped the island through an appeal to his father in 1747.

The next year at sea, his ship was battered by a severe storm. Newton had been reading "The Imitation of Christ," and in great fear while he rowed and bailed for hours (for he could not swim!), he cried out to God to save him, a wretched sinner. Years later he looked back and penned these autobiographical words.


Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see.

Epilogue: Ironically, following his conversion to Christianity, Newton spent the next six years as captain of a slave ship. While he had religious services on board, he eventually came to abhor slavery and later to crusade against it. He influenced British Member of Parliament William Wilberforce to become active in working to abolish it. (We'll discuss Wilberforce's story in a subsequent article.) Newton later studied for the ministry and attracted large audiences when he preached where he was known as "the old converted sea captain." He collaborated with the poet William Cowper in producing the Olney Hymns, which became the standard hymnal of evangelical Anglican churches.

In his old age, when it was suggested that he retire due to his bad health and failing recollection, he said,

"My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior!"
His song, Amazing Grace, has become the American anthem and influenced many generations.


AMAZING GRACE, part 2

As we mentioned in our first article on the History of Amazing Grace this is the story of the lives of two men and that one song. In the first part we discussed the life of the song's author John Newton. The recent film "Amazing Grace" however is about the life of one of Newton's protégés, William Wilberforce. Wilberforce was a man well known to the Framing Fathers of the American Revolution and became in his day not just a politician, philanthropist and abolitionist, but also a writer of such popularity (in his own day) as C.S. Lewis was in the 20th century.

William Wilberforce was born to privilege and wealth in 18th century England and though physically challenged, worked for nearly 20 years to push through Parliament a bill for the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire 200 years ago.

Born in 1759 in Hull in Yorkshire, upon his father's death in 1768 he was sent to live with an aunt and uncle in Wimbledon. While there, he came into contact with the great evangelist George Whitefield. He was also influenced by the former slave-trading sea captain, pastor John Newton. However, his mother and grandfather wanted him away from Newton's influence, which they thought was too evangelical and "Methodist", much too enthusiastic for respectable Anglicans, and returned him to Hull.

Following private school Wilberforce took both his B.A. and M.A. at St. John's College in Cambridge -- where he began a lasting friendship with the future Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger -- but Wilberforce was not a serious student and he was given to late nights of drinking, gambling, and card playing. At the youngest age at which one could be elected, at 21 he was elected to Parliament. He was noted for his charm and eloquence, indeed, his phenomenal rhetorical skill caused the young Prime Minister William Pitt to later challenge Wilberforce with a considerable undertaking -- abolition.

The abolitionist Thomas Clarkson influenced Wilberforce to become an activist in the issue of slavery and together they proposed to Parliament a dozen resolutions against the slave trade. Wilberforce's early optimism was met with one defeat after another. This did not dissuade him from the cause against slavery, or other issues for that matter.


Where did his motivation come from? At the age of 25 he heard very clearly the Gospel of Christ and converted in a way that changed his life. Within two years he determined to serve God by serving the lowest and most ill-treated. But what of his blossoming career in Parliamentary politics? At this point, he decided to visit his old preacher, John Newton, who was now an influential Anglican clergyman installed as rector of St Mary Woolnoth in London. Wilberforce considered retiring from public life in order to engage fully in the spiritual life.


Newton helped them understand that an awakened faith did not necessitate flight from society. He told him that just as Esther had been put in the palace of King Xerxes "for such a time as this," Newton went on to say,

"…One may not be able to calculate all of the advantages that may result from your service in public life. The example, and even the presence of a consistent character, may have a powerful, though unobserved, effect upon others. You are in a place where many know Him not, and can show them the genuine fruits of the religion you are known to profess."
At the age of 28 Wilberforce wrote in his diary: "God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners [morals]."

Though he continued to be plagued by poor health that kept him bedridden at times for weeks, he attended to his causes. All his life he suffered chronic ill health that included a crooked spine, poor eyesight and stomach problems. He wrote:

"So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the [slave] trade's wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for abolition. Let the consequences be what they would: I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition."

When in 1797 he settled in Clapham, he became a member of the so-called "Clapham Sect," a group of devout Christians dedicated to correcting social ills. Wilberforce was himself dedicated to and help found numerous parachurch groups like the Society for Bettering the Cause of the Poor, the Church Missionary Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Antislavery Society, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He championed the cause of chimney sweeps, single mothers, Sunday schools, orphans, and juvenile delinquents. In total, he supported 69 philanthropic causes, giving one forth of his annual income to the poor.


In the same year Wilberforce completed writing his book "A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians in the Higher and Middle Classes of This Country Contrasted With Real Christianity" which he'd been working on for some 4 years. He spoke against the decline of morality in the nation but more than anything his own personal testimony and views. His book became a best seller and a strong and influential apologetic for a vital and living Christianity. The book sold widely for over forty years.

Though his bill in Parliament called for the abolition of the slave trade, slavery itself continued, although he always hoped for emancipation of the slaves. As old age set in, he lacked the vigor to work to its accomplishment, though he continued to attack it through speeches in public meetings and the House of Commons. Finally, 46 years after he began his fight in Parliament, the Emancipation Bill gathered sufficient support and had its final commons reading on July 26, 1833. He died three days later and was buried in the north transept of Westminster Abbey next to his friend William Pitt, Prime Minister.