Two of the 20th century’s most popular orchestral works are based on hymns—one from 16th century England, and the other from 19th century America. And both hymns are well-known today almost entirely because of their use in those two concert pieces.
In this hour, the story of the Tudor hymn that inspired Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis--and the Shaker tune “Simple Gifts,” rediscovered by Aaron Copland and made famous in perhaps his best-known work, Appalachian Spring.
FEATURED RECORDINGS
| Title | Group/Artist | Catalog # | UPC |
| Whales and Nightingales (Judy Collins) | Judy Collins | Elektra 75010 | 075596067621 |
| Vaughan Williams: ] Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 | New Philharmonia Orchestra, Adrian Boult | EMI CDM 7 640222 | 077776402222 |
| Vaughan Williams: Collector's Edition [for “Old One Hundredth “] | Choir Of Winchester Cathedral and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, David Hill, cond Symphony Orchestra, David Hill, cond. | EMI 2066362 | 5099920663629 |
| Tallis Scholars Sing Thomas Tallis [for Sancte Deus Sancte Deus & Tunes for Archbishop Parker’s Psalter] | Tallis Scholars | Gimell CDGIM203 | 755138120327 |
| O Thou Transcendent [DVD] [fpr ] “When Rising from the Bed of Death” from 47:56-48:46] | Choir of Gloucester Cathedral | Tony Palmer Films TPDVD106 | 604388698127 |
| Vaughan Williams: Collector's Edition [for Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis] | Bournemouth Symphony, Silvestri | EMI 2066362 | 5099920663629 |
| Heartstrings [for “Simple Gifts”] | Muriel Anderson | CGD 99 | 671583016827 |
| Simple Gifts | Coulter & Phillips | Gourd Music 106 | 090167010622 |
| Simple Gifts | Boston Camerata | Erato 4509-98491-2 | 745099849122 |
| Copland: Applachian Spring, etc | St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble, Davies | Nimbus NI 2506 | 710357250620 |
| Long Time Ago [for Copland, Old American Songs: “Simple Gifts”] | (St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Wolff; Hampson | Teldec 9031-77310-2 | 090317731025 |
| John Williams: “Air and Simple Gifts” | Yo-Yo Ma, Anthony McGill, Gabriela Montero, and Itzhak Perlman and Itzhak Perlman | iTunes download | n/a |
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