Simple Gifts
The one part of the inauguration that caught my attention was the music played by Yo-Yo Ma, Perlman, McGill and Montero. I recognized the tune but couldn’t place exactly where it was from.
The part I recognized was an old Shaker hymn entitled Simple Gifts(composed by Joseph Brackett in 1848). I sang a song in college called Lord of the Dance (composed in 1963 by Sydney Carter) which used the same melody.
Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the Dance, said he.
Anyways, it’s always a good feeling when you recognize music.
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