Brass Ensemble Euphonium,Horn,Trombone,Trumpet,Tuba - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.722756

Composed by Joseph Brackett. Arranged by Jari A. Villanueva. Folk,Patriotic,Romantic Period,Spiritual. Score and parts. 13 pages. JV MUSIC #3427949. Published by JV MUSIC (A0.722756).

Simple Gifts Shaker Hymn for Brass Quintet
Arranged by Jari Villanueva

Brass Quartet
2 Trumpets in Bb
Horn in F (Eb Alto, Trombone, Bb Trumpet)
Euphonium (Baritone TC)
Substitute parts available

The tune was written by Joseph Brackett (1797–1882) in 1848. Brackett, a lifelong resident of Maine,first joined the Shakers at Gorham, Maine, when his father's farm helpedto form the nucleus of a new Shaker settlement.

The song was largely unknown outside Shaker communities until Aaron Copland used its melody for the score of MarthaGraham's ballet Appalachian Spring (Shakers once worshipped on Holy Mount, in the Appalachians), first performed in 1944. Copland usedSimple Gifts a second time in 1950 in his first set of OldAmerican Songs for voice and piano, which was later orchestrated. Many people thought that the tune of Simple Gifts was a traditional Celtic one but both the music and original lyrics are actually the compositions of Brackett. Simple Gifts has been adapted or arranged many times since by folksingers and composers.

https://youtu.be/hmhKeZgRrMk