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Jan. 20th, 2009 10:43 pmThere's a bunch of things I want to write about, but I am so tired tonight. I feel as though I've been carrying some heavy task and have finally let it go, and I need to sleep it off. Tomorrow, perhaps I'll wake up feeling refreshed.
However, the one thing that I'd like to point out is that "Simple Gifts", a Shaker hymn, was predominantly featured in the Inauguration. Not only was it used in John Williams' composition (and did you see the look of delight on Yo-Yo Ma's face while he was playing?) but the Military Band played it earlier. Not necessarily something you might think of as an inaugural hymn, perhaps? But the Shaker religion is an American phenomenon, and then, as well, there is the connection to Copland's Appalachian Spring.
'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where you 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.
Some of us might have also picked up on the (presumably unintentional) connection with Sydney Carter's Lord of the Dance. "I am the light that will never, never die"--meaning not the person himself, but the Light in all of us, of course.
However, the one thing that I'd like to point out is that "Simple Gifts", a Shaker hymn, was predominantly featured in the Inauguration. Not only was it used in John Williams' composition (and did you see the look of delight on Yo-Yo Ma's face while he was playing?) but the Military Band played it earlier. Not necessarily something you might think of as an inaugural hymn, perhaps? But the Shaker religion is an American phenomenon, and then, as well, there is the connection to Copland's Appalachian Spring.
'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where you 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.
Some of us might have also picked up on the (presumably unintentional) connection with Sydney Carter's Lord of the Dance. "I am the light that will never, never die"--meaning not the person himself, but the Light in all of us, of course.