Simple Gifts from Appalachian Spring 

Combination of these pictures and this music arrangement never fail to make me tear up. I love the spirit and natural beauty America is capable of. I just love my country so much.

Ansel and Aaron-two of the great American artists of the last century-great combination

My band teacher loves this song and arranged it in a band piece and gave it to the middle school band two years ago. When he got done he sadly died two days after he turned in the music from throat cancer. My band in middle school wants to honer him and play this song because it was his favorite. His wife is coming to the concert just for this song. ;)

I was blessed to know Aaron Copland for several decades and he was modest, kind and witty as well as the Dean of American Composers. I spent a number of weekends at Rock Hill as a guest and had a memorable dinner with him at a restaurant in the Watergate when he was in Washington to conduct the National Symphony.

Aaron Copland was the greatest American composer! I did his ballet Appalachian spring, and Billy the Kid 2 years ago. I just love him :)

Both Copland's music and Adams' photographs are magnificent; I like your choice of placing these works together here. Thank you.

God, if we were only still like this, free and hopeful and brave.

We still are like this, the real gift of freedom is actually within, to express yourself and to give without hurting others-to love and be loved. America has many available acres of land, it is it's greatest resource and something to be grateful for too!

How can you go wrong: Great American Conductor, Great American Photographer, Great American Landscapes, and A Great American Song . Bring tears to the eyes.!

Ansel Adams and Aaron Copland...two authentic American geniuses.

Copeland truly was a genius--that "amen, amen" at 0:31 to 0:34 is very clever. The gradual addition of instruments is perfect, then the quiet part where few instruments are playing... then suddenly the ENTIRE ORCHESTRA joins in for one, majestic, final restatement of the theme (which, incidentally, is the part that made me cry the first time I heard it. I'm not sure why).

'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 shan't be asham'd, To turn, turn will be our delight, Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.

They are wonderful AAron and the love of his life Peter! How can you Evangelicals hate them? They created such beauty! I think they are closer to God than you will ever be!

Aaron Copland, wonderful American. This man left a mark on musical energy, I don't think can be matched. The energy of the song is that same energy that gives us identity and passion for who we are. "tis the gift to be simple, tis the gift to be FREE" And Coplands adaptation of that tune embodies everything that is the enduring American spirit, and in a way more grand...the spirit of mankind.

I took Music Appreciation my Freshman spring semester and after hearing this for a listening assignment, I got hooked. I've listened to it so many times after that and haven't gotten tired of it. What a beautiful piece of music!

Just simply BEAUTIFUL!!!!! What a beautiful tune to meditate to. John Fields

To have one of my favorite pieces set to pictures of the beautiful state of Arizona where I live is just a simple gift. Thank you SO much!

This song is so beautiful! I'm glad I can play it on my viola. I LoVE this song! It's so beautiful!!

When my dad was sick in the hosital, I played this on clarinet for him so much that I memorized it. This song means a lot.

thanksgiving embodied in music. lovely.

small and peaceful. light and cheerful. long and melodious. sort of turns into a canon. fast and happy. slow and serene. grand and final. the end of a wonderful journey.

I am so moved by the beauty of this amalgamation of musical notes I cry when I hear it! It is so beautiful!

i love this song.. when my daughter first started to play this in her violin, it just stuck to my head and my son singing this song.... heaven.....

A true compositional master of American origin. Hat off to Copeland.

'Tis the gift to be simple 'tis the gift to be free 'tis the gift to come down where we oughto be and when we find ourselves in the place just right t'will be in the valley of love and delight, when true simblicity is gain, to bow and to bend, we shan't be ashamed to turn turn, will be our delight, to by turning turning we come round right. My favorite song!!! We had to write the notes and the lyrics to simple gifts for music class.

I love this song it's so beautiful. I'm 13 and I love classical music like this piece.

I think colors would show some nice spring time joy, but it adds an old feel to it, I give it 5 stars!!

this song remindes me of my grandmother who has passed away because she alwaysed listened to this song

Reminds me of my many vacations out West. Truly inspiring and moving. The last section gives me chills every time.

Our marching band show was based on this music my freshman year and so far it is my favorite. Such fond memories of this piece

Thanks for the effort, nice presentation. Appalachian Spring was a ballet written by Copland, the original ballet was about a farmer and his bride in Pennsylvania. The ballet was commissed by Martha Graham who chose the title because of a book she was reading. This work is about the American landscape, not necessarily the Appalachians, just America.

Sometime in the mid teens I got obsessed with this song in the spring. I was teaching high school at the time (since retired) and the following fall the band director decided the marching band would perform a Copeland medley. Every morning I walked into work with a marching band playing this song. Since it's also the basis of the Melody to Lord of the Dance which is my second favorite song in the world I felt blessed.

2:23 This part always gets to my heartstrings. Just so beautiful.

the clarinet gets me every time!

I played this song for my last year's School Talent Show on my Violin. I only took the first exam for my Violin lessons and didn't take any more because my parents didn't think it was important for me as long as I learned to appreciate the art, I played the violin for 7 years ¬.¬"

i dont know why but i always like this instrumental of simple gifts. thank you

Truly beautiful and awesome. Thanks for sharing with us the "Simple Gift" in a very unique way.

The first classical piece that brought tears to my eyes... great stuff

This is probably the most amazing peice of music I have ever heard!

Could listen to this song over and over! Thanks for sharing!

This piece, especially this excerpt, *is* America for me. Nothing I have heard captures more eloquently the grandeur of the wide open spaces and natural beauty of that country. It also represents the frontier mentality and natural optimism of the people and I say this as a non American.

I so do enjoy Aaron Copland. it calms the spirit to hear his work. great video and great photos. Great Job all around!!!

Same as me! Heard it for a listening assignment and fell in love with it! I've yet to get tired of hearing this!

I come from an appalachian Quaker family, and grew up hearing this song :)

That was wonderful ! I'll have to watch that a good number of times to fully enjoy the Ansel Adams works too! What a treat! They go so well together!

Marvellous!

The ending seriously makes cry! A perfect piece for a bride to walk down the aisle to

thank you so much. my band director had us listen to this song in class today. it has been stuck in my head ever since. i love Aaron Copland. it's such a beautiful song. :)

Music and images such as these make one appreciate the beauty of the United States. Great job!

Thank you for doing this. It is the part of Appalachian Spring I love most. And, to pair it with Ansel Adams is a treasure!

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 gained To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed To turn, turn will be our delight Tilll by turning, turning we come round right

this is My favorite copland music ive loved it sinse i was 4 and those are magnifacint photos

i have ansel adams all over my house. my dad collected his photography samples and blew them up for wall frame size back in like the 70's and we still have them now. they're magnificent pictures

I have to say that these pictures go perfectly with this song. They create an amazing effect with the music.

the great music blends with the great photography very well

Very nicely done! Thank you for posting. CBS News used to use the end of this as their intro. Does anyone else see the irony or incongruity of this extravagant and elegant arrangement? After all, this is from a Shaker hymn about living simply. The Shakers would whirl (till by turning, turning we come 'round right) as they sang this. Copland's version is truly one of the best expressions in all of music for me. Close to Beethoven's Ode to Joy.

if i was to make a micronation i have this as the national anthem

Have to say...the comment about not being able to spell "mountains" made my day. Thank you for a good laugh.

Well done. I sent this clip out to my friends last Thanksgiving. A gorgeous and inspired mix-up of American artistry.

Dance, dance, wherever you may be I am the Lord of the dance, said he And I lead you all, wherever you may be And I lead you all in the dance, said he

I looked for this video for forever I have finally found it...... again 😌😌😌😌

I played this song in my high school wind ensemble in sophomore year the central melodic theme is very catchy and naturally American

I remember playing this as one of our songs at Four States Honor Band in Texarkana! Our band sounded amazing!

This is a great sample!!! I'm glad you posted it. I needed it for my 20th Century Music midterm :))))) Thank YOU!

beautiful pictures, beautiful song! Thank you for uploading

LOVE THIS! Simple Gifts has long been a favorite song of mine and I have climbed mountains that Ansel Adams photographed so your work is very special to me. Thanks

Lyrics from an American Shaker community in Maine. Written by Elder Joseph Brackett in 1848: "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 shan't be asham'd, To turn, turn will be our delight, Till bt turning, turning we come round right. Enjoy Yosemite pics, quit nitpicking.

I am so moved! I cry when I hear this!

I played the entirety in orchestra on flute. Believe you me I'm glad you cut to the chase. The most famous part of this work is here. Thanks man.

Absolutely beautiful! Inspired music & inspiring photos by two geniuses! thank you for posting this lovely video, so very well done.

this is a fun tune to listen to, bright in tonality.

Simply beautiful!

This music is true Americana , and will always be know as such !

This music connects me to the Earth. When the double basses start rolling at 1:19 I always get the goosebumps, gets me every time.

Wow! This just blows me away.

Simply beautiful.

America's greatest composer paired with it's greatest photographer. Win/win. Enjoy!

two artistic geniuses together in one video - brilliant!

Love the black and white still life of America the beautiful. I wonder whatever happened to balck and white film. It brought out simple beauty like color never could.

Indeed.. Beautifully done. Most of the images come from not Appalchia but from Glacier National Park ! I hiked there last summer and these images brought back some incredible memories. This piece of music is the most wonderful thing ever done by any American Composer. In fact, it will be the only music played at my funeral !

fantastic. I had to hear this today and you provided. thanks

I am a music Education major in college and I have heard this piece performed by some of the best musicians in the entire world and it is just an AMAZING piece to hear the emotion that Copland evoked throughout the melody line and the different timbres of the instruments.......WOW!!! I can't tell you enough how AMAZING this piece is, the whole thing. And if you like Copland, check out Claude Debussy. The American composers bring out the timeless American sound and its just AMAZING to hear!!

I can't hear this without thinking of the movie Milo and Otis. This plays in the end, when it's spring time and all the baby animals are coming out. Milo and Otis each have families, and they're reuniting and going back home to their farm. It's extremely bittersweet.

Simply beautiful...

Love it! Thank you == always a breath of clean air -- blowing through the soul. And, an act of kindness on your part. :)

Beautiful! Thanks for posting.

i took music appreciation as a college freshmen and i love this!!!!!!!!

One of my all time favorite youtube videos. Wonderful concept.

O, how I love this portion of the piece. You set it with the perfect photographs. Thank you for this simple gift.

OH MAH GAWD I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS SONG FOR SO LONG!!!! I've had the tune in my head for YEARS and have never known what it was called or where to look to find it! INTERNET YOU SAVE MY SANITY ONCE MORE!!!

Lovely;music and pictures! Thank you for your creativity in doing this! :)

2:24- the theme for "CBS REPORTS" (1959-'85).

the variation of the theme played by the strings. wow when the bass comes in.

this reminded me of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics for so many years and it drove me nuts as to why for so long.... a month ago I came across the reason... It was used before the Women's Gymnastics finals, a night forever cemented in my memory. Ahhh, good times.

i did this at a concert once as like a flute choir thing w/ seven other people....we kinda killed it but i still love the song!!!!

i sang this song all around the house as a child.

It's the other way around: Shaker Joseph Brackett wrote the 'Simple Gifts' tune in 1848. Aaron Copland popularized the tune when he incorporated it into Appalachian Spring, which premiered in 1944. Sydney Carter used the melody for Lord of the Dance, which he wrote the words for in 1963.

OMG ive been looking for this song for FORever ^_^ Milo and Otis :]

Ansel Adam's photographs are a perfect accompaniment to this beautiful piece of music.

I love the version of Simple Gifts you picked and all of the pictures that you used to show the meaning, and magnificent beauty.