Elder Joseph Brackett and Shaker song, Simple Gifts

New England Song Series No. 4:

Joseph Brackett's "Simple Gifts"

Portrait of Elder Joseph Brackett Jr., 1797-1882

Source:
The Aletheia:Spirit of Truth
by Aurelia G. Mace.
Farmington, Maine:
Press of the Knowlton & McLeary Co., 1907

Arrangement For A New U.S. President!

A new piece by film composer John Williams titled, "Air and Simple Gifts," was premiered during the Inauguration Day ceremonies for U.S. President Barack Obama on January 20, 2009. For two reviews, click on these links:

Anthony Tommasini, New York Times

Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times

Watch the performance at the Inauguration ceremony by violinist Itzhak Perlman,
cellist Yo-Yo Ma, clarinetist Anthony McGill, and pianist Gabriela Montero,
here on

YouTube

Did you know that "Simple Gifts" was originally written for dancing?

Read about the popular Shaker song by clicking on these links:

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Simple Words for a Simple Song

By Roger Lee Hall

"Simple Gifts"

These are the words to the Shaker song:

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight

'Till by turning, turning we come round right.

Unfortunately there have been so many errors associated with "Simple Gifts" that it is time, as the song says, "we come round right."

Here are six ways this Shaker song is incorrectly identified or misunderstood:

1. The Wrong Words:

Many books continue to distribute the wrong information. For example, in The Big Book of New England Curiosities:

Shakers also just love to belt out a tune. Shaker hymns are for the most part lively and upbeat, not unlike the folks who sing them. Their bit hit, 'Simple Gifts,' written by Elder Joseph Brackett right here at the Sabbathday Lake Community, speaks volumes about their way of life. You know, it's the song that begins, 'Tis a gift to be simple'.

It needs to be emphasized that the beginning of the song is NOT -- "Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free." That one word has been changed by singers and arrangers over the years. It should be: "Tis the gift to be simple, tis the gift to be free." To the Shakers, that one word makes a big difference! They are talking about the gift of their faith, not just any gift.

2. The Wrong Category:

"Simple Gifts" is usually identified incorrectly, identifying it as a "Shaker hymn" or as a "work-song-hymn" as at I Hear America Singing.

Actually, it's neither a hymn nor a work song. Shaker hymns usually have two or more verses of text, and Shaker songs have only one verse. Since "Simple Gifts" has only one verse, it should be classified as a song. The extra verses are NOT original Shaker words but added later by non-Shaker versifiers and not very good ones at that, as in this version of Simple Gifts.

Now notice the last two lines of the Shaker song:

To turn, turn will be our delight
'Till by turning, turning we come round right.

These words are dance instructions. Several Shaker manuscripts identify this tune as
a "Dancing Song" or a "Quick Dance." So it should NOT be classified as a Shaker hymn.

3. Oh, It Sounds Like:

The tune for "Simple Gifts" has been compared to several other music pieces which have a similar opening. One of these is the second movement of Bela Bartok's First Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra, composed in 1928. Though there are similarities in the opening theme of the Bartok work and the Shaker tune, there are no connections between the two. As with many simple tunes, it is merely a musical coincidence that they sound alike.

4. The Arrangements:

From the 1940s onward, there have been many arrangements of "Simple Gifts," especially by folksingers like George and Gerry Armstong and Judy Collins. The best known classical arrangements were made by Aaron Copland, whose orchestral settings have been performed all over the world. The best known Copland arrangement is the orchestral variations of "Simple Gifts" in his ballet score, Appalachian Spring, one of the greatest classical works of the 20th century. Copland also arranged the song for solo voice and piano (later orchestrated) in his First Set of Old American Songs. Another classical arrangement was made by film composer, John Williams, who arranged the Shaker tune in a piece titled, "Air and Simple Gifts," for the Inauguration of President Barack Obama on 20 January 2009.

5. The Composer:

Many authors have failed to identify Elder Joseph Brackett Jr. (1797-1882) as the composer of "Simple Gifts" and also give the wrong date when it was written. The Shakers have long believed that Elder Joseph wrote the song. Some authors have written he wrote the song in 1875, including in Eminent Mainers, by Arthur Douglas Stover, and also in the best-selling CD by the Boston Camerata, Simple Gifts: Shaker Chants and Spirituals. That date of 1875 is incorrect. This is the correct information:

Elder Joseph Brackett's "Simple Gifts" is a dance song written in 1848
at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine.

In an article by Sister R. Mildred Barker in 1967, she mentions Elder Joseph as the composer of this dance song. She had lived her youth at the Alfred Shaker community, and learned that Elder Joseph's song was written there. There is also evidence in Shaker manuscripts that Elder Joseph wrote "Simple Gifts."

6. Which Came First - "Simple Gifts" or "Lord of the Dance"?

Some writers and musicians have claimed that the Shaker song was based on another song, "Lord of the Dance." It was actually the other way round. "Lord of the Dance" was based on the Shaker melody,
with new words and arranged tune by British songwriter, Sydney Carter, and first published in 1963. This song has become popular as well. Yet, as with"Simple Gifts," it is often incorrectly identified.

Pass the word along (especially to musicians and journalists) that "Simple Gifts" was a dance song written by Elder Joseph Brackett and "Lord of the Dance" was a song written by Sydney Carter. Both are wonderful songs and deserve to be credited properly.

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For a very good description about "Simple Gifts" and later arrangements
by Aaron Copland, Judy Collins and even a few recent groups, see John Simpson's blog:

What's in a Song: Simple Gifts

THE STORY BEHIND "SIMPLE GIFTS"

Have you wondered where this Shaker song came from and
who wrote it?

You can find out about this beautiful Shaker song in an illustrated e-book written by Roger Lee Hall, a composer and musicologist and one of the foremost authorities on Shaker music. He has researched and written about this Shaker song for over twenty-five years. It was first published as an article in 1980, then in a small booklet in 1987. Later, it was expanded into a larger booklet in 1997. Nine years later, it was expanded into a more extensive monograph as an e-book. Now it has been revised:

THE STORY OF 'SIMPLE GIFTS':
Joseph Brackett's Shaker Dance Song
(PineTree Press, revised edition, 2010)

The revised e-book edition on CD-ROM also contains bonus features:

audio files with different recordings of "Simple Gifts" from a radio program with guest, Roger Hall; and interviews with composer, Aaron Copland, and several Shaker sisters.
video file with the song performed in concert at the meeting house of Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, with harpist, Diane Schneider, and singer, Roger Hall.

To order this e-book or the printed edition from 2009 (limited quantities),
go to the Store

Simple Gifts Music

The following CDs and music collections are available from this web site:

"Simple Gifts" song and an exclusive interview with Aaron Copland
are included on this CD,

Gentle Words: A Shaker Music Sampler

An arrangement of "Simple Gifts" for voice and piano by Roger Hall
is included in the Music Supplement of this book with accompanying CD...

A Guide to Shaker Music - With Music Supplement

An attractive broadside with the words and music to the Shaker song
on heavy cover stock
is available for display or gift-giving.

To order this colorful broadside, go to the

Store

Joseph Brackett Day

Sponsored by The Tune Lovers Society, each year there is a birthday commemoration of the Shaker songwriter who wrote "Simple Gifts."

Elder Joseph Brackett Jr. was born on May 6, 1797 in Cumberland, Maine. He died on July 4, 1882 in New Gloucester, Maine.

Listeners and musicians are urged to play or perform "Simple Gifts" on that day to honor Elder Joseph Brackett's popular song.

There are a few recommended recordings listed on this page and also at CD Releases.

For more information about Joseph Brackett Day,
look under "May 6" in this well-respected annual directory:

Chase's Calendar of Events

A variety of arrangements (both vocal and instrumental)
can be found at the "Simple Gifts" Group on

YouTube

Gentle Words -- CD with several versions of "Simple Gifts" and the Aaron Copland interview.

PineTree Music -- original compositions and arrangements of Shaker tunes.

The River of Love -- CD with arrangements of "Simple Gifts" by 20th century composers.

Shaker Books and Articles -- books and articles about Shaker music.

Shaker Music Arrangements -- some with accompanying CDs.

Shaker Music History -- highlights from 1781 to 2001.

Shaker Music Lectures and Workshops -- programs available for any audience.

Shaker Music Today -- about the Shakers in recent times.

Wikipedia -- article about "Simple Gifts."

YouTube -- A selection of various arrangements can be found in the "Simple Gifts" group.

Help support the mission of this website.

Use this handy Search Box to order your merchandise...

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