A Shaker Dance Song by Elder Joseph Brackett, 1848
If this tune is not yet familiar to you, chances are it will become so quickly! This lilting and memomorable melody has been sung and played in many performances throughout the world, most notably reintroduced to American Folk Music canon in the orchestral ballet, 'Appalachain Spring', by American composer Aaron Copland in 1944. The origins of this song appeared within the American Shaker community, a group of Protestant English immigrants who settled in New York in 1774 led by the English factory worker, Ann Lee. "Guided by divine visions and signs, she and eight pilgrims came to America in 1774 to spread her gospel in the New World." (PBS.org) The Shaker philosophy espoused the idea of 'seeking perfection' through the individual's words and actions, and pursued celibacy, service, and community as the means to a type of, 'heaven on earth.'
"Seventy-five years before the emancipation of the slaves and one hundred fifty years before women began voting in America, the Shakers were practicing social, sexual, economic, and spiritual equality for all members." (PBS.org/Ken Burns.)
And what to make of this beautiful melody, with words that speak to the idea of "simplicity" and to, "come round right?" For this we look to the composer of this piece, 'Elder' Joseph Brackett Jr., (1797-1882) who belonged to and eventually became leader of, the 'Sabbathday Lake' Shaker Society in Maine. The little there is that is written about Brackett, claims that he was born in Cumberland Maine and later moved to Gorham, where his Father led the Shaker community there. Later, "Joseph Jr. served as first minister of the Maine Shaker societies, as well as Church Elder at New Gloucester, now known as Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, until his death on 4 July 1882. His portrait has hung for many years in the music room of the Central Brick Dwelling at Sabbathday Lake, where the remaining few Shakers still operate a farm and museum." (Roger Hall: Sonneck Society for American Music)
And why were they called, "The Shakers?" Having moved away from the earlier Protestant group called the 'Quakers' - this new society of believers similarly took to 'trembling,' 'shaking' and, 'spontaneous dancing' as the spirit moved them. (*See NPS: History of the Shakers.)
This elegant melodic line takes the shape of a dance-like tune in 4/4, where it is supposed that members of the Shaker community which Brackett led, may have indeed used the lyrics, "to bow and to bend" as well as "to turn" literally in creating choreography for the tune itself.
Please listen and sing along to our demonstration of this Traditional American Song. Take some time to notice and appreciate the deliberate acapella performance and andante tempo, with a focus on the spirit of the lyrics, demonstrated here so beautifully by mezzo-soprano Anne Chester.
Image courtesy Roger Lee Hall
Also available at the Alfred Shaker Museum.
By Joseph Brackett Jr. - A manuscript of Mary Hazzard of the New Lebanon, New York, Shaker community; transcribed into an image, courtesy: Public Domain.
Photo courtesy: Public Domain
'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 ashamed,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'Till by turning, turning we come round right.
~ att. Joseph Brackett Jr.
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