Judy Collins' Amazing Grace - perfect use of ornamentation?

Irish Flute
1

In the PBS show about the hymn Amazing Grace, Judy Collins says she was the first one to record it with all the “swoops” - I think that was the word she used. Her rendition seems like such a natural use of ornamentation that enhanced and then eventually replaced the original melodic line. Most renditions I hear now are like hers.

Anyway, as I said, her use of ornamentation is so natural on this already popular hymn, can it be there was no one before her who sang it with such “swoops”?

2

Maybe she was the first to record it with all the “swoops.” Otherwise I agree that she was probably not the first to sing it with all of the “swoops.”

On another note it was Judy Collins’ recording that inspired the Pipe Major of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards pipe band to adapt the tune to pipes. Their recording sold over 6 millions copies and made the tune a standard for the bagpipe… Thanks, Judy :angry:

Cheers,
Aaron