Naufrage d'un voilier américain
en 1857 - Musée de Blérancourt
Marine songs
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace is a melody which originated from an old Irish tune that became a Negro spiritual.
Its lyrics were written by John Newton, who was a captain of a slave ship. Towards the middle of the XIX century, while navigating inside the Atlantic Ocean, his ship was, one night, hit by a wild storm and, disabled, it was a the verge of sinking. As he saw death approaching, John Newton was touched by divine grace and felt much change within him. Having miraculously averted this calamity and been strengthened by the experience, he forever stopped the trafficking of "ebony wood" and became a pastor preaching for the abolition of slavery.
Saint Nicolas saving survivors of shipwreck - Giaquinto Corrado
Fesch Museum, Ajaccio
Amazing Grace met with resounding success, especially in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The song was integrated into the protestant liturgy, and then into the catholic. The Celtic music is sung with bagpipes by Navy units like Bagad of Lann Bihoué and the Royal Irish Rangers.