Simple Gifts

Joseph Brackett (1797 - 1882)

LibriVox volunteers bring you 14 recordings of Simple Gifts by Anonymous. This was the Fortnightly Poetry project for May 17th, 2010.

Several Shaker manuscripts indicate that this is a "Dancing Song" or a "Quick Dance." The references to "turning" in the last two lines have been identified as dance instructions. The melody was used by Aaron Copeland as the basis for Appalachian Spring. (summary by Wikipedia and David Lawrence)

Genre(s): Multi-version (Weekly and Fortnightly poetry)

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Simple Gifts - Read by ALC Anna Clarkson
00:00:47
Play 02 Simple Gifts - Read by DL David Lawrence
00:00:43
Play 03 Simple Gifts - Read by GHS Algy Pug
00:00:47
Play 04 Simple Gigts - Read by JB JemmaBlythe
00:00:41
Play 05 Simple Gifts - Read by LAH Lee Ann Howlett
00:00:48
Play 06 Simple Gifts - Read by LLW Leonard Wilson
00:00:47
Play 07 Simple Gifts - Read by MLR Melissa Ranum
00:00:47
Play 08 Simple Gifts - Read by MOE Mihai Ovidiu Enache (MOE)
00:00:51
Play 09 Simple Gifts - Read by NJB Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:00:56
Play 10 Simple Gifts - Read by RN ravenotation
00:00:53
Play 11 Simple Gifts - Read by SD summerdaze
00:00:51
Play 12 Simple Gifts - Read by TDO Tracy Osborne
00:00:43
Play 13 Simple Gifts - Read by VCF Vicente Costa Filho
00:00:49
Play 14 Simple Gifts - Read by VG Victoria Grace
00:00:46