Joseph Brackett Jr. (6 May 1797 - 4 July 1882) an American songwiter and Elder of The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing ("The Shakers"), was born in Cumberland, Maine and died in the Shaker community of Sabbathday Lake at New Gloucester, Maine.
Brackett is known as the author of the Shaker dancing song Simple Gifts, which has become an internationally loved tune, both through his original version, and many of its adaptations. The song was largely unknown outside of Shaker communities until Aaron Copland used the melody in his 1944 composition "Appalachian Spring". Many people have thought that the tune of 'Simple Gifts' is a traditional celtic one (as it is implied to be in the play, Lord of the Dance) but both the music and original lyrics are actually the compositions of Brackett. The original lyrics to a song 'The Lord of the Dance', based upon the tune, were written by Sydney Carter in 1963, and these were adapted, in ignorance of the actual origins, without authorization or acknowledgments in the theatrical play 'Lord of the Dance'. Other adaptations of these lyrics by Carter have occurred in the wide-spread belief that they were traditional, and in the public domain. Adaptations and extensions of Brackett's original lyrics have also occurred and actually are in the public domain.
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