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With ideas too big for a single episode, The Compass presents mini-series about society

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The Compass: Soul Music: Soul Music: Amazing Grace

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Ship Sailing in a Storm

23/06/2016 GMT

Soul Music: Amazing Grace

Soul Music

BBC World Service - The Compass, Soul Music, Soul Music: Amazing Grace

How John Newton's near-death experience prompted his hymn Amazing Grace

How John Newton's near-death experience prompted his hymn Amazing Grace. With Martin Bell, Judy Collins and Bob Zellner.

The hymn amazing Grace has inspired and uplifted people all over the world. We hear about its influence on the civil rights movement in America, how it changed the fate of a British soldier in the Arabian desert, and its unexpected appearance in the film Star Trek: the Wrath of Khan. 

We also hear the story of John Newton, the man who wrote it. Taken from his first love, he was press ganged into service at sea, shackled to a ship’s deck for 40 hours and contemplated murdering his captain. But he wrote the hymn after his ship was caught in a terrible storm and he, miraculously, survived.

(Photo: Ship sailing in a storm. Credit: Thinkstock)

The Compass: Soul Music

A series of programmes about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact.

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Soul Music: Amazing Grace

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