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"Simple Gifts"
(Recommended and Not Recommended)A selected list of CDs that have arrangements of "Simple Gifts"
Portrait of Elder Joseph Brackett Jr., 1797-1882
Composer of "Simple Gifts"
Source:
The Aletheia:Spirit of Truth
by Aurelia G. Mace.
Farmington, Maine:
Press of the Knowlton & McLeary Co.,
1907
It is usually assumed that because "Simple Gifts" is in public domain, it can be copied and from any book or music collection without giving credit. NOT TRUE!
Any published version of this Shaker song should be copyrighted and therefore credit should be given to editor or arranger whose name usually appears at the top of the page or on the title page of the book. Lack of credit has been a disturbing practice with "Simple Gifts." Usually it just listed as a"traditional Shaker hymn." When in doubt, it is best to credit whatever source you use for your performance, publication, or recording.
Over the past few decades there have been many arrangements of "Simple Gifts," some good and others not so good.
The words to this dance song have often been misunderstood.
Contrary to today's interpretation by many writers, Elder Joseph Brackett was not speaking about a simple uncluttered life. Instead, he was expressing the"simple gifts" of the Shaker faith, with their devotion and service to God. The Shakers have always been a deeply religious people. That does not mean the song can not be performed for other occasions, such as at a high school or college concert.
What follows are a few other recorded arrangements -- some good and others not so good.
The Good Arrangements
The best known arrangements of the popular Shaker dance song,"Simple Gifts," are by Aaron Copland, his variations on the tune in Appalachian Spring; also his "Variations on a Shaker Melody" for orchestra, and his arrangement for solo voice and piano (or orchestra) in the set of Old American Songs. These arrangements retain the simplicity and directness of the Shaker song.
One recording with Copland's "Variations on a Shaker Melody" received the prestigious Grand Prix Du Disque in 1989:
Other recommended arrangements of "Simple Gifts" are available at:
Vocal Arrangements
One of the popular arrangements of the past few decades has been by Bob Chilcott, a former member of the world renowned male singing group, The King's Singers. Chilcott's arrangement is titled "The Gift to be Simple," and may be heard on their Grammy-winning Signum CD from the UK:
Chilcott's arrangement of the Shaker dance song is lovely and beautifully performed on the CD. But unfortunately, it is listed as "Trad. American" and not credited to Elder Joseph Brackett. Also included on the CD are British and American folk tunes, like the haunting ballad: "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair" and several Afro-American spirituals. This CD is a very appealing combination of popular songs and traditional folk tunes, such as "Greensleeves" and "The Turtle Dove" (which has a melody similar to the Shaker hymn, "Let Us Sing Praises").
Read more about this world famous male singing group at their website: www.kingssingers.com
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A very good selection of religious music by composers such as Mozart, Pergolesi and J.S. Bach/Gound, and traditional tunes like the deeply moving Afro-American spiritual "Deep River," the lovely Austrian folk tune, "Still, Still, Still" (arranged by Mack Wilberg); and the popular Swedish hymn, "How Great Thou Art." The Shaker song "Simple Gifts" is correctly identified as being written by Elder Joseph Brackett Jr. The simple arrangement for voice and orchestra was made by Chris Hazell.This is an inspiring collection, beautifully sung by Bryn Terfel, the London Voices, with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Barry Wordsworth.
To order this recommended CD, click on this link:
New Songs
Over the past few decades, there have been many attempts made to expand the one verse Shaker song by adding new verses. There are some who have done better by writing their own lyrics to the song's melody.
Probably the best known example is Sydney Carter's 1963 song, "Lord of the Dance."
Another very good effort was made by UK composer Anthony Wakefield, who has decided to write his own lyrics and set it to Joseph Brackett's Shaker tune. He calls his new song, "Dream Dance." You can read about it at this link: Anthony Wakefield Music
And now for...
The Not So Good Arrangements
For Piano
This is a best-selling CD featuring the 5 Browns, a young brother and sister family of pianists...
On track 3 is an arrangement of "Simple Gifts" and "Going Home" by Professor Jeffrey Shumway at Brigham Young University. But it has some misleading information in its credits.
The composers mentioned are Aaron Copland for "Simple Gifts" and Antonin Dvorak for "Going Home." The composers of these songs should be Elder Joseph Brackett and William Arms Fisher.
Copland arranged the Shaker melody in his Appalachian Spring, while Dvorak composed his Largo theme in his Symphony No. 9 (From the New World), but never composed the song titled "Going Home" (or more accurately, "Goin' Home"). Unfortunately, credit was not given to the original composers, Joseph Brackett for "Simple Gifts" and William Arms Fisher for "Goin' Home." This is often the case with record labels that fail to look for the most accurate information.
Jeffrey Shumway's piano arrangement of these two American songs is fine, with subtle interweaving of both melodies, but doesn't do justice to either song without the words included or printed in the CD booklet. The remainder of the CD is devoted to classical piano works, some well known and others less familiar.
For Chorus
There have been numerous failed attempts to add non-Shaker words to the song.
Why add new verses to this one verse Shaker dance song? The Shaker elder who wrote it could have easily written more verses, but it was never intended to a sentimental hymn that it has become with so many arrangements.
These new verses sound more like sentimental greeting card messages [see Wikipedia article] rather than expressions of simple faith by a Shaker religious leader.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has made several recordings of "Simple Gifts" but has not given the proper credit to the song's composer.
On a recent centennial anniversary collection,
100 Years: Celebrating A Centuiry Of Recording Excellence (2CD/1 DVD),
"Simple Gifts" is listed on Disc 2 as follows:
Simple Gifts
Music: Shaker song
Text: Traditional Shaker, additions by David Warner
Arranged by Mack Wiberg
Once again, Joseph Brackett is not given credit for his Shaker song composed in 1848.
This Mormon Tabernacle Choir recording is from an earlier release:
Love Is Spoken Here: Songs of Heart and Home
Craig Jessop and Mack Wilberg, conductors
A previous release has different words added that are also overly sentimental and therefore inappropriate:
Songs From America's Heartland
Jerold Ottley, conductor
Added words for "Simple Gifts" by A. Laurence Lyon
A variety of arrangements (both vocal and instrumental)
can be found at the "Simple Gifts" Group on
Boston Camerata's CD: Simple Gifts - Shaker Chants and Spirituals -- notes for the CD
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.
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