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'Tis the Gift to Be Simple: SSAA, <I>a cappella</I> Choral Octavo

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'Tis the Gift to Be Simple: SSAA, a cappella Choral Octavo

'Tis the Gift to Be Simple: SSAA, a cappella Choral Octavo

American Shaker Hymn, arr. Alice Parker

Item: 00-LG53031
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'Tis the Gift to Be Simple: SSAA, a cappella Choral Octavo

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Description
Alice Parker combines her incredible arranging skill together with her knowledge and understanding of American hymnody to bring us this wonderful setting of the ever-popular Shaker tune.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Lawson-Gould Music Publishers
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 8
UPC: 654979187646
SKU: 00-LG53031

More about this title

About the Arranger: Alice Parker

Alice Parker

Alice Parker studied composition and conducting at Smith College and Juilliard, where she formed a lasting creative partnership with Robert Shaw. Together they produced hundreds of arrangements of American folksongs, hymns, and spirituals that remain essential to choral repertoires across the country.

Parker founded MELODIOUS ACCORD, INC. in 1985 to champion the melody as the heart of vocal music. She authored influential books on melodic styles, choral improvisation, and congregational singing, and published The Melodious Accord Hymnal (2010) featuring American folk hymns alongside her own settings of contemporary texts. Her catalog spans over five hundred compositions including operas, cantatas, choral suites, and individual anthems. She received the Robert Shaw Award from the American Choral Directors Association (2013), the Harvard Glee Club Foundation Medal (2015), six honorary doctorates, and recognition as Distinguished Composer of the Year 2000 by the American Guild of Organists.

Why we love this

Parker's deep knowledge of American hymnody shines through in this setting. Rather than imposing a single vision onto the melody, she lets the tune breathe while finding sophisticated harmonic language that honors its Shaker origins. The SSAA voicing sits naturally for most ensembles and opens the door to programming this beloved tune in ways that feel fresh without losing its essential character.

What to expect

The warmth of four voices singing in close harmony creates an intimate quality, even in modest performance spaces. Parker's arrangement honors the meditative, spiritual foundation of the Shaker melody while allowing it to unfold with grace and clarity.

Who it's for

This arrangement works beautifully for community choirs, church choirs, and educational ensembles seeking a modest but musically substantial piece with roots in American tradition. Singers need secure pitch matching and basic part-singing skills; the range and vocal demands are accessible without being simplistic.

How to get the most out of it

  • Sustain the purity of the hymn tune itself. The arrangement's strength lies in its restraint; resist the urge to over-phrase or add unnecessary rubato to the melody line.
  • Shape phrases through breath placement rather than dynamic changes. The a cappella texture means your ensemble's tone and line will carry the expression.
  • Balance the alto and second soprano parts carefully so they support rather than compete with the first soprano melody. Listen for blend in the harmonic transitions.
  • Consider where the arrangement creates moments of unison or near-unison voicing. These moments naturally invite slight breath preparation and can serve as gentle phrase markers.

How to use it

Program this piece on a concert exploring American hymnody or as a standalone offering in a service of worship. Its brief length (8 pages) and a cappella format make it an ideal companion to instrumental pieces or as a standalone set between longer choral works.

Skills your students will build

  • Blend and balance in four-part SSAA voicing
  • Singing without instrumental support and maintaining intonation
  • Phrasing through breath placement rather than dynamic manipulation
  • Responsiveness to harmonic movement and voice leading

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