“See how elastic our prejudices grow when once love comes to bend them.”

— Herman Melville

Source: Moby-Dick or, The Whale

Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Herman Melville 144

American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet 1818–1891

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Through the course of time these lines have often been altered into "'Tis a gift", rather than the original "'Tis the gift". The song was largely unknown outside of the Shaker community until Aaron Copland used the melody in his 1944 composition "Appalachian Spring". Many people have thought that the tune of "Simple Gifts" is a traditional celtic tune (as it is implied to be, as used in the theatrical play Lord of the Dance) but the music and original lyrics are actually the compositions of Joseph Brackett. The original lyrics to a song "Lord of the Dance", based upon the tune, were written by the Quaker poet Sydney Carter in 1963, and these were adapted (in ignorance of the actual origins) without authorization or acknowledgments in the play, but acknowledgement was eventually made, and some royalty payments arranged. Several other adaptations and parodies have since occurred. · Alison Krauss performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBOYYlanm1k · Performance by the King's Singers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6yTRcr2dxM - GMCLA performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIx57ATBgZg · Arrangement by John Williams for the Inauguration of US President Barack Obama https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXEIiKZRgpo&spfreload=10
Simple Gifts (1848)
Context: p> '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 asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight
'Till by turning, turning we come round right.</p