Hi Carol, I was attending the monthly meeting in Buffalo for
a while until I realized it was just too far for me to drive
every Sunday. :( So until I move or a meeting starts up
here...
But I can maybe lend a little info to the debate, the
Shakers originally penned "Simple Gifts" around 1850 or so,
and Aaron Copeland used the tune in his "Appalachian
Spring." In the 1960s the tune was set to the familiar
"Lord of the Dance" lyrics. The Shakers are something I
have to explain away quite frequently, I tell people about
being a Quaker and they ask, "Does that mean you can't have
sex?" "Do you live on a commune in the woods?" "Do you make
furniture?" Not to mention those who get us confused with
the Amish. ;) The Shakers, who number only six or seven
now (that sex thing really puts a damper on furthering a
religion!), were originally an off-shoot of the Quakers but
people should remember that there is a big difference in
them and Quakers. But interestingly enough, as influential
as Quakers were and continue to be in America, most kids
only learn about the Shakers, as a footnote, in their
American history classes.
Okay, rant done!
----- Original Message -----
From: "W. B. OLSON" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 11:22 PM
Subject: Re: [scots-l] Amazing Grace
Carol Thompkins wrote:
>
> I had
> > difficulty explaining to our host family the meaning of
the title "Amazing
> > Grace". I think I was right in saying it was an American
quaker hymn or
> was
> > that Lord of the Dance which was also played by our
hosts in our honour!
> > >
> Hi Philip,
>
> As a Quaker for many years, I can guarantee you that
Amazing Grace is not a
> Quaker hymn. Quakers don't sing at meeting except in rare
instances, nor do
> we have hymns. In fact, the meeting is mostly silent
unless the spirit
> moves one of us to speak.
>
> Just FYI.
>
> Carol (going now to look at Rachel's music)
>
> Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music &
Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser
to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
You can find the original 1779 text of Newton's "Amazing
Grace" on the
Cowper-Newton Museum website.
Bruce Olson
--
Roots of Folk: Old British Isles popular and folk songs,
tunes,
broadside ballads at my no-spam website -
www.erols.com/olsonw
or just <A href="http://www.erols.com/olsonw";> Click </a>
Motto: Keep it up; muddling through always works.
Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music & Culture
List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to:
http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music & Culture List - To
subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
