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The Gift to Be Simple




The Gift to Be Simple

The Gift to Be Simple

As a long time member of The King's Singers, composer/arranger Philip Lawson was intimately familiar with this Shaker hymn. Here he brings his familiarity to create a new rendition.

Voicing: SATB



Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media

Displaying 1-12 of 12 items.


King's Singers : North American Folksongs : SATB divisi : Songbook : 884088616304 : 1480330108 : 08753969

King's Singers : North American Folksongs

Bob Chilcott joined the King's Singers in 1987 and sang tenor in the group for 12 years while also serving as their primary arranger. This collection includes 8 favorite North American folksongs, now available for the first time in a single volume. Piano for rehearsal only.

Songlist: Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair, Feller From Fortune, The Gift To Be Simple, The Golden Variety, I Bought Me A Cat, L'Habitant De Saint Barbe, The Lazy Man, She's Like The Swallow

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Voicing: SATB divisi | Performed by King's Singers | 5707b | Songbook | $8.95 | A Cappella


King's Singers : Choral Library Vol 1 : SATB : Songbook : 073999403077 : 08740307

King's Singers : Choral Library Vol 1

This collection brings together some of the more popular pieces sung by The King's Singers over the past years. With the possible exception of "This Old Man" and "Mariri's Wedding", all the pieces have a gentle and rather wistful quality that perhaps reflects more reserved side of the British character in both the arrangers and the singers.

Songlist: This Old Man, The Gift To Be Simple, Irish Lullaby, The Three Ravens, Time After Time, Mairi's Wedding, Lavender's Blue, The Long Day Closes, Phillis is My Only Joy, Charm Me Asleep

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Voicing: SATB | Performed by King's Singers | 6497b | Songbook | $6.95 | A Cappella


King's Singers : Simple Gifts : SATB divisi : Songbook : 884088262594 : 1423459024 : 08749091

King's Singers : Simple Gifts

Based on their Grammy Award-winning album, this compilation by The King's Singers features an eclectic collection of songs. A stunning variety of folksongs, spirituals and pop songs.

Songlist: Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair, Deep River, The Gift to Be Simple, Helplessly Hoping, I Love My Love, She's Always A Woman, The Turtle Dove, Valparaiso, When She Loved Me, You Are The New Day, You Can Close Your Eyes

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Voicing: SATB divisi | Performed by King's Singers | 8907b | Songbook | $8.95 | A Cappella | Companion CD Available


Bemidji Choir and Chamber Singers : Beneath The Moon : 1 CD : P. Bradley Logan

Bemidji Choir and Chamber Singers : Beneath The Moon

Founded in Minnesota in 1937, the 39-strong mixed-voice Bemidji Choir has been directed since 1998 by the renowned Dr. P. Bradley Logan, who also directs the BSU Chamber Singers, a 14-voice ensemble chosen by audition from the Choir. On "Beneath" we hear 6 songs by the full choir, 8 by the Chamber Singers and then 7 more by the choir. Sacred music like Peter Phillips' "Surgens Jesus," Johann Michael Bach's "Sei, lieber Tag, wilkommen," "The Lamb" and "The Tiger" by Eric Barnum, "Come, Love We God," and "Hark, Hark What News the Angels Bring" coexist nicely with traditional and folk music like Edwin Fissinger's "Nelly Bly," "This Endris Night" and "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair," Bob Chilcott's "The Gift to be Simple" and Jonathan Quick's "Loch Lomond." Sweet, beautiful music that touches the heart, sung with feeling by the wonderfully-led Bemidji Choir!

Songlist: Surgens Jesus, Sei, lieber Tag, willkommen, Ave Verum Corpus, The Lamb, The Tyger, The Spendor Falls on Castle Walls, Sing We and Chant It, Hence, Care, Thou Are Too Cruel, Consture My Meaning, Come Away, Sweet Love, Quel augellin che canta, Come, Love We God (16th Century English), Hark! Hark What News the Angels Bring (Smith 1732), This Endris Night, Past Life Melodies, Pilgrim's Hymn, Nelly Bly, Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair, The Gift To Be Simple, Lock Lomond, Sleep

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6948c | 1 CD | $15.98 | Primarily a cappella


King's Singers : The Best of : 2 CDs : 297

King's Singers : The Best of

A fabulous 2-CD collection drawn from their now extensive catalogue on Signum Records. The first CD includes titles from Christmas along with music from Landscape and Time, Treason and Discord, Gesualdo's Tenebrae Responsories, Sacred Bridges, Siglio d'Oro, Romance du soir, From the heart, High Flight and the 2012 release Royal Rhymes and Rounds. The second CD includes many of their wonderful arranged and impeccably sung covers of today's popular music.

Songlist: Onnis on inimene, Gloria, In Monte Oliveti, Bogoroditsye Dyevo, Civitas sancti tui, The Lamb, Mon Dieu, j'ai en toi esperance (Psalm 7), My heart is a holy place, Versa est in luctum, In ieiunio et fletu, Shir hama'a lot.Ashrei koi yere (Psalm 128), Esti Dal, Rakastava, Calme des Nuits, Music, When Soft Voices Die, Lightly she whipped o'er the dales, The Silver Swan, Days, from Even such is time, Lux Aurumque, Shall I Compare Thee...?, Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel), You are the new day, She's Always A Woman, Greensleeves, Valparaiso, Hide and seek, Home, Straighten up and fly right, The gift to be simple, Blue Skies, and more

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Performed by King's Singers | 2622c | 2 CDs | $24.95


King's Singers : Simple Gifts : 1 CD : 121

King's Singers : Simple Gifts

"Simple Gifts" is a very rare and special gift to us, as it represents the first full a cappella studio album by the legendary King's Singers in 10 years. Arguably the most popular a cappella group of all time, whose flawless harmonies grace over 30 finely-crafted CDs and a slew of songbooks in the Primarily A Cappella online catalog, we will assume that you know how good these six British men really are. So let's talk about some of the 16 carefully-selected songs: Billy Joel's classic "She's Always A Woman," James Taylor's sublime "You Can Close Your Eyes," the traditional joyous round "The Gift to Be Simple," Stephen Stills' harmonic CSN&Y gem "Helplessly Hoping," some wonderfully-arranged spirituals, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "Deep River," "The Water is Wide" and "Steal Away," all of which feature some sweet deep bass leads. Randy Newman's poignant "When She Loved Me," Sting's "Valparaiso," Paul Simon's "April Come She Will Come" these are some of our picks for the most beautiful songs of all time. They are arranged by group member Phillip Lawson, Bob Chilcott and Peter Knight, and then sung as beautifully as you can imagine by the King's Singers. The King's Singers incredible blend and tuning goes to ensure that this is probably their finest recording in a long time. Enough said!

Songlist: She's Always A Woman, You Can Close Your Eyes, Greensleeves, The Gift to be Simple, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Helplessly Hoping, Deep River, Black is the Color, I Love My Love, The Water is Wide, When She Loved Me, Valparaiso, The Turtle Dove, April Come She Will, Steal Away, You are the New Day

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Performed by King's Singers | 8907c | 1 CD | $16.95 | A Cappella | Companion Songbook Available


Male Ensemble Northwest : Promised Land : 1 CD

Male Ensemble Northwest : Promised Land

"Promised Land" gives the 12 leading choral directors who form M.E.N. a chance to get their musical teeth into some of the great songs in American history. They are divided into groups: Hymns, such as "Promised Land" and "Rise Up, O Men of God," Spirituals, such as "The Gift To Be Simple" and "Joshua," Songs of the Civil War, "Waiting for the Dawn of Peace (Tenting Tonight)," Songs of the West, such as "Streets of Laredo" and "Colorado Trail," Songs of the Sea, such as "Blow the Candles Out" and "Mary Ann," and American Television Themes, "Television Medley" and "Lonesome Road." 20 songs in all. A powerful, moving collection of the best of our musical heritage!

Songlist: Promised Land, Be Thou My Vision, O Thou in Whose Presence, Rise Up, O Men of God, We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace, The Gift To Be Simple, Somebody's Calling My Name, Ezekiel Saw De Wheel, Joshua, I Can't Tarry, Waitin' for the Dawn of Peace, The Streets of Laredo, The Colorado Trail, Down in the Valley, Shenandoah, Blow the Candles Out, Mary Ann, A-Roving, Television Medley (Gilligan's Island / Car 54 Where Are You? / Petticoat Junction / Rawhide / The Brady Bunch / Mr. Ed /Mickey Mouse Club / Green Acres / The Beverly Hillbillies / The ROy Rogers Show), That Lonesome Road

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6556c | 1 CD | $14.98


Minnesota Boychoir : Forty and Fine : 1 CD : Mark S. Johnson

Minnesota Boychoir : Forty and Fine

Composed of four ensembles and including members of diverse faiths, races, social and economic backgrounds, the Minnesota Boychoir boasts over 100 members, representing the Twin Cities and over 25 suburbs. "Forty & Fine" refers to the year of the group's founding, 1962, to the date of this recording, 2002. Included are 19 of the MB's favorite and most-requested songs. Plenty of (piano-accompanied) religious and spiritual songs are here, "Festival Sanctus," "The Storm is Passing Over," the lovely "Quando Corpus Morietur & Amen," "Rise Up, O Men of God," "Steal Away," "Zion's Walls," "Freedom Come," "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" and many others. Secular tunes like "Loch Lomond," Michael McGlynn's "Dulaman," John David's wonderful a cappella "You are the New Day" and Ysaye M. Barnwell's haunting "Wanting Memories" are other favorites. In fact, every one of these songs touches and moves us-a truly beautiful collection!

Songlist: Festival Sanctus, Pie Jesu, The Strom Is Passing Over, The Gift To Be Simple, Rise Up, O Men Of God, Steal Away, Yo Le Canto Todo El Dia, Quando Corpus Morietur & Amen, Wind, You Are The New Day, Wanting Memories, Zion's Walls, Freedom Come, Lux Aeterna, The Lord Bless You And Keep You, Loch Lomond, Dulaman, Worthy To Be Praised, If Music Be The Food Of Love

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8580c | 1 CD | $15.95 | Some a cappella


Minnesota Choral Artists : Wanting Memories : 1 CD : Matthew Culloton

Minnesota Choral Artists : Wanting Memories

Renowned founding Director and Conductor Matthew Culloton has led his 40-strong, mixed-voice ensemble through five years of remarkable live performances in their native Minnesota and other concert venues, and "Wanting Memories," (the song itself written and composed by Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock) is a "best of" album of work since the group's founding in 2004. Other favorites among these 17 pieces are J. Aaron McDonald's "Te lucis ante terminum," "Three Motets, Op. 37" by Charles Villiers Stanford, Abbie Betinis' "To the Evening Star," a pair by Gerald Finzi, "My Spirit Sang All Day" and "I Have Loved Flowers that Fade," Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo," Rodgers & Hart's "My Romance," Stephen Schwartz' "For Good" (from Wicked) and Dubin/Warren's "Lullaby of Broadway." A beautiful and fun collection from The Singers, one of the midwest's great Choral ensembles!

Songlist: Wanting Memories, Hymne a St. Martin, Te Lucis Ante Terminum, Justorum Animae - Three Motets, Op. 37, Coelos Ascendit Hodie - Three Motets, Op. 37, Beati quorum via - Three Motets, Op. 37, Kyrie from Thanksgiving Mass, To The Evening Star, Orange-Mounts of More Soft Ascent, My Spirit Sang All Day, I Have Loved Flowers that Fade, The Gift to be Simple, Amazing Grace, Mood Indigo, My Romance, For Good from Wicked, Lullaby of Broadway

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6046c | 1 CD | $15.95


New Orleans Children's Chorus : Looking Back and Looking Up : 2 CDs

New Orleans Children's Chorus : Looking Back and Looking Up

"Looking Back and Looking Up" is a sumptuous, 2-CD collection by the three talented branches of the New Orleans Children's Chorus, the Youth Chorale, Chamber Ensemble and Concert Chorus, all directed by Cheryl Dupont, with piano accompaniment by Kevin Caparotta. The Chorus is delighted to celebrate their 25th season, in spite of a 4-month hiatus due to Hurricane Katrina. There are 52 selections here on the two discs, impressive not only for the number, but for the difficulty and maturity of the pieces and the quality of the performances by this veteran Chorus. Attempting to choose favorites is not easy, for instance, disk one begins with David Elliot's joyous "When I Sing," Mozart's wonderful "Laudate Dominum," and Leslie/Calvert's heartstring-tugging "Song for the Mira;" each of these is a stone winner. We absolutely enjoyed Andre Thomas' "Rockin' Jerusalem," Bela Bartok's "Don't Leave Me," Imant Raminsh's "Song of the Stars," John Rutter's "Gaelic Blessing," Jule Styne's "Never, Never Land" and Z. Randall Stroope's "Inscription of Hope." On disk 2, we find S. Hatfield's "Nkose Sikeleli/Freedom is Coming," Rupert Lang's "Spirit of the Child," Ella Fitzgerald's "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," Randall Thompson's "A Girl's Garden," Schubert's "Lebenslust," Valerie Shields' "Eliyahu Hanavi," Daniel Gawthrop's "Sing Me to Heaven" and pianist Caparotta's "May the Road Rise to Meet You." A beautiful, sublime collection from this outstanding American children's chorus!

Songlist: When I Sing, Laudate Dominum, Song for the Mira, Kyrie from Missa Brevis, Pie Jesu from Requiem, Rockin' Jerusalem, Lift Thine Eyes, Don't Leave Me, O Aula Nobilis, Cantate Domino, Good Ale, Hiney Ma Tov, Song of the Stars, Old McDoodle, Tantum Ergo, Winter Under Snow is Weary, My Heart's Friend, Noel Des Enfants, The Gift to be Simple, Gaelic Blessing, Winter Changes, Never, Never Land, Cape Breton Lullaby, When I Set Out for Lyoness, Inscription of Hope, Do I Not Love Thee, Neighbor's Chorus, The Lord Bless You and Keep You, Nkose Sikeleli/Freedom is Coming, Spirit of the Child, and more

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4244c | 2 CDs | $24.95


Tudor Choir : Simple Gifts : 1 CD : Doug Fullington : G-49265

Tudor Choir : Simple Gifts

A follow-up to their successful CD of Shaker tunes, "Gentle Words," The Tudor Choir expands the repertoire to include other British and American music of simple character and enduring melody. The Tudor Choir's lovely shaping of phrases, impeccable intonation and unadorned, clean sound allow the words and music to become the Shaker "prayer language," to free the mind from the world, to visit the soul.

Songlist: 'Tis the Gift to be Simple, The Humble Heart, The Star Of Purity, All At Home, Simple Gifts, I am the Rose of Sharon, I Wish I Was A Child Again, Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, Simple Gifts, Zion's Walls, The Hills, At The Water's Edge, He That is Down Need Fear no Fall, O Taste and See, The Call, Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep, One Thing Have I Desired, The Gift to Be Simple

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9022c | 1 CD | $16.95


World Voices : Hope For Our Time : 1 CD : Karle Erickson

World Voices : Hope For Our Time

Your spirit will be lifted by this choral and instrumental blend of songs that celebrates the single divine spirit of God. Giving praise and thanks, expressing the joy of faith through the musical genres of classical, gospel and folk traditions found in the diverse cultures, languages and religions of the world.

Songlist: Our Father, Santo, Offer Unto God (Psalm 50), Sicut Cervus, Exultate Deo, Somebody's Prayin', Avinu Malkeinu, Wake Me Up, Lord, Goin' Up to Glory, Quis Potest Dicere, The Gift to be Simple, God of Peace and Love (Yarabba Ssalam), Salmo 150, Death is Gonna Lay His Cold Icy Hands, Cantate Domino, Regeneration (Part 3 of "Celestial Spring"), I've Been 'Buked, Webster (An American Thanksgiving), Heleluyan, Ya Ba Bom

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8745c | 1 CD | $15.95 | Primarily a cappella


Individual Folios

Displaying 1-2 of 2 items.


The Gift to Be Simple : SATB : Philip Lawson : 1 CD : 00364889 : 840126960471 : 1705135188

Philip Lawson : The Gift to Be Simplenew

As a long time member of The King's Singers, composer/arranger Philip Lawson was intimately familiar with this Shaker hymn. Here he brings his familiarity to create a new rendition.

Arranger: Philip Lawson

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Voicing: SATB | Sheet Music | $2.20 | A Cappella |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 00364889 | Digital Version Available


The Gift to Be Simple : SATB : Bob Chilcott : Sheet Music : 08740327 : 073999403275

Bob Chilcott : The Gift to Be Simple

From the King's Singers Edition Series, this beautiful arrangement is one of the King'singers favorite American folksong settings.Available separately: SATB, SSAA. Peformance Time: Approx. 2:20.

Arranger: Bob Chilcott | Country: United States

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Voicing: SATB | Sheet Music | $2.20 |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 08740327
Other Voicings: SSAA

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