Simple Gifts

Can anyone help me find classically-sung versions of this song for both male and female voices (i.e. two different versions)? The best I've found so far is this a capella gospel version:
YouTube

There is a Bryn Terfel recording with the LSO which I don't really like, and I sampled the Yo-yo Ma and Alison Krauss recording, which isn't bad, but I felt it sounds a bit "square", as well as being too slow.

There was a beautiful version sung on Howard Goodall's TV series 'How Music Works' and, like another song, Mack The Knife, sung on his later series 'Howard Goodall's Story of Music', I've never been able to find that version released separately or on Youtube. The a capella link above is by far the closest for Simple Gifts.

I often find myself singing or humming this song and would like to know it better, possibly well enough to sing it in public.

Originally posted by NoEarthlyReason
Can anyone help me find classically-sung versions of this song for both male and female voices (i.e. two different versions)? The best I've found so far is this a capella gospel version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgQjEEBizLI

There is a Bryn Terfel recording with the LSO which I don't really like, and I sampled the Yo-yo Ma and Alison Krauss is song and would like to know it better, possibly well enough to sing it in public.

Here is Nana Mouskouri singing Simple gifts:

YouTube

The tune for Simple Gifts was also used in the Irish song 'Lord of the Dance'.

Here is a version of that song by the Corries:

YouTube

One of them is playing the biggest frigging bodhran I ever saw! Ours are like half that size and we got one of them in Ireland🙂

Originally posted by sonhouse
Here is Nana Mouskouri singing Simple gifts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgQjEEBizLI

The tune for Simple Gifts was also used in the Irish song 'Lord of the Dance'.

Here is a version of that song by the Corries:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0aEHw3vKLg

One of them is playing the biggest frigging bodhran I ever saw! Ours are like half that size and we got one of them in Ireland🙂

This is the Nana Mouskouri link:
YouTube

Her opening lines are sung beautifully but, sadly, she is a little drowned out by the male voices and snare drum later on. I found the snare quite incongruous – it suggested military bands to me.

I enjoyed the Corries' version which was very well done, although I do prefer the song without a swing rhythm. I wouldn't expect a Celtic folk band to play without that rhythm though! I kept on mishearing "I'll lead you all" as "I'll eat you all" 😀

Originally posted by NoEarthlyReason
This is the Nana Mouskouri link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arAaWHho-uM

Her opening lines are sung beautifully but, sadly, she is a little drowned out by the male voices and snare drum later on. I found the snare quite incongruous – it suggested military bands to me.

I enjoyed the Corries' version which was very well done, although I do pr ...[text shortened]... ut that rhythm though! I kept on mishearing "I'll lead you all" as "I'll eat you all" 😀

Yeah, I didn't expect that either. I just listened to the opening bars and didn't think they would screw it up downwind🙂