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American Shaker Music |
This site contains information about Shaker music history, CDs, reviews and much more.
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The Angels are sounding on their golden trumpets
They sound and resound from the heavenly shore.
Inviting all nations, all kindred and people
To come, come to Zion and wander no more.
--Shaker hymn by Matilda A. Butler, 1846
This hymn, titled "Invitation to Souls," is included in the Music Supplement of the book:
Contents |
Scroll down this page for the first eight items.
Click on the links for the others.
- About The Shakers and Their Music
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Music Books and CDs
- Music Commissions and Consultations
- From LP to CD: The Shaker Heritage to Let Zion Move
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Shaker Music - Collections and Recordings
-
Shaker Music News
- Shaker Music Lectures and Singing Programs
- Shaker Music History
- Top Twelve Most Recorded Shaker Tunes
- Non-Shaker songs: "How Can I Keep From Singing?"/Lord of the Dance"/"Run, Shaker Life"
- Shaker spirituals: "Simple Gifts"/"Willow Tree"/"Voyage to Canaan"
- Aaron Copland Meets The Shakers
- Book Reviews and Articles
- CDs Reviews and Recordings
- Links to other web sites
Help support The Music Buffs Web Pages
Order from this handy Search at Amazon.com...
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About The Shakers and
Their Music
The Shakers began in the Manchester area in England in 1747.
Their most important spiritual leader was Mother Ann Lee (1736 - 1784).
Her life and spiritual teachings have been celebrated in numerous Shaker songs and hymns.
Their music is religious folk music suitable for soloists or chorus.
One of their most memorable early Shaker spirituals is a majestic ballad by Elder Richard McNemar titled simply, "Mother" (also known as: "At Manchester in England"). It tells the story of Mother Ann Lee's spiritual journey from England to America.
Other Shaker song tributes have simple expressions of reverence, such as "My Love is My Mother" (recorded on the CD, For the Love of Zion ).
Mother Ann and a small group of Shakers landed in New York City on August 6, 1774.
For several centuries, this important arrival date has been celebrated by the Shakers in both word and song.
One example is the Shaker hymn: "On the Landing of Mother Ann in America" [ Love is Little CD and its accompanying songbook]
Their first settlement was at Niskayuna (later Watervliet), New York, and their first organized community was at New Lebanon (later Mt. Lebanon), New York in 1787. That year was also when their first dances were established and songs written to be sung as accompaniment.
The Shakers are now the oldest surviving religious communal society in the United States.
The last active Shaker community is located at Sabbathday Lake, Maine.
Frequently Asked
Questions
There are many incorrect facts being spread around concerning Shaker music.
Probably the most common error is that all their melodies are anonymous hymns. That's incorrect.
Actually, there are three general types of Shaker spirituals: songs, hymns and anthems.
Here are a few questions sent in to ASM and answered by Shaker music scholar, Roger Hall
(1) Are these Shaker hymns? To find the answer, click on the links:
- "How Can I Keep From Singing?"(recorded by Enya)
- "Lord of the Dance" (dance revue with Michael Flatley)
(2) Who wrote these Shaker songs? Click on the links:
(3) Can you tell more about "Simple Gifts"and how I can get a copy?
Readers and musicians beware! For those looking for the correct information about this most famous Shaker song, most websites and books provide the wrong information. Some websites and recordings have non-Shaker verses which are not identified and thought to be part of the original Shaker song. Some arrangers have used non-Shaker verses of their own without proper identification, thus adding to the confusion. Other websites list "Simple Gifts"as "a traditional Shaker work-song-hymn" or just "a work song." All of this information is incorrect. "Simple Gifts" (aka: "Tis the gift to be simple") has only one verse and is not a Shaker hymn. It is a dance song. Shaker manuscripts identify it that way. You can now get the background about this famous Shaker song.
Order this illustrated e-book on CD-ROM that also has audio files: The Story of 'SIMPLE GIFTS': Joseph Brackett's Shaker Dance Song
(4) Which Shaker tunes have been the most popular?
To find the answer, click on this link:
Top Twelve Most Recorded Shaker Tunes
(5) What CDs are recommended?
Read the recommendations at these links:
(6) Can you me tell me about the history of Shaker music?
Detailed information is available at this link:
To find much more, scroll down this page to the Contents section and click on the links.
If you use any of the information found here, please give credit to this web page:
American Shaker Music
Thank you.
Books and CDs
Click on the links to order an item...
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Books
"Come Life, Shaker Life": The Life and Music of Elder Issachar Bates. By Roger L. Hall (spiral bound book with excerpts from the Issachar Bates autobiography and a supplement with examples of his music, 2004).
The Gift to be Simple: Songs, Dances and Rituals of the American Shakers. By Edward Deming Andrews (paperback, 1967)
A Guide to Shaker Music - With Music Supplement By Roger L. Hall (6th edition, 2006)
Heavenly Visions: Shaker Gifts Drawings and Gift Songs. Edited by France Moran (hardcover, 2002)
How Happy Are They: Twelve Shaker Spirituals from Kentucky and Ohio. Edited and Arranged by Roger L. Hall (spiral bound book with music and notes, 2007).
Sabbathday Lake Shakers: An Introduction to the Shaker Heritage. By Sister R. Mildred Barker (paperback, 1985)
A Shaker Hymnal: A Facsimile Edition of the 1908 Hymnal of the Canterbury Shakers (paperback, 1996)
Shaker Music: A Manifestation of American Folk Culture. By Harold E. Cook (hardcover, 1973)
The Shaker Spiritual. By Daniel W. Patterson (2nd edition, paperback, 2000)
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CDs
Early Shaker Spirituals - Sister R. Mildred Barker and the Sabbathday Lake Shakers/ Notes by Daniel W. Patterson
Let Zion Move: Music of the Shakers (2-CD set) - The Shakers from Canterbury and Sabbathday Lake/ Notes by Roger Hall
Simple Gifts - Shaker Chants and Spirituals. Boston Camerata, Schola Cantorum, and the Shakers at Sabbathday Lake/ Notes by Joel Cohen and Sister Frances Carr
The Golden Harvest - More Shaker Chants and Spirituals - Boston Camerata, Members of Harvard University Choir, Members of Youth Pro Musica, and the Shakers at Sabbathday Lake
Joy of Angels: Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and the New Year - Various Soloists and The Sampler Chorus/Introduction by Roger Hall
Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals - Mitzie Collins, Roger Hall, The Sampler Chorus/ Notes by Roger Hall
Music Commissions
and Consultations
- Would you like to commission one or more Shaker spirituals to be arranged for a church service, a live concert, or a special event?
- Do you need assistance about Shaker music and their history for a commercial recording, a radio program, or a concert?
- Would you like to discuss the possibility of a feature film telling the dramatic story of the early Shakers in England and America? A story treatment is available upon request from filmmakers or screenwriters.
To discuss a possible commission or information about the story treatment, write to Roger Hall at:
Mr. Hall's Shaker music arrangements are listed at this link:
For more information click on this link:
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From LP to CD -
The Shaker Heritage to Let Zion Move
One day over forty years ago while traveling through New England on vacation, Bill Randle happened to stop by the Shaker village in Canterbury, New Hampshire.
There he met the museum curator, Charles (Bud) Thompson, who asked if he knew anyone who could tape a series of lectures presented by the Canterbury Shakers. Bill Randle offered to arrange for all the taping himself.
In 1961, a 10 LP album box set was produced by Randle titled: The Shaker Heritage.
The box cover was designed by Tom Wilson, later known for his Ziggy comic strip.
This LP set was available in a limited edition of only 250 copies. Copies were distributed to museums and libraries. The individual LPs covered all aspects of Shaker culture including their religion, history, poetry, cooking, and music. The albums were quickly distributed and then went out-of-print. The LP set now sells for high prices on the collector's market. The LPs were never released on a commercial record label. Bill Randle was then known as a popular Cleveland disc jockey. Five years earlier, he had introduced Elvis Presley on national television [see Elvis On Record]
Now you can get all the music from The Shaker Heritage, plus information about Bill Randle and rare interviews with several Shaker sisters in a 2 CD titled ...
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(Rounder Select 0471/0472)
You can order the CD set from Amazon.com at this link:
Let Zion Move: Music of the Shakers
This set comes in a beautiful slipcase cover designed by Susan Marsh.
The cover has details from a beautiful Shaker gift drawing [Note: this drawing is incorrectly identified in the CD booklet as being from Frutilands Museums, Harvard, MA. It should be credited to The Shaker Museum, Old Chatham, NY.]
These recordings are the most extensive ever released commercially of the Shakers singing, performing piano-organ duets, and speaking about their music.
The collection includes 40 Shaker spirituals sung and narrated by Shaker sisters.
Also included are exclusive interviews made by Bill Randle and Roger Hall with three important Shaker sisters: Sister Mildred Barker (1897-1990); Eldress Bertha Lindsay (1897-1990); and Sister Lillian Phelps (1876-1973).
The music and interviews were recorded at Canterbury in 1960 and 1972; and at Sabbathday Lake in 1960 and 1980.
Included with the 2 CDs is a 72 page illustrated booklet with the words to all the Shaker spirituals, many historical photographs of the Shakers and their music, and detailed notes by Roger Hall.
The preface was written by Darryl Thompson about his father, Charles (Bud) Thompson, who first organized the museum at Canterbury Shaker Village in the 1950s.
Most of the music is available for the first time on commercial CDs.
Here are what a few reviewers wrote about this Rounder release:
| "Seldom has a sect considered its own history
and passed that tradition on to its believers so well as the Shakers...its
merit lies in the investigation of one of the most fascinating utopian societies
in American history."
-- T. Druckenmiller, Sing Out! Magazine, Vol. 44, No. 3 (Spring 2000) |
| "This beautifully packaged two-CD
set consists of excerpts from a 10-record set which came out in 1961...The
accompanying booklet contains a wealth of pertinent historical information,
photos, reproductions of early Shaker notation, and lyrics...the documentary
importance of this material would be hard to overestimate."
-- D. Baker, Dirty Linen Magazine, #88 (June/July 2000) |
To order this historic 2 CD set with detailed illustrated booklet click on this link:
Let Zion Move: Music of the Shakers
Please help support this web site
Order here from Amazon.com here...
Shaker Music
Recordings and Collections
New Songbooks
In celebration of the bicentennial of the South Union Shaker settlement in Kentucky, this songbook has been edited and arranged by Roger Hall, a composer and music preservationist who has collected Shaker music for over 35 years.
How Happy Are They: Twelve Shaker Spirituals from Kentucky and Ohio (2007)
Also available is this songbook that accompanies the CD listed below, with arrangements by Jack Bomer:
For the Love of Zion: Thirty Shaker Spirituals for Solo Quartet or SATB Chorus (2007)
CD Releases
These three CDs from PineTree Music all feature Shaker music:
PTM 1008:
Singing New Englanders:
From The Pilgrims to The Shakers
30 tracks with over one hour of music from the 17th century to early 20th century. There are three Shaker spirituals on this CD. This is an ideal gift for the American history researcher, student or teacher since most of the music is performed from original editions. To see all the music tracks, go to Music Titles from PineTree Press
PTM 1011:
For the
Love of Zion - Singing Arrangements of Shaker
Songs
30 Shaker spirituals, in sensitive arrangements by Jack Bomer, and beautifully performed by a vocal quartet known as "Simplicity" (Alyssa Daudt, Amy Stevens, Ian Sanchez, Joey Chen), directed by Leah R. Stein.
At least half of these Shaker spirituals are not available on any other CDs.
These are the track titles:
1. We Have Found the Promised Savior (Lebanon,
New York, 1875)
2. Sweet Love (unknown community)
3. Good Brethren From the Holy Mount (Elsa Parson, Enfield, Connecticut,
1843)
4. Here Take This Lovely Flower (Elmira Adams, Harvard, Massachusetts,
1847)
5. O What Pretty Souls (Joshua Bennett, Enfield, Connecticut, 1837)
6. The Humble Heart (Eunice Wyeth and Thomas Hammond, Harvard,
Massachusetts, 1820)
7. O Brethren Ain't You Happy (Clarissa Jacobs, Lebanon, about 1847)
8. Christ's Suffering (Canterbury, New Hampshire, date unknown)
9. My Love is My Mother (South Union, Kentucky, 1821)
10. The Rolling Deep (Polly Lawrence, Sodus, New York, 1826)
11. I Never Did Believe (Betsy Bates, Lebanon, New York, 1829)
12. Lay Me Low (Addah Z. Potter, Lebanon, New York, 1838)
13. I Will Bow and Be Simple (Mary Hazard, Lebanon, New York, 1840s)
14. The Hallelujah Hymn (Polly M. Rupe, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky)
15. I Have a Soul to be Saved or Lost (Enfield, New Hampshire, 1865)
16. Mother's Love is Like an Ocean (Assanath Wilhite, South Union, Kentucky,
1820s)
17. Mother's Mantle (Lebanon, New York, 1821)
18. More Love (Canterbury, New Hampshire, about 1870)
19. Slow Song (unknown community)
20. Pretty Love and Union (John Whitbey, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, 1824)
21. Living Souls Let's Be Marching (Tyringham, Massachusetts)
22. I'm On My Way to Zion (unknown community)
23. Love is Little (South Union, Kentucky, 1834)
24. A New Zion (Alfred, Maine, 1837)
25. Virgins Cloth'd in a Clean White Garment (Sabbathday Lake, Maine,
1830s)
26. Low Within the Vale (Paulina Bryant, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, 1850)
27. My Sweet Home in Zion (Otis Sawyer, Sabbathday Lake, Maine)
28. Brilliant Gem (Anna White , Lebanon, 1859)
29. Simple Gifts (Joseph Brackett, Alfred, Maine, 1848)
30. Earnest Petition (unknown community)
In addition to the CD there is an accompanying songbook with all 30 Shaker spirituals. For more information, go to:
Wholesale discounts for multiple copies of this CD are available for non-profit institutions.
Write to:
PTM 1012:
The Humble
Heart - 24 Shaker Spirituals
This CD has 30 tracks, with 24 Shaker spirituals edited and arranged by Roger Hall. Also included is the World Premiere of his "Variations on a Shaker Marching Tune," brilliantly performed by pianist David Hagan at a concert in Lexington, Massachusetts.
The recordings were mostly feature soloists and chorus from the Plymouth Church of Shaker Heights, Ohio, John D. Herr, director.
Also included are interviews with several Shaker sisters and with composer Aaron Copland about his arrangements of "Simple Gifts."
Here are the track titles:
1. *Round: Welcome, Welcome (Enfield, NH,
1869)
2. Dance Song: Come Life, Shaker Life (Issachar Bates, Lebanon,
NY, 1835)
3. Anthem: Mount Zion (Issachar Bates, Ohio, ca. 1815)
4. Hymn: Rights of Conscience (Issachar Bates, Ohio, ca.
1810)
5. **Hymn: Ode to Contentment (tune: Issachar Bates/text: Richard Pelham,
North Union, Ohio, 1835)
6. Song: March (North Union, Ohio, 1847)
7. **Dance Song: Simple Gifts (Joseph Brackett Jr., Alfred, Maine, 1848)
8. Hymn: Doxology (Oliver C. Hampton, Union Village, Ohio,
1856)
9. Song: A Dream (Harvey L. Eades, Union Village, Ohio, 1860)
10. **Pacifist Hymn: A Prayer for the Captive (Cecilia DeVere, Lebanon, NY,
1862)
11. Anthem: Supplication (James G. Russell, Enfield, NH,
1883)
12. **Anthem: Millennial Praise (James G. Russell, Enfield, NH, 1883)
13. **Humility Song: Gentle Words (Polly M. Ruper, Pleasant Hill, KY, ca.
1867) -- arr. R. Hall
14. **Humility Song: Love is Little (South Union, KY, ca. 1834) -- arr. R.
Hall
15. *Hymn: Celestial Praises (Canterbury, NH, 1841) -- arr.
R. Hall
16. Round: Celestial Choir (Canterbury, NH, 1840s) -- arr.
R. Hall
17. Song: O Glory to God (Alfred, Maine,
18. *Song: May I Softly Walk (Lebanon, NY, ca. 1869) -- arr. R. Hall
19. Variations on a Shaker Marching Tune (New Lebanon, NY,
ca. 1843) -- by Roger Hall [World premiere performance]
20. Interview with Aaron Copland, July, 1980
21. Interview with Sister R. Mildred Barker, Sabbathday Lake,
Maine, December 1980
22. *Hymn: The Shakers (Richard McNemar, Ohio, ca. 1810)
23. Sister Mildred Barker interview continued
24. Eldress Bertha Lindsay's 90th birthday, Canterbury, NH,
1987/ Simple Gifts sung
25. Interview with Eldress Bertha Lindsay, March 1972
26. *Dance Song: Simple Gifts (Joseph Brackett Jr., Alfred,
Maine, 1848) -- arr. R. Hall
27. *Hymn: A Prayer (poem: Sister Mildred Barker/music: Roger Hall)
28. *Hymn: Holy Habitation (text: Eunice Wyeth/ tune: Lebanon,
ca. 1848) --arr. R. Hall
29. *Hymn: The Humble Heart (text: Eunice Wyeth/ tune: Thomas Hammond,
Harvard, MA, ca. 1820)
30. *Round: We Will All Go Home With You (Canterbury, NH, 1862) --
arr. R. Hall
* = included in the
Music Supplement of
A
Guide to Shaker Music (PineTree Press)
** = included in music collection:
Love is Little:
A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals (Sampler Records)
A GUIDE TO SHAKER MUSIC - With Music Supplement (2006)
A new updated 6th edition, compiled by Roger Hall, is now available.
This fact-filled resource guide covers over two centuries of Shaker music in the U.S.A
It contains the following chapters:
- Chronology: Evolution of Shaker Music
- Shaker Tunes and Tunesmiths
- Sources: Where to Find Original Shaker Music
- Arrangements: Selected Music for Voices and Instruments
- Tune Comparisons: Shaker Tunes vs. Folk Tunes
- Visitor Descriptions of Shaker Music and Dance
- Bibliography: Where to Look for Further Information
- Discography: What Has Been Recorded on LP, Tape and CD
- Music Supplement: 15 Shaker tunes and texts composed and arranged for solo voice and mixed chorus
To order this book, go to the
"The Best Choice": A Sampling of American Communal Hymns (2006)
This is the revised 2nd edition of this hymn collection, edited and arranged by Roger Hall.
The hymns are for soloists or chorus and keyboard (piano or organ). They are suitable for church, community or college choirs.
These are the hymn titles with the authors or composers of the 9 hymns in this collection:
(1) The Contented of the God-loving Soul: "The Best Choice" - Johannes Kelpius (ca. 1705)
(2) General Economy [Moravians]: "Hymn for the Spinning Sisters" - words: August G. Spangenberg (1745)
(3) Ephrata Cloister: "How Gracious is the Lord" - Anna Thomen (1747)
(4) Harmony Society: "Children of Friendship" - Frederick Rapp (ca. 1820)
(5) United Order [Latter Day Saints]: "The Spirit of God" - words: William W. Phelps (1835)
(6) Zoar Separatists: "Lasst Uns Ihr Brueder"- words: Gerhard Terstegen/tune: Solomon Ackerman (ca.1840)
(7) Bishop Hill: "O Youth Who Travel On So Far" - words: Eric Jansson (1846)
(8) The Shakers: "Come and Welcome" - David A. Buckingham (1846)
(9) Hopedale Community: "Farewell, Dear Friends" - words: Adin Ballou (1849)
Also included in this collection is a useful Checklist of American Communal Hymnals from 1730 to 1855 and background notes.
To order this collection, go to the
"Come Life, Shaker Life": The Life and Music of Elder Issachar Bates (2004)
This monograph was written by Roger Hall is about the first major Shaker tunesmith.
It contains many quotes from the Issachar Bates autobiography, written between 1832 and 1836. The autobiography deals with Issachar's life as a young fifer in the American Revolution, his years as a Baptist song leader, and then as a Shaker missionary, church leader and tunesmith.
There are also many illustrations of Shaker music manuscripts, plus extensive notes and a list of recommended recordings.
At the back of the monograph are eight representative Shaker spirituals by Elder Issachar Bates:
(1) Hymn: "Rights of Conscience" (2 versions: original melody and arrangement)
(2) Hymn: "The Gospel Sound" (arrangement)
(3) Anthem: "Mount Zion" (original melody)
(4) Dance Song: "Step Tune" (original melody)
(5) Hymn: "Ode to Contentment" (original melody)
(6) Dance Song: "Come Life, Shaker Life" (original melody)
(7) Union Song: "Lovely Gospel Kindred" (original melody)
(8) Funeral Hymn: "Almighty Savior" (original melody)
Joy of Angels - Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and the New Year
You may have wondered if the Shakers composed any songs or hymns for Christmas. Actually they did - and quite a few of them.
They also celebrated Christmas from the time of their early leaders. You can read about the Shaker descriptions of Christmas in the only songbook devoted to that season:
Joy of Angels - Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and the New Year
In the songbook there are 38 Shaker spirituals, with notes about each piece of music.
Among the Shaker songs and hymns included are: "Mother's Golden Trumpet"; "Give good gifts one to another"; "This is Jesus birthday"; "Tis the gift to be simple"; and "To all the good children, a Happy New Year."
You can read a complete description of a Shaker Christmas by Elmina Phillips at this link:
Shaker Workshops - Christmas Among the Shakers in the Olden Time
One Christmas song was quoted at the end of that description: "Hail, hail, the beautiful morn hath dawned." That song is included on the "Joy of Angels" CD and songbook.
This is the only songbook collection devoted to rare Shaker Christmas music. The introduction, written by Shaker scholar Roger Hall, has detailed historical background about the Shaker Christmas tradition.
Also included in the songbook are performance notes by Colleen Liggett and Mitzie Collins.
In the back of the songbook, there is a useful Checklist of Printed Shaker Hymnals and first recordings of Aaron Copland's arrangements of "Simple Gifts," compiled by Roger Hall.
This songbook and accompanying CD or Tape would make an ideal gift for a musician friend or music lover.
To order Joy of Angels and the other popular Shaker music CD, Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals, go to:
Shaker Music News -
2008
Elder Joseph Brackett Day
Celebrate this day by singing or playing his most famous song, "Simple Gifts."
Look in the 2008 issue of Chase's Calendar of Events , under May 6 for this item:
"Day honoring the Shaker religious leader, born May 6, 1797, in Cumberland, ME. In 1848, he composed the popular Shaker song, 'Simple Gifts,' (also known as 'Tis the Gift To Be Simple'), while at the Shaker Community in Alfred, ME. This Shaker dance song became known worldwide after Aaron Copland used it in his score for the ballet 'Appalachian Spring' in 1944. Elder Joseph Brackett died at New Gloucester, ME, July 4, 1882."
See also this entry in Wikipedia about
More About Shaker
Music
These related web sites have additional information:
American Music Preservation has information about Shaker music history, music books and new CD releases.
Tune Lovers Web Pages has a description of the Shaker song, "Simple Gifts" and the song based on it: "Lord of the Dance."
Shaker Music News -
2007
Illustrated eBook
Available now is an illustrated eBook, written by Roger L. Hall, about the most famous Shaker song, known also by its first line: "'Tis the gift to be simple."
The eBook title is:
The Story of 'SIMPLE GIFTS' - Joseph Brackett's Shaker Dance Song
This e-book is available on CD-ROM and is the most extensive account available today about the background on the song and its composer, Elder Joseph Brackett.
It includes words and music for two of Elder Joseph Bracketts's best known songs: "Simple Gifts" and "The True Vine."
You can read this on any computer with Microsoft Word or compatible software and print out any of the pages.
Here is the list of contents:
Preface
Introduction: A World of "Simple Gifts"
Part One: 18th Century
1. From England to America
2. Early Song Types
Part Two: 19th Century
3. The Dance Song
4. The Gift Song
5. Biography of Elder Joseph Brackett
6. "Simple Gifts" and "The True Vine"
Part Three: 20th Century
7. Timeline and Arrangements
8. An Interview with Aaron Copland
9. Aaron Copland's "Simple Gifts"
10. Sydney's Carter's "Lord of the Dance"
Bibliography
Recordings
About the Author
This eBook also many illustrations, including original Shaker music manuscripts, a photograph of the historic occasion when composer Aaron Copland met Sister Mildred Barker, and a photograph of Sydney Carter with his autographed score for "Lord of the Dance."
To find out more about this informative eBook on CD-ROM with audio files (also available in a printed version without audio), click on this link:
Shaker Music News - 2006
Reviews
Click on the links to read the following reviews:
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN - a play by Arlene Hutton
SIMPLE GIFTS - GREAT HYMNS: ONE MAN'S SEARCH FOR GRACE - book by Bill Henderson
HARP OF QUIET FAITH (CD) - Diane Schneider, harpist (includes 3 Shaker spirituals)
HARVEST HOME (CD) - The Dale Warland Singers (includes 4 Shaker spirituals)
In Celebration of Ann Lee's Birthday
Her life is vividly told in Richard McNemar's great ballad hymn, "Mother" (aka: "At Manchester in England") -- available on two different CDs: Love is Little and Simple Gifts ).
Mother Ann made extensive missionary travels throughout New England. In one Massachusetts town she and other Shaker leaders were punished severely and beaten for their beliefs. And yet she triumphed over it all through her charismatic zeal and her inspired singing.
Years later, the Shakers celebrated her birth in song.
For example, the millennial hymn which begins:
All hail the great Millennium!
Which thousands long'd to see;
Which ancients prophesi'd would come,
A Glorious Liberty!
The light of truth rolls brightly on
as doth the Orb of day;
Behold! the new Jerusalem,
The new and living way.
This is the first stanza of "Reflections on Mother Ann's Birthday."
It was written in 1840 by Brother David A. Buckingham from the Shaker community at Watervliet, New York.
The hymn was written in tribute to Mother Ann Lee.
She was born on Toad Lane in Manchester England on February 29, 1736.
In 1774, she emigrated to America with a few of her followers and eventually settled in a place known as Niskayuna, near Albany, New York. After suffering extreme persecution on her missionary journey throughout New England, she died at the age of only 48 at Watervliet, New York in 1784.
Mother Ann was said to be a good singer. Numerous songs and hymns were written in praise of her by later Shakers.
"Reflections on Mother Ann's Birthday" has six stanzas and this hymn was first printed in a modern edition by Roger Hall in 1986, published in The Shaker Messenger magazine.
Brother David's hymn has been recorded on the CD, Verdant Groves, in an arrangement by Shelley Phillips and sung beautifully by Debra Spencer.
Here is the sixth and last stanza which speaks directly about Mother Ann:
While we enjoy this day of grace,
How can we but adore
Our blessed Mother - and embrace,
And love her evermore!
O may her blessings still abound;
O may we holy be;
May we in righteousness be found,
In low humility.
"Reflections on Mother Ann's Birthday" is available in a simple two-part arrangement by Roger Hall.
Other Shaker spirituals about Mother Ann are available on these two CDs:
Joy of Angels: Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and the New Year
Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals
For more information about these CDs and the accompanying songbooks, go to:
Shaker Music Scholar Named to Who's Who Directory
Roger Hall, one of the world's leading authorities on Shaker music, has received the high honor of being listed in this directory:
Who's Who in the World (2006 Edition)
He is a music preservationist and composer who has researched, arranged and performed Shaker music for over thirty-five years.
His popular reference book, A Guide to Shaker Music, is the only one of its kind.
In addition to that book and many articles, he has served as singer and consultant for two Sampler CDs:
Joy of Angels: Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and the New Year - The Sampler Chorus (38 spirituals)
Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals - The Sampler Chorus (36 spirituals)
Also, he edited a 2 CD set featuring music and commentary by the Shakers from Canterbury, New Hampshire and Sabbathday Lake, Maine:
Let Zion Move: Music of the Shakers (40 Shaker spirituals)
In 2004, he produced a CD of his own music which includes arrangements of six Shaker tunes and is titled:
For a list of his music is available at this link:
To read more about his background, go to:
Shaker Music News -
2005
Shaker Exhibit in Maine
With the assistance and co-operation of the Sabbathday Lake Shakers, there was a special exhibit at the Saco Museum featuring some of the most cherished Shaker pieces from Alfred, Maine. They included furniture, historic drawings, photo scrapbooks, smalls, and fancy goods. The curator of this exhibit is Frank Wood.
The exhibit was titled: "Simple Gifts: The Alfred Shakers, 1787-1931"
It ran at the museum in Saco, Maine from 11 August to 30 October 2005.
Shaker Village in Kentucky Celebrates Its Bicentennial
Two hundred years ago three Shaker missionaries set out from New York to Kentucky to find converts in the West.
In conjunction with National Preservation Week, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill celebrated its Bicentennial on May 21-22, 2005.
To celebrate the rich heritage of the Pleasant Hill Shakers, an original program of music and dramatic dialogue was presented and titled, Delightful Music: A Story of Pleasant Hill. This work of historical fiction combines the arts of singing and storytelling to chronicle the rich history of Pleasant Hill. Using the songs and lives of actual Pleasant Hill Shakers, the story speaks of the strength, vision, and extraordinary achievement of ordinary Kentuckians.
Delightful Music was created by Donna Phillips, Music Programs Coordinator, and Georgie Riddell, Special Programs Coordinator, and will be performed by both of them, with members of the Pleasant Hill Singers.
For information about the schedule of events, go to:
Famous Shaker Song Discussed in New Book
A massive new illustrated book of 851 pages has been published. It is titled:
LIBERTY AND FREEDOM: A Visual History of America's Founding Ideas (Oxford University Press, 2005)
The author is the distinguished historian, David Hackett Fischer, a recent Pulitzer Prize winner for his book, Washington's Crossing.
One of the chapters is titled: "Joseph Brackett's Song - A Shaker Vision of Freedom as the Simple Gift" (pages 269-73).
Fischer provides a good description of Joseph Brackett's famous dance song, "Simple Gifts."
Fischer's chapter on Joseph Brackett is based on information found in publications by Edward Deming Andrews, Priscilla Brewer, Roger L. Hall, and Stephen J. Stein.
The chapter also includes three illustrations: a portrait of Elder Joseph Brackett, a print titled "Shaker Dance," and a 19th century manuscript of "Simple Gifts."
To order a publication with more detailed information about Joseph Brackett, click on this link:
Shaker Music
News - 2004
Shaker Music at Campbell Folk School
During the week of November 14-19, 2004, there were classes given in a variety of Shaker crafts at the John C. Campbell School in beautiful Brasstown, North Carolina. This is an annual event designated as "Shaker Week." The talent coordinator was Joe P. Rhinehart.
The Shaker presenters were Susie Beckwith, Roger Hall and Louis Miles.
Susie Beckwith played a concert of Shaker tunes on her Appalchian dulcimer, joined by Roger Hall.
Roger Hall performed several Shaker music sings during the week. His performances included a Thursday evening concert with audience participation and Shaker music for Morning Song on Friday.
Louis Miles, a retired college professor, read some of his poetry and spoke about Shakers he knew at Sabbathday Lake, Maine.
During the week there was a book signing for Roger Hall, who sang several Shaker songs from his music collections and CDs; and for Louis Miles, who read a few of his poems and signed some of his books.
The weeklong classess included Shaker Basketry (Martha Wetherbee & Alan Litchfield), Oval boxmaking (Lenton Williams), Spinning & Dyeing Braided Rugs (Diane Ellis), Knitting (Patti Ball), Cooking (Betty Oppenneer), and other crafts.
For more information about these classes during Shaker Week, click on this link:
Carry A Tune Week
Do you have a favorite Shaker song or hymn?
Maybe you like Aaron Copland's arrangement of "Simple Gifts" in his Appalachian Spring [see Aaron Copland Meets the Shakers]
The Fourth Annual Tune Week was held in October 2004.
This annual event is sponsored by The Tune Lovers Society.
To see all the tune choices (including several Shaker spirituals) and the dates for 2005, click on this link:
Disc Jockey Who Produced Historic Shaker Recordings Has Died
As mentioned in the above description ( From LP to CD ), the most extensive recordings ever made of the Shakers were compiled and produced by William M. Randle, a well known disc jockey for over five decades.
He died in Cleveland, Ohio on July 9, 2004 at the age of 81.
The important recordings he produced of Shaker culture (religion, poetry, cooking recipes, history, music and more) were released in 1961 as a 10 LP set with the title: The Shaker Heritage.
All the music from this LP set is now available on Let Zion Move: Music of the Shakers.
Bill Randle also help promote many well known singers of the 1950s, including Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, The Crew Cuts, and most famous of all -- Elvis Presley.
For a memorial tribute to Bill Randle by Roger Hall, go to:
Elvis On Record: The Early Years
New Shaker Music CD Released
A new release of Shaker music has been released on New World Records (CD 80617-2).
The CD is titled:
I AM FILLED WITH HEAVENLY TREASURES (39 tracks, Total Time = 60:23)
Performed by The Enfield Shaker Singers, Mary Ann Haagen, musical director
Many of the Shaker spirituals have been recorded for the first time on CD.
They include the important and highly unusual anthem: "Harmony of Angels" (6:56).
Several hymns and songs previously recorded are included, for example: "Grateful Remembrance." This hymn was previously recorded in 1970 by Sister R. Mildred Barker, the greatest Shaker singer of the 20th century.
There are also many harmonized hymns, such as "Rose of Sharon" and Eldress Mary Ann Gillespie's memorable hymn from Alfred, Maine: "Redeeming Love."
This is a wonderful collection of Shaker spirituals well worth adding to your listening library.
You can find out more about this new CD at these websites:
http://www.newworldrecords.org
World Premiere of Shaker Song Arrangements
On Sunday, 21 March 2004 at the First Lutheran Church in Stoughton, Wisconsin, the world premiere performance of A Shaker Triptych took place in a concert titled: "Music For Our Time."
The music was performed by the Stoughton Festival Choir, conducted by Linda Kunz.
The Shaker humility songs in A Shaker Triptych were arranged for SATB Chorus by Roger Hall.
The song titles, Shaker community locations, and dates are:
(1) "May I Softly Walk and Wisely Speak" - New Lebanon, New York, 1869
(2) "Gentle Words" - Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, 1867
(3) "Love is Little" - South Union, Kentucky, 1834
If you are a music director looking for Shaker music to perform with your choir, click on
this link:
Music Arrangements and Compositions
"Lord of the Dance" Songwriter
It is with great sadness to report that English songwriter and poet, Sydney Carter, died on March 13, 2004, at the age of 88.
One of his best known songs is "Lord of the Dance" which he wrote in 1963.
He based his song on the Shaker tune, "Simple Gifts."
For information about Sydney Carter and the authentic words to "Lord of the Dance," go to his music publisher's site at:
Documentary Film Project
To Ann Lee may reformers look as the one who taught and through her followers teaches still -- perfect freedom, equality and opportunity to woman.
--quote from Shakerism: Its Meaning and Message by Anna White and Leila S. Taylor, 1904
A new documentary is in preparation by Jeannine Lauber of Story Productions about the life of Ann Lee (1736-1784), who was raised in a poor section of Manchester, England and encountered much suffering during her life but triumphed over it.
This remarkable uneducated woman later became the spiritual leader of the Shakers and was called "Mother Ann." She was the first woman to head an American religious communal sect.
Music has remained an important aspect of Shaker culture ever since the time of Mother Ann, who was said to be a wonderful singer and some of her songs have survived, such as "Mother Ann's Song" (Love is Little).
Her incredible life will be told in the film and Shaker music will be part of that story.
To lend your support to this worthwhile film project, write to Jeanine Lauber at:
Shaker Music News -
2003
Shaker Song in a New Book
It was a pleasant surprise to see a Shaker song included in the huge book of over 600 pages titled:
A Patriot's Handbook - Songs, Poems, Stories, and Speeches Celebrating the Land We Love, selected and introduced by Caroline Kennedy (Hyperion, New York, 2003).
Under the heading, THE INDIVIDUAL, Joseph Brackett's beloved Shaker song "Simple Gifts" is found on page 355. It may seem odd putting the Shaker song under this heading since the Shakers lived in communities and shunned the idea of individual property. Yet the song is appropriately placed because it refers to the gift of songwriting for one Shaker member, Elder Joseph Brackett. The full original text is given. Unfortunately, even though Caroline Kennedy mentions the correct date and composer, she doesn't mention that "Simple Gifts" was created as a dance song.
You can order your copy of the monograph, The Story of 'SIMPLE GIFTS,' which gives a full description of this very popular Shaker dance song and also has the original words & music.
To order, go to:
Music Titles from PineTree Press
Shaker Spirituals Featured in a Singing
Workshop
On June 7, 2003, Roger Hall led a singing workshop, "The Sidewalks of New York: Old Songs and Stories."
The workshop was sponsored by the Rensselaerville Historical Society and was held at Conkling Hall.
The songs discussed and sung were those from manuscript or printed versions in New York State.
Included in the workshop was a section devoted to Shaker spirituals, most of them available in the Love is Little songbook and CD.
If interested in New York State folk and popular music, here are a few recommended CDs:
New York, New York - A Vintage Portrait, 1926-1949 (includes "The Sidewalks of New York")
Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals
Songs of the Erie Canal - The Dady Brothers
Songs and Tunes from Wolf Run - Mark Hamilton
You can find out about scheduling a Shaker music lecture or workshop for your organization.
For more information and fees, write to:
Book Review
To read the review of this Shaker music book, go here -
shaker songs: a celebration of peace, harmony and simplicity
Shaker Music News -
2002
William Warfield, Aaron Copland and "Simple Gifts"
By Roger Hall
One of the great American baritones of the past half century, William Warfield, died on August 25, 2002, at the age of 82.
In addition to his many concert recitals, he was known for singing "Ol Man Man River" in the 1951 MGM musical film, SHOWBOAT, and also for his outstanding portrayal of Porgy with his wife Leontyne Price as Bess in Gershwin's folk opera masterpiece, Porgy and Bess (now available in a remastered CD).
Besides the movie musical and Gershwin opera, William Warfield gave the American premiere of Aaron Copland's arrangement of "Simple Gifts" in his first set of Old American Songs, available on a Sony CD:
In 1988, I had the great pleasure to hear William Warfield sing this Shaker song in a concert in Boston. He still had a strong and appealing voice. After the concert, I went backstage and showed him my copy of Old American Songs, signed by Copland. He was pleased to see Copland's signature and told me he always enjoyed singing these American songs.
In the second volume of his autobiography, Copland Since 1943, he gave the following description of the baritone:
"Warfield 's ability to sing in a variety of styles, and his warmth and sense of humor was an ideal combination for these folk songs. Warfield could be gentle and lyric one moment, and playful and humorous the next...I always enjoyed playing or conducting the songs with Warfield. I have heard other singers treat these songs in a more formal lieder style...But Warfield always brought genuine warmth to the songs."
Here are the dates of the recordings of Old American Songs (Set I), which includes "Simple Gifts":
William Warfield, baritone; Aaron Copland, piano (August 16, 1951) - available on the 2 CD set:
William Warfield, baritone; Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Aaron Copland, conductor (May 3-4, 1962) - available on the 2 CD set:
To read about Aaron Copland meeting the Shakers and several recommended CDs, go to:
Shaker Music Lectures
and Singing Programs
Would you like to schedule an enjoyable
Shaker music lecture or performance for your church, historical society,
museum, school, college or other group?
The lectures and singing programs are presented by Shaker music preservationist, Roger Hall.
Lectures and singing programs are for a general audience and usually last from 60 to 90 minutes.
The lecture may include slides with taped singing by the Shakers, and a sing-along of a few simple Shaker songs.
The singing program includes music and commentary.
Here are a few possible program titles:
"The Simple Gifts of Shaker Music"
"Let Zion Move: Shaker Women Composers"
"The Humble Heart: Shaker Music from New York and New England"
"Blended Together: Shaker Architecture, Gift Drawings and Song"
Also available is a Shaker music workshop which may be one or two hours, half day or a full day. The workshop begins with a slide presentation about Shaker history, then Shaker hymns and songs will be discussed and sung. All the music will be provided for the workshop. CDs and cassette tapes will also be available. The workshop is ideal for a church planning a Shaker event, with a meal or refreshments. The workshop is also ideal for an educational facility like a school, college or university.
To inquire about fees and scheduling of a Shaker lecture, singing program, or workshop, write to Roger Hall at:
For a list of Shaker music arrangements
suitable for concerts and worship services, go to:
Links to related Shaker web sites
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