Celebrating Thanksgiving with Simple Gifts and More
- Diana Mascari
- Sep 26, 2025
- 4 min read
In honor of Thanksgiving, today's post features a medley of two seasonal hymns:
I Danced in the Morning (Simple Gifts)
and
Rejoice the Lord Is King
Diana Mascari Teacher of Piano and Composition
The Medley of Two Seasonal Hymns
This medley took me in a different direction from my usual jazz piano style. It grew out of my years as Music Director at the Hartford Street Presbyterian Church. When the pandemic shifted our services online, I wanted to create a quiet, welcoming space for people as they arrived. So I began arranging familiar hymns in a gentle, contemplative way and recording them on piano to set a calm, reflective tone.
For the Thanksgiving season, I chose “I Danced in the Morning,” set to the Shaker tune Simple Gifts, a melody often linked with gratitude and the holiday. I paired it with “Rejoice, the Lord Is King,” a hymn that beautifully aligns with the final Sunday of the church year—the Feast of Christ the King.
While the original medley existed only as an audio recording, this version gave me the joy of adding a visual dimension. I paired the music with details from artist Marcia Cole’s encaustic monotype series Soul Tapestries, whose luminous textures echo the same spirit of reflection and renewal I hoped to convey at the piano. You can explore more of her work at www.marciacoleart.studio.
Diana Mascari Plays:
I Danced in the Morning (Simple Gifts) and Rejoice the Lord Is King
A Different Perspective How a hymn can be transformed within a full orchestral work.
After hearing my solo piano rendition of the two hymns, I thought you might enjoy a different perspective—how a hymn can be transformed within a full orchestral work. In this case, I turned to the beloved This Is My Father’s World as the foundation for my composition Hymnody No. 3. It was recorded in the 1990s by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Robert Black. Even if the hymn itself isn’t familiar, I hope you’ll hear how its spirit comes alive in a symphonic setting.
Hymnody No. 3 for Symphony Orchestra Composed by Diana Mascari Performed by the Slovak Radio Symphony, Robert Black, Conductor
Perhaps hearing this recording has given you some ideas about music you'd like to learn or compose. You may be asking:
Composition Lessons
Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to turn your own musical ideas into a finished piece? Composition lessons are your chance to do exactly that. Together, we’ll explore how to capture your ideas, shape them into music, and discover the joy of creating something uniquely yours. Along the way, you’ll also gain insights that will make your piano playing more confident and expressive.
Time to explore your creativity!
🎹 Piano Lessons
Can you really learn to play in a new way as an adult? Absolutely! Many of my students once thought jazz-influenced patterns or creative approaches might be too advanced—but once they tried, they were amazed at how fun and accessible it really is.
Whether you’re returning to the piano or starting fresh after another instrument, you don’t need years of training—you just need curiosity, patience, and someone to guide you. My piano lessons are designed especially for adults, helping you build confidence, understand accompaniment patterns, and make music that feels natural and rewarding.
Why not give it a try?
🎁 Free Consultation
Not sure where to begin? Let’s talk it through. In your free 30-minute consultation, we’ll explore your musical background, interests, and goals. You’ll have the chance to ask questions about both piano and composition lessons, and we’ll find the path that feels right for you.
Schedule your free consultation today!
Dian
a
nsultat
Diana Mascari
American Composer & Jazz Pianist
Teacher of Piano & Composition for Adults
Diana Mascari has taught piano to hundreds of students for more than 47 years. She is dedicated to enriching her students’ lives by supporting their individual musicality.ition L She has developed a teaching system called the Transformational Approach to Piano. It offers her students colorful musical insights that broaden their experience beyond traditional methods.
Diana holds two Masters of Music degrees from New England Conservatory, taught keyboard harmony to music majors at Boston University, and was the music director of a multicultural Presbyterian Church for four decades.
Diana has performed as a solo jazz pianist as well as with her ensembles at many colleges and jazz clubs throughout New England. Many of these performances featured Diana's jazz compositions.
As a composer, she has explored the intersection of jazz and classical music. Her compositions reflect her deep appreciation for musical structure, enhanced by the spontaneity and emotion of jazz. Each piece has a timeless sense and is designed to move and inspire. Her works have been performed in Europe, Japan, and the Eastern United States.
Diana’s vibrant personality infuses her teaching, performing, and composing as she inspires piano students to achieve their musical goals.
Two Free Piano Courses:
To schedule your FREE 30 Minute Consultation for Composition Lessons or Piano Lessons with Diana Mascari on Zoom
Click Here:
Comments