Variations on a Shaker Melody is an excerpt from Appalachian Spring which was composed in 1943-44 as a ballet for Miss Martha Graham on a commission from the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation. The ballet was first performed by Miss Graham and her company at the Coolidge Festival in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., on October 30, 1944. The original scoring called for a chamber ensemble of thirteen instruments. The present arrangement for symphony orchestra was made by the composer especially for performance by school and community orchestras.