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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 this book:
Most of the information on these pages
was compiled by Roger Hall,
a singer, composer and musicologist
who has studied Shaker music
for over thirty-five years. He
has edited over two hundred Shaker tunes, including
first editions of "Gentle Words" and "Love is Little,"
and a new variant edition of "Simple Gifts,"
which he identified as a dancing song.
Roger has also performed extensively and recorded Shaker music.
The music of the Shakers (officially known as The United Society of Believers) contains some of the most beautiful religious folk melodies from America's past.
Yet much of their music remains unknown today to the general public,
except for the Shaker dance song, "Simple Gifts,"
which was first arranged
by Aaron Copland and later by many folksingers, including
George and Gerry Armstrong, Bob Beers and Judy Collins.
Arrangements of
other Shaker spirituals have been made by
Jack Bomer, Mary Ann Haagen,
Roger Hall,
Conrad Held,
Kevin Siegfried, Salli Terri, and others.
For over 150 years, from the 1780s to 1950s,
over 10,000 tunes were composed by the Shakers.
The last remaining Shaker communitiy is located at Sabbathday Lake, Maine.
One of the favorite Shaker songs has been
"Come Life, Shaker Life"
From a Shaker music manuscript
(Courtesy: Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio)
The above illustration shows the Shaker dance song written in a music notation
using letters of the alphabet, which the Shakers called "the letteral system."
This quick dance song was composed by Elder Issachar Bates (1758-1837).
He wrote the song in 1835,
the same year the well known hymn
"Amazing Grace" (or NEW BRITAIN) was printed in
William Walker's The Southern Harmony.
"Come Life, Shaker Life" has become one of the most popular Shaker songs
and has been arranged by contemporary folksingers, such as Richie Havens.
Read more about this Shaker song in Roger Hall's informative book titled,
"Come Life, Shaker Life" - The Life and Music of Elder Issachar Bates
To inquire about ordering the book,
write to:
Unfortunately, there has been a great deal of incorrect information spread around
about Shaker music even though much has been written on the subject.
The most common error is classifying all Shaker music as
Traditional or Anonymous hymns.
That is incorrect and misleading.
There are actually three broad categories of Shaker music:
Hymns, Anthems, and Songs
Because this is religious folk music,
all three categories should be classified as:
Shaker Spirituals
One of the most important Shaker spirituals
during the Civil War era
was "A Prayer for the Captive,"
a pacifist hymn from 1862,
received in a dream by Sister Cecilia DeVere
The world premiere recording of this hymn
is included on this CD,
Lincoln and Liberty: Music from Abraham Lincoln's Era
Contrary to what many authors have written,
Shaker music has been credited to numerous Shaker poets and composers.
The Shaker spirituals were written by a
Shaker sister or brother,
who wrote the words and/or the music.
For example these Shaker spirituals...
"Abiding Care" by Eldress Dorothy Durgin
CD: Let Zion Move
"Blended Together" by Elder Joseph Holden
CD: Blended Together
"Let Zion Move" by Eldress Mary Ann Gillespie
CD: Let Zion Move
The most important CD releases are those on Rounder Records
with 40 spirituals each, sung by the Shakers from
Canterbury, New Hampshire and Sabbathday Lake , Maine,
with background notes by two authorities on the subject:
Let Zion Move: Music of the Shakers
2 CD set with illustrated booklet
and notes by Roger L. Hall
Many of the harmonized hymns performed on this CD set are from the
1908 Canterbury Shaker hymnal
.
If are looking for Shaker spirituals to perform in a concert program
or to use on a recording,
write for assistance to:
Coming Soon!
A new booklet about Shaker music in the 20th century
by scholar and composer, Roger Lee Hall.
Watch for the announcement of this booklet here.
Read about the evolution of Shaker music from the time
of the early leaders: Mother Ann Lee, Father William Lee, and Father James Whittaker,
to the present day with the Sabbathday Lake Shakers at this link:
A Selection of Shaker Music on CDs and DVDs
For the Love of Zion
(Simplicity Vocal Quartet)
NEW RELEASE!
Gentle Words: A Shaker Music Sampler
(Shaker singers and other musicians)
I Am Filled With Heavenly Treasures
(Enfield Shaker Singers)
The River of Love
(New England Voices)
Love is Little:
A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals
(Roger Hall, Mitzie Collins, The Sampler Chorus)
DVD: Shaker Marches and Dances
DVD+R: The Shakers On Television
Shaker Music Collections and Songbooks
How Happy Are They:
Twelve Shaker Spirituals
from Kentucky and Ohio
Only a few copies remain of the
Rare First Edition of the songbook
with 36 Shaker tunes titled:
Love is Little:
A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals
"Simple Gifts" (first line: 'Tis the gift to be simple)
A new piece by film composer John Williams, titled, "Air and Simple Gifts," was premiered during the Inauguration Day ceremonies for U.S. President Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.
Find out more about the Shaker song, "Simple Gifts,"
which John Williams arranged for his piece...
Click on this link for
Joseph Brackett's "Simple Gifts"
There are a series of colorful broadsides now available,
ideal for wall display or for gift-giving.
These are the current Shaker song titles in the series:
No. 1: "Simple Gifts"
[First line: 'Tis the gift to be simple 'tis the gift to be free]
No. 2: "Blended Together"
[First line: Blended together as one we stand]
No. 3: "Welcome, Welcome"
[First line: Welcome, welcome precious gospel kindred]
No. 4: "We Will All Go Home With You"
[First line: We will all go home with you, home to worlds of glory]
To order any of these colorful broadsides,
go to the
Aaron Copland Meets The Shakers
"Blended Together" -- Interviews with the Shakers
Attention film makers and documentary producers!
A story treatment for a possible film about the early years of
the Shakers in America
and suggested music is available by request.
Write to: Shaker Story
Read a review of the play by Arlene Hutton about nine Shaker sisters
at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky at this link:
Rare copies of THE SHAKER MESSENGER magazine available at
Aaron Copland Meets The Shakers -- photo and description of their first meeting.
American Music Recordings Collection -- interviews and Shaker music available on CD and DVD.
Books and Articles -- relating to Shaker music.
Boston Camerata's CD: Simple Gifts - Shaker Chants and Spirituals - notes for the CD
New England Songster -- music collection with a few Shaker songs.
Shaker and Non-Shaker Tunes -- incorrectly identified Shaker tunes and sources.
Shaker Lectures and Workshops -- programs about Shaker music and folk art.
Shaker Music News -- announcements of publications, recordings and other information.
Simple Gifts of Shaker Music -- list of recommended CDs at Amazon.com
Wikipedia -- article about the Shaker song, "Simple Gifts."
Please remember to credit this website
When using any of the original information found here
for research papers, books, magazines, CDs, or media programs,
please give credit toAmerican Music Preservation.com
For any questions, write to:
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