Simple Gifts

简单的礼物(simple Gifts)改编自美国圣战教歌曲。该曲因为被科普兰（Aaron Copland）最著名的作品1944年为玛莎葛拉罕（Martha Graham）所写的芭蕾《阿帕拉契之春》（Appalachian Spring）采用而闻名世界。Simple Gifts也被用于多种场合，包扩被引用在2009年奥巴马总统就任仪上由约翰威廉丝编排的Air and Simple Gift。

Simple Gifts (from Appalachian Spring)

Air and Simple Gifts Arranged by John Williams at Obama Inauguration

Simple Gifts （简单的礼物）作者：Shaker Elder Joseph Brackett, Jr. (於西元1848年所著) 　　

简单的礼物(simple Gifts)改编自美国圣战教歌曲，全曲分为四个乐章 1 在那遥远的山谷2 舞蹈 3 请接受这朵美丽的小花 4 简单的小礼物。该曲取材于美国圣战教的一首诗“这是一份简单的礼物，这是一份的随手可得的礼物，这是一份留传在我们宿命当中的礼物。当我们找到自己该去的地方时，她就会出现在充满爱和欢乐的山谷里，当我们找到真正的简单时，我们转身就能找到幸福。” 　　简单的礼物(simple Gifts)是一首非常著名的美国乡村民谣，曾经作为美国VOA广播电台（美国之音）的SPECIAL ENGLISH（慢速英语）节目的背景音乐。该曲演奏中用到的乐器有：口琴，笛子，洞箫，节奏感强，简单易学。

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Simple Gifts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Simple Gifts" is a Shaker song written and composed in 1848 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.[1]

Lyrics

"Simple Gifts" was written by Elder Joseph while he was at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine. 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 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.[2]

Several Shaker manuscripts indicate that this is a "Dancing Song" or a "Quick Dance." "Turning" is a common theme in Christian theology, but the references to "turning" in the last two lines have also been identified as dance instructions.[1]