[Dialogue] Simple Gifts (lord of the dance)

[Charles or Doris Hahn]

Paul,
Good to receive your word!  Thanks for making us all aware that the author/composer is known.  In the United Methodist Hymnal the only credit is "19th cent. Shaker tune".  One of the members of the committee that created this edition of the Hymnal is Organist at our church, and immediate past Dean of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.  I will apprise him of your information.
Hope all goes well with you and yours.  
Charles and Doris




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From: "PSchrijnen at aol.com" <PSchrijnen at aol.com>
To: dialogue at wedgeblade.net
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 12:23:10 PM
Subject: [Dialogue] Simple Gifts (lord of the dance)

Simple Gifts" is an 1848 Shaker song by Elder Joseph Brackett.
It has endured many inaccurate descriptions. Though often classified as an anonymous Shaker hymn or as a work song, it is better classified as a dance song.
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The composer
Elder Joseph Brackett was born in Cumberland, Maine, on May 6, 1797. He first joined the Shakers at Gorham, Maine, when his father's farm helped to form the nucleus of a new Shaker settlement. In 1819, Joseph moved with the other Shakers to Poland Hill, Maine. He later served as first minister of Maine Shaker societies, as well as Church Elder at New Gloucester, Maine, now known as Sabbathday Lake, the last remaining Shaker community. Elder Joseph Brackett died on July 4, 1882.[1]
The lyrics
"Simple Gifts" was written by Elder Joseph while he was at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine in 1848. These are the lyrics to his one-verse song:
'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free, 
'Tis the gift to come down where you 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. 
With thanks to Wikipedia,

Paul
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