Aaron Copland Meets The Shakers
by Roger Lee Hall
In 1974, the distinguished composer Aaron Copland (1900-1990) was in Cleveland, Ohio for a week-long celebration of his music, including concerts with the Cleveland Orchestra.
It was a big celebration and when Copland was given a key to the city of Cleveland by the mayor, he blurted out excitedly,
"I've never been given such an honor before, even from my hometown of Brooklyn!"
It so happened that at the same time there were three Shakers
from Sabbathday Lake, Maine in nearby Shaker Heights in celebration of the bicentennial of the Shakers' arrival in America in 1774. At that workshop for teachers, the Shakers sang a few of their favorite songs and I sang a hymn I had recently discovered, "On the Landing of Mother Ann in America," available on the CD and songbook, Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals.
Through a lot of hurrying around and last minute arrangements, I was able to introduce Copland for the first and only time to the Shakers. The meeting took place at a university librarian's home.
This picture was taken as Aaron Copland was introduced to Sister R. Mildred Barker in Shaker Heights, Ohio on November 9, 1974...
© 1987 Gail Hall
This historic picture was included in a recent book without proper credit given. The error has been corrected at this link:
Chosen Faith, Chosen Land: The Untold Story of America's 21st-Century Shakers
There were three Shakers who met Copland: Sister R. Mildred Barker, Sister Frances Carr and Brother Theodore Johnson, all shown in this picture speaking with the composer.
After their brief conversation, I asked Copland to autograph my copy of an arrangment of "Simple Gifts" for the Shaker library, as shown in this picture.
A copy of Aaron Copland' s autographed music to Sister Mildred Barker and Sister Frances Carr and an exclusive interview with Copland, appears in this
e-book, greatly expanded from several previous publications:
THE STORY OF 'SIMPLE GIFTS'
Joseph Brackett's Shaker Dance Song
(PineTree Press, revised edition, 2010)
Hear an extended interview with Aaron Copland about his arrangements
of "Simple Gifts" and his other music at
A Conversation with Aaron Copland
See also
Joseph Brackett's "Simple Gifts"
Memorial Tributes
Read tributes to these past Shaker sisters:
Sister R. Mildred Barker
Sister Marie Burgess
Eldress Bertha Lindsay
Recordings of Copland's Arrangements
There are many worthwhile versions of Copland's Appalachian Spring, which includes the variations on "Simple Gifts." Also, Copland's arrangement of the Shaker song in his set of Old American Songs.
Here is one recommended CD of the original ballet score
conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas:
Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid, Rodeo
Information about the television series hosted by Michael Tilson Thomas featuring "Copland and the American Sound" is at this link:
Keeping Score
This CD has only the Suite from Appalachian Spring but it is one of the most popular recordings,
conducted by Copland's longtime friend, Leonard Bernstein:
Copland: Appalachian Spring Suite and other works
These are three recommended CDs with Copland conducting:
A Copland Celebration Vol. 1 - Appalachian Spring (original chamber version) & other works original complete ballet version, including the "Simple Gifts" variations.
A Copland Celebration Vol. 2 - Old American Songs & other works
includes an arrangement of "Simple Gifts" for voice and piano
in Old American Songs with
William Warfied, baritone and Aaron Copland, piano
A Copland Celebration Vol. 3 - Old American Songs & other works
orchestral arrangement of "Simple Gifts"
sung by
William Warfield
(the distinguished baritone known for his role in Gershwin's Porgy & Bess and also in the MGM movie musical, SHOWBOAT)
The Music of America: Aaron Copland
a recommended recent 3 CD set with the variations on"Simple Gifts"
from Appalachian Spring and
song arrangement sung by William Warfield in Old American Songs
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