Talk:Simple Gifts

Church hymn
Was this not adapted into a modern Christian church hymn? Only the last part is used and at the end of each phrase they say alleluia 4 times fast then 1 time slow. -- Azemocram (talk) 01:23, 5 August 2010 (UTC)


 * Yes. The lyrics and tune were adapted into the hymn, "Lord of the Dance" by English songwriter Sydney Carter in 1963. I am adding it to the article here. CountryMama27 (talk) 15:03, 6 August 2022 (UTC)

Obama's inauguration
The use at Obama's inauguration is referenced twice in the article - is that necessary? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.119.221.29 (talk) 17:01, 4 March 2011 (UTC)

Plymouth Adventure
Having just seen a film with Spencer Tracy, Plymouth Adventure, I can't help but to note that Miklos Rozsa's theme for he score sounds an awful lot like Aaron Copland's famous adaptation of the tune from his Appalachian Spring. If anyone has some background on the composer Rozsa, concerning this possible connection, please include it here, as well as under Rosza's page and the film's. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.125.233.224 (talk) 03:03, 19 November 2012 (UTC)

If it is Copland's version, any references should be made on the page for Appalachian Spring as you link above. The tune predates Copland's version.CountryMama27 (talk) 17:58, 6 August 2022 (UTC)

Making this article better
Hi, everyone. I love this song, but this article is in such disarray. So I'm going to devote some time to it over the next month or so, with the aim of getting it to at least Good Article status. If you have any suggestions or help... Well, you know what to do! :D Bobnorwal (talk) 18:28, 14 December 2012 (UTC)

Hi! My big concern is tat the article states that the "Lord of the Dance" version is the most popular, but I think historically that the Copland version form "Appalachian Spring" is far more popular and well known. Just my humble opinion, as there seems to be no hard evidence one way or the other. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tonyztuba (talk • contribs) 16:32, 21 May 2013 (UTC)

I remember singing the hymn "Lord of the Dance" in the Pilgrim Hymnal growing up. I also noticed that it's referred in some hymnals as "I Danced in the Morning." Given that the hymn uses not just the tune but also is based on the original lyrics, it should be mentioned here. Most of the performances I've heard use the title "Simple Gifts."

The article would be better served by changing "Subsequent Usage" into "Other Versions," "Lyrical Recordings," "Other Performances," and "In Popular Culture." I suggest "Lyrical Recordings" rather than simply "Recordings" as there are many, many instrumental recordings of the song (particularly on Christmas or winter seasonal albums. Several of the "Popular Culture" listings are really either published recordings (which should be in the current "Subsequent Usage" or performances and vice versa. My understanding of "Popular Culture" is the use of the song or lyrics in a film, television, or book. CountryMama27 (talk) 15:14, 6 August 2022 (UTC)

Other adaptation
I recall watching a performance by a student ensemble at the University of Texas at Austin (New Music Ensemble, I think), in which they performed a piece that included an adaptation of this song. The lyrics were modified to "'Tis a gift to be stupid, 'tis a gift to be dumb..." and I think the rest of the piece was an original work. Anyone heard of this one? Since it was a student ensemble, this may have itself been a student composition, and never published nor performed elsewhere. But I just thought I'd mention it on the off-chance that someone else knows of the piece. -- Gyrofrog (talk) 15:15, 22 March 2013 (UTC)

Craft in America - Use of this song in Craft in America
The use of this song in the show Craft in America is not noted in this article. I am not good at editing, so can someone who is good at editing just let me know if they will add it? Thanks! Polymer Clay Queen (nickname: menmen63) (talk) 21:01, 24 April 2015 (UTC)


 * It appears that someone did! CountryMama27 (talk) 17:59, 6 August 2022 (UTC)

Gabrieli Canzona
I also notice a resemblance to a theme in a work by Giovanni Gabrieli (c.1555-1612) for brass ensemble, Canzon per sonare no. 2. It's not a perfect match, but folk music is no more accurate in adapting structured classical music than classical music is in adapting folk music for its purposes.

The boundary between folk and classical music is hardly rigid.

Irony
Has anybody else noted the irony of the .ogg clip being of music performed by an army band, of a song written for a pacifist sect? Should some other clip be used instead? --Piledhigheranddeeper (talk) 14:59, 21 October 2016 (UTC)


 * Excellent point. My great-aunt, a life-long Quaker, stated that the song originated not as a folk song but as a Quaker "hymn" (not sure what they call their songs since their worship services are very different from other Christian services). Not that my great-aunt was an objective reference! I imagine it would be easily researched, and a different clip could be used. CountryMama27 (talk) 15:18, 6 August 2022 (UTC)

Removing songs from commercials
Thanks to the ongoing retail apocalypse phenomenon, and websites such as Commercials I Hate and Am I Right, we are removing songs from commercials. Also, a repeat mention of the song being used as the theme song for American Journal was just redundant. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.229.50.161 (talk) 17:56, 1 October 2019 (UTC)


 * It appears someone has re-added a commercial use. In cleaning up this article, I will remove it as per Wiki guidelines. CountryMama27 (talk) 15:18, 6 August 2022 (UTC)

Removing performances of "Appalachian Spring"
Given Copland's adaptation of the "Simple Gifts" tune has its own wiki page at Appalachian Spring, I've removed references to performances of that song from this page. They were primarily performances by fife & drum corps, which I'm not sure belong in wikipedia anyway given there are countless performances? Anyone know wiki's guidelines on unpublished performances? Either way, both referenced that the songs were Copland's version, not "Simple Gifts." Leaving that debate to the Copland version talk page CountryMama27 (talk) 15:50, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
 * I think Appalachian Spring should be noted on this page. It realies heavily on Simple Gifts for a motif. ProofCreature (talk) 21:14, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Secondary attribution with no citation?
The original article stated "There are two conflicting narratives of Shaker origin as to the composer of the song. One account attributes the song to a "Negro spirit" heard at Canterbury Shaker Village, which would make the song a "gift song" received by a Shaker from the spirit world."

However, the significant allegation had no citation nor could I find any reference to support it. Since multiple reliable sources attribute the song to Elder Joseph, I removed the reference to the Canterbury attribution. If someone can find a reliable reference, the langauge is above - please re-add. CountryMama27 (talk) 17:57, 6 August 2022 (UTC)