93-Year-Old Uses A Saw To Play Classic Hymn 'Just As I Am'
November 30, 2018
[featured_content]
During his 93rd birthday celebration, Mr. Donald Berryman shows off his musical talents and plays a classic hymn on a saw. Not your typical orchestral instrument, Mr. Berryman entertained his party guests with a unique performance of ‘Just As I Am’.
Apparently, playing the saw was a popular act in the old Vaudeville shows in the early part of the 20th century. Now the instrument is somewhat of a novelty that most have never heard.
RELATED: Watch What This 90-Year-Old Couple Does at the Clinic
Donald first heard the saw played in 1942 when he was 16 years old. The performance moved him so deeply, he ran home and grabbed a saw from the shed. Donald made a makeshift bow and got to work learning his craft!
“The saw has a sustaining tone. It doesn’t need more than just a touch,” he said while performing the anthem. “My knee is the vibrato. You don’t need much pressure. The more you bend (the saw) the higher the sound.”
credit: youtube.comBirthday Boy Plays A Hymn On A Saw
Berryman’s father was also a gifted musician but on more traditional instruments such as the violin, piano, and harmonica. But Donald didn’t want to learn a traditional instrument. For him playing by ear was his God-given talent. He’s played in churches, community centers, retirement homes and even Wisconsin’s state capitol!
“I never would have had the patience to learn notes. I wanted to play by ear,” he said. “Two different choir directors have said my (saw) playing keeps the choir in tune because I have perfect pitch. I can’t read a note of music. I don’t know A from B. It’s all in my head. If I can hum it or whistle it or sing it, I can play it on the saw.”
With a sound that is a mix of harp and violin, the saw is a unique instrument not heard as much as in days past. But it lends itself beautifully to playing hymns and that’s just what Donald is doing so well in this video! As the pianist plays the chords, Donald played melody on his $8 hardware saw and homemade bow! At 93 years young, this musician showed he’s still got it!
h/t: Godtube.com
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Incredible Operatic Performance Of A Classic Hymn
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Strength When You're Feeling Alone - Your Daily Prayer - July 13
Even in a full house or a busy day, loneliness can find us. Here’s a gentle reminder of the One who sees you and cares deeply, even when others don’t.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Strength When You're Feeling Alone - Your Daily Prayer - July 13
Even in a full house or a busy day, loneliness can find us. Here’s a gentle reminder of the One who sees you and cares deeply, even when others don’t.
Past Stories
- Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Saves 165 People From Camp Mystic, 'I Was Just Doing My Job'
- He Lost His Whole Family to a Flood, Ten Years Later, He’s There for Others in Texas
- Two Texas Sisters Share About Surviving the Flood at Camp Mystic
- Brave 12-Year-Old Boy is Honored After Saving His Family From a House Fire
- A Daughter Finds Connection to the Father She Never Knew Who Died in Vietnam
- She’s Raising Two Sons with a Rare Condition—and Showing Others How They Thrive
- A Neighbor's Call Saves the Life of a Newborn Baby Whose Mom Had Passed Away
- After Months of Paralysis and a Ventilator, Mom Talks to Young Son and Tells Him 'I Love You'
- Shelter Dog Detects a Stranger's Medical Emergency and Becomes a Hero
- Grieving the Loss of Their Daughter, They Chose to Keep Fostering Hope
- Gloria and Bernice, Identical Twins Turn 100, Celebrate Decades of Memories
- Father of Three Dies After Being Struck By Lightning While On Golf Course
- Married 18 Years, Parents of 4 Are Both Diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer
- He Lost His Wife. She Lost Her Husband. Together, They Found a New Beginning
- She Earned Her Degree, Then Gave Her Dad a Second Chance at Life
- They Were Told Their Pup Had Been Hit By a Car, 4 Years Later They Found Her Alive
- New York Soccer Coach Collapses On the Field, Parents Jump in to Save Him
- Community Gathers to Remember 12-Year-Old Girl Who Died in a Scooter Accident
- After Surviving Family Tragedies, Stroke, and Coma, Teen Walks in Her Graduation Ceremony
- Civilian Stops to Save Woman in a Burning Car, 'It Could Have Been My Mom'
- They Adopted a Baby Boy, Then Extended Extraordinary Grace to His Birth Mother
- Cancer Survivor Shocks Everyone With His 4th Lottery Win
- Brian Wilson, Co-Founder of the Beach Boys, Passes Away at 82
- Vietnam Vet Passes Away, His Mailman Rushes to Adopt His Dog
- 4-Year-Old Called a Hero After Teacher Collapses at Daycare, and She Knows Exactly What to Do
- After 100-Mile Journey, Including a Swim, Missing Golden Retriever Mix is Finally Back Home
- Life Delayed Her Dream, But Didn’t Deny it. At 88, She Became a Graduate, and Witness to God’s Timing
- Gary Sinise Opens Up About His Son’s Death and the Gift of Grandfatherhood
- Young Girl is Saved by Good Samaritan After Falling 15 Feet Into a Waterfall
- Retired Alaska State Trooper Helps Rescue Husband Pinned by 700-lb Boulder
- 9 Year Old Boy Saves Mom and Newborn Sister By Calling 911, 'My Mom Could Have Died'
- Police Escort Paralyzed Teen to Prom Years After Childhood Shooting
- Young Boy in Wheelchair Walks at His Kindergarten Graduation, Surprising His Family
- Woman Credits Her Faith After Tire Flies Through SUV Windshield in Near-Death Crash
- 98-Year-Old Twins Cherish Life, Love, and Faith While Living Next Door to One Another
- Airman Served in WW2, Now He is Finally Coming Home 81 Years After He Died
- Teens Are Heroes After Saving Family From Fire On Their Prom Night
- She Survived 3 Weeks Lost in the Wild, Fighting Off Animals and Snowstorms
- Triplets Graduate From Texas Tech Together, All Earning Degrees in Media and Communication
- She Lost Her Son's Baby Book, But It Was Returned to Her at the Right Moment
- Man and His Dog Reunited After Being Hit by Drunk Driver
- Nurse With Caring Spirit Says Yes to Dying Mother's Wish For Her Son, and It's Beautiful
- She Never Told Her Friends She Was the School Mascot, Then Shares Her Secret at Graduation
- Mom Donates Kidney to Daughter, Now They’re Graduating Nursing School Together
- Grieving Son Finds Kindness When Trying to Print a Photo of His Mother Who Just Passed Away
- Nebraska Mom Raised Concerns About Husband's Mental Health Before Tragic Murder-Suicide
- Brothers Discover 1976 Message in a Bottle, Then Find the Man Who Wrote It
- California High School Discovers They Have 14 Sets of Twins in Their Graduating Class
- Paralyzed Pup Tyrion Finds New Life With a Doggie Wheelchair
- Autistic 8-Year-Old Boy Goes Missing, Found by Water Thanks to Quick Response
Top Artists
Top Music Videos
Bill and Gloria Gaither Guy Penrod's Stirring Live Performance of 'Then Came The Morning'
Brad Stine Has Issues Brad Stine’s Hysterical Take on Adam Naming the Animals is Pure Gold
Oak Ridge Boys 'Jesus Is Coming Soon' The Oak Ridge Boys
toby mac TobyMac Releases Heartfelt Lyric Video for ‘Goodbye (For Gabe)’
Universal Music Group Pat Barrett Releases Powerful ‘Praise The Lord Forever’ Lyric Video
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.