The vocals really are special!
For those who aren't familiar with it, "Simple Gifts" is a Shaker hymn that was almost unknown outside Shaker communities until Copland used it in "Appalachian Spring," which he scored for the Martha Graham company in 1944. As a singer, it's been my great good fortune to have performed a vocal setting of "Simple Gifts" several times with my chorus. I love the tune
and the words:
'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 will not be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.
to come down where we ought to be---isn't that the gift that every skater wants for every jump? Talk about a "place just right!"