We are so familiar with strumming songs on the dulcimer, that it is easy to forget all the other ways to play this musical instrument. For example, fingerpicking the dulcimer is beautiful and enchanting. It is worth it to consider the full range playing styles on the dulcimer. I can think of many accomplished dulcimer players who fingerpick in the Chord-Melody style. “Simple Gifts” has a beautiful melody and it works well when fingerpicked. This song is probably the best known tune from the Shakers — a utopian Christian sect. The Shaker’s sang in unison and danced during their spiritual services. Their music is rhythmic, melodic and often written in minor modes. I would not suggest that Shaker’s music is appropriate for jam sessions; but there is more to dulcimer playing than jams. So, I wrote a fingerpicked arrangement “Simple Gifts” for intermediate players. It uses techniques such as brushes, hammer-on’s and pull-off’s. So, put down your pick and try to fingerpick this arrangement.
Resources for Shaker’s Music
Here are three resources for Shaker’s music. Neal Hellman, founder of Gourd Music, researched Shaker’s music extensively back in the 1990s and published a trio of compact disks of Shaker’s music. Although the Shaker’s sang a cappella and in unison, Neal made arrangements of the songs using an assortment of acoustic instruments. The recordings are timeless; I still enjoy listening to the music on these C.Ds. The “Simple Gifts” book gives standard music lead sheets for many of the Shaker’s songs on the three C.Ds. Neal also made a tablature book of Shaker’s tunes. In addition, Shelley Stevens wrote one of her “Baker’s Dozen” tune books on Shaker’s music.
The Chord-Melody Style
The “Chord-Melody” style is an umbrella term for playing the dulcimer. Rather than strumming, the song is played by using combination of strums — or inward brushes — along with picking individual melody and harmony notes. Chords are added to the melody to add expression. You can use a pick to play the notes or fingerpick them. Often embellishments — hammer-on’s, pull-off’s and slides — are used to make the playing smoother. With this style of playing, the drones of the middle and bass string are eliminated. The mountan dulcimer is transported out of the mountains and into a more contemporary style of playing.
“Simple Gifts” lends itself to the Chord-Melody style of playing. The chords at the beginning and middle of the measures add fullness to the song. Picking (with your fingers or a pick) the remainder of the notes in the measure cut down on the “drones” and help the melody sound out. This song has lots of eighth notes — perfect for hammer-on’s and pull-offs.
The Shakers and “Simple Gifts” — Old tune with new settings
The Shakers date to the 1747 in England — as an offshoot of the Quakers. They arrived in this country in the 1780s. The Shakers practiced a celebrate and communal utopian lifestyle. They were known for simple living, furniture making, music, frenzied worship services. The peak of the Shaker movement was between 1820 and 1860 with many settlements scattered across the northeast and midwest. Life was rough during that time period and their safe commonuties had great appeal. In the twentieth century, these communities could not compete with modern factories and Shaker communities began to fail and close.
Music was important to the Shakers and they composed thousands of songs which they wrote down in their own cryptic music notation language. They also created many dances which were used during worship services. At first, the songs were sung in unison. After the Civil War, songs with three-part harmonies were added and music books were published.
“Simple Gifts” is the best known Shaker song. It was composed in 1848 by Elder Joseph Brackett of the Alfred Shaker Village in Maine. The lyrics contain references to “turning, turning we come out right.” Apparently Elder Brackett would swirl around and around when this song was sung.
“When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed
To turn, turn will be our delight
‘Till by turning, turning we come round right.”
“Simple Gifts” became widely known when it was used by Aaron Copland for the score of Martha Graham’s ballet, Appalachian Spring, first performed in 1944.
I remember singing the “Simple Gifts” melody since my youth. In 1963, a Christian hymn called “Lord of the Dance” was published using lyrics set to the tune of “Simple Gifts.” So, that’s where I learned the hymn and melody — which was one of my favorites at the time. And, I still enjoy this song.
Fingerpicking “Simple Gifts”
Here is my interpretation and arrangement of “Simple Gifts. ” It is intended for fingerpicking for intermediate players — but of course it can be flatpicked, too. Use inward brushes with your index finger to play the first and third beats of the measure, followed with picking the eighth notes and quarter notes also with your index finger. Add hammer-ons and pull-offs whenever possible (not all possible places for these ornaments are shown in the tablature).
This is a beautiful tune. Put your pick down and play. Enjoy!
Here is a jpeg image of the tune, followed by a PDF file which you can download, print out and share. Just don’t upload or publish it.
Dulcimer Jambalaya 