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From the Center for American Music Preservation

 

 

MUSIC OF THE AMERICAN SHAKERS

 

 

Resources and Recordings

This is the longest-running web site
about music of the American Shakers

 

 

Two important 20th century Shaker women in music


© photograph by Gail M. Hall

A tribute to
Sister Bertha Lillian Phelps (1876-1973
)
- the last Shaker musician and composer at
Canterbury Shaker Village in New Hampshire



© photograph by Gail M. Hall

A tribute to
Sister Ruth Mildred Barker (1897-1990)

- the most important Shaker singer at
Sabbathday Lake, Maine


Both Sister Lillian and Sister Mildred
were narrators on the most extensive recordings about their music
released on this highly rated 2-CD set from Rounder Records,
with 72 page illustrated booklet written by Roger Hall:





  • Please Help Support The CAMP:

    All the information provided here is intended for educational use.

    Your support is needed to keep the Shaker music information available on this free informational website.

    You can help support ther CAMP website by ordering any of the CDs or publications listed below.

  • 2024 is the 250th anniversary of the Shakers arrival in America.

    See the description below on this page -- click here




 

 

 

 



Latest Music Collections

 

Roger Lee Hall first interviewed several Shaker women in 1972.

Now, he has compiled his audio interviews
with the Shaker women singers from Maine and New Hampshire.

It is useful for anyone interested in the Shakers and American cultural history.

To read about how to order this special audio collection -- click here


 

The newly expanded 3rd edition of this popular book
with information about Shaker music, including
a history of Shaker music written by a Shaker member,
an interview with composer, Aaron Copland about his arrangements of "Simple Gifts,"
the lyrics to 25 Shaker spirituals, plus a new Music Supplement with
"A Shaker Song Quartet" - arranged by Roger Lee Hall

Read more about this Gentle Words book -- click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 
 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




 

 

Shaker music in our time


Too many people know too little about the music of the American Shakers.

Information on the web and in some books about the Shakers sometimes have incorrect information about their music.

One of the most common errors is assuming that all Shaker music is anonymous. That is incorrect.

Both Shaker women (Sisters) and men (Brothers) wrote words and music from the 18th to 20th centuries and many of them are identified.

There are estimated to be well over 10,000 Shaker texts and tunes written in hundreds of manuscript music books and nearly a dozen printed hymnals,
in both single-line melodies and three or four-part harmony. Their hymnals were published between 1812 and 1908.

Many people know and enjoy the best known Shaker song, "Simple Gifts" (first line: 'Tis the gift to be simple).

 

 

 

250th anniversary of the Shakers arrival in America


The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing (or The Shakers), originated in the area around Manchester, England in the mid-18th century and were led by Mother Ann Lee (1736-1784), their charismatic spiritual leader. She and a small group of the Believers emigrated to the USA and they landed in New York City on August 6, 1774.

Two years later, their first settlement was established at Niskayuna (later: Watervliet), New York.

Their first organized Shaker community was in 1787 at New Lebanon, New York (later called Mount Lebanon and it was their Central Ministry).

The last remaining Shaker community is located at Sabbathday Lake, Maine which also has a museum and research library (open by appointment).


Attention Choral Music Directors!

There is a choral composition by Roger Lee Hall available about the life of Mother Ann Lee which is available at no charge
providing it is performed sometime this year. This composition is for soprano and bass soloists and SATB chorus and is
in a more traditional hymnlike setting as the Shakers themselves wrote. The original text and tune are from
two Shaker composers in the 19th century: Richard McNemar and Joel Turner. Here is the first verse:

At Manchester in England, This blessed fire began,
And like a flame in stubble, From house to house it ran:
A few at first received it and did their lusts forsake;
And soon their inward power Brought on a mighty shake.


To request your copy of "Ballad of Mother Ann" for possible performance, sent directly by email attachment -- click here

 

50th anniversary of the Shakers meeting composer, Aaron Copland

Read about when several Shakers from Sabbathday Lake, Maine
were introduced to Aaron Copland by Shaker music scholar, Roger Lee Hall.
It was the only time they met.

Read more about this meeting in 1974 at this link --

Tis the gift to be simple: Aaron Copland Meets The Shakers

 

A False Identification

This picture circulating on the web supposedly is Mother Ann Lee...

That is FALSE.

The picture is NOT Mother Ann Lee but instead is Shaker Eldress Anna White (1831-1910) from Mount Lebanon, New York.

Please help correct this error if you notice it on the web or in print.

 

Anniversary of a Shaker hymn arrangement

It was 50 years ago that composer, Roger Lee Hall, arranged his first Shaker hymn, "Celestial Praises,"
from a melody that was "given by inspiration, Jan. 10, 1841" in Canterbury, New Hampshire.

His arrangement of this Shaker hymn was first performed at a conference in Cleveland, Ohio in 1974,
commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Shakers arrival in America from England.

His arrangement of this Shaker hymn is on the CD featuring original Shaker tunes and arrangements:


 

 

 

Music of the Shakers

For over two centuries, the Shakers have produced an amazing amount of music.

Not only is it probably among the earliest religious folk music written in America,
it is also music that can bring comfort and uplift to anyone in their daily lives today.

Many of the earliest Shaker songs were composed by their first spiritual leaders in the 1780s.

One of the most glaring errors made by researchers and writers is classifying all Shaker music as "songs." That is incorrect.

There are three main types of Shaker music in single line melodies or in three or four-part harmony:

--single verse songs (for example, "Simple Gifts")
--multi-verse hymns (for example, "The Humble Heart")
--extended prose anthems (for example, "Millennial Praise")

There are also many sub-categories of Shaker music, such as: gift songs, dance songs, inspirational and Gospel hymns, millennial anthems, and others.

In addition to the thousands of Shaker single-line melodies in manuscripts there are also many others in their printed hymnals.

Because of their highly inspirational origins, like Afro-American spirituals, Shaker tunes are also best classified together as "spirituals."

Often the discussion of Shaker spirituals is misleading or incomplete in books and articles,
which fail to list any recordings or music collections and don't always include the latest Shaker music research.

For a list of Shaker music books and articles -- click here

It is common to identify all Shaker music as being anonymous or "Traditional." That is incorrect.

Many of the Shaker spirituals are credited to Shaker brethren and sisters and sometimes both are credited for a single Shaker spiritual,
like the beautiful Shaker hymn, "The Humble Heart" (words by Eunice Wyeth, tune by Thomas Hammond)

The late 19th century century hymn, "Give Good Gifts" has become popular in our time. It has been previously identifed as being "Traditional."
But that is not accurate. This hymn has been identified by Roger Hall as composed by Sister Martha Jane Anderson (1844-1897).
This hymn is included on several CDs including this one which includes her picture on the CD cover:

 

Sometimes a Shaker song is arranged by a non-Shaker musician.

One of the best known Shaker quick dance songs is "Come Life, Shaker Life."
In the 1960s, this Shaker song was arranged as a folk-rock song, "Run, Shaker Life,"
by Richie Havens, without credit given to the Shaker composer, Issachar Bates.
To read about it -- click here

 

Best-known Shaker song, "Simple Gifts"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Shaker dancing song had a major revival in the 20th century, beginning with Aaron Copland arranging the tune in his award-winning ballet score, "Appalachian Spring," in 1944.

Arrangements of this Shaker song by Aaron Copland and John Williams were played in the inauguration ceremonies for three U.S. Presidents:
Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.


According to Shaker manuscripts, "Simple Gifts" was composed as a "dancing" or "quick dance" song by Elder Joseph Brackett (1797-1882) at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine. Often the song is identified with incorrect titles such as: "The Gift to be Simple" or "Tis a gift to be simple," which were never used when the song was written down in their music manuscripts.

There is also a popular 20th century folk song, "Lord of the Dance," by English songwriter, Sydney Carter, who based it on the "Simple Gifts" melody.


May 6 was the birthday of Elder Joseph Brackett. To read about the Joseph Brackett Day birthday celebration -- click here

 

 

 

 

 

Last Shaker song composed in the 20th century

In July of 1959, Sister Lillian Phelps (1876-1973) went on a Summer outing with other Shaker women at Canterbury, New Hampshire,
and upon her return she wrote a short song she titled: "My Shaker Home."

This song was discovered by Roger Hall in the library at Canterbury Shaker village in 2009 and
has now been recorded in an arrangement on two popular AMRC CDs:

"Celestial Praises - A Celebration of Shaker Spirituals"-- click here

 

"My Shaker Home" - Words & Music by Shaker Sisters" -- click here

 

Shaker music notation

Their earliest music came from the English folk song tradition and most of their earliest tunes were without words and are similar to folk dance tunes
or "mouth music" from England, Scotland and Ireland.

The first Shaker church leaders also wrote songs, including Mother Ann Lee, the spiritual head of their church.

Father James Whittaker wrote what is believed to be the first complete Shaker song with words and music in 1787,
which has been edited by Roger Hall and titled, "In Yonder Valley."

Almost all of the early Shaker music uses alphabet music notation.
For more information about this Shaker music notation, see the Thesis by Roger L. Hall titled,
"The Shaker Letteral System: A Practical Approach to Music Notation" (Binghamton University, 1972).


Examples of Shaker music notation are available in his publication
-- "Invitation to Zion" - A Shaker Music Guide


See these You Tube concert videos of Shaker music
composed or arranged by Roger Lee Hall -

Arrangement: "Welcome, Welcome" - The Canterbury Singers

Arrangement: "Celestial Praises" - The Canterbury Singers

Arrangement: "Simple Gifts" - The Canterbury Singers

Composition: Seven Variations on a Shaker Marching Tune - Kathryn Southworth, pianist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two books and a research article about the song:



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now you can learn the full story of the best-known Shaker song
with the original Shaker melody and biography of its composer,
written by the foremost authority on the Shaker song.

To read about both titles -- click here

 

 

Research article about the song:

"Simple Gifts": The Discovery and Popularity of a Shaker Dance Song
by Roger Lee Hall

 

 

 

 

 

Shaker music editions and arrangements

 


Giving Credit Where It Is Due:

Some writers and musicians have failed to give proper credit to the those who have edited or arranged Shaker tunes.

Two of the most active music researchers of Shaker music have been: Roger L. Hall and Daniel W. Patterson.
Both have written an extensive amount about Shaker music.

Daniel W. Patterson has written research articles and an extensive book, The Shaker Spiritual (1979, reprint, 2000).

Roger L. Hall has written many books and music collections, including Gentle Words: The Meaning and Message of Shaker Music (2019) -- click here
He has edited many Shaker spirituals for performance and also performed Shaker music in numerous concerts.

Also, he has composed new music based on several Shaker poems, like "A Prayer" and "A New Year's Prayer" --
both of those titles were recorded on these CDs: Celestial Praises and My Shaker Home.

Others who have edited Shaker music include:

Anne Azema, Donald Christenson, Joel Cohen, Milzie Collins, Randy Folger, Christian Goodwillie, Mary Ann Haagen,
Colleen Liggett, Carol Medlicott, Donna Phillips.

There have been many arrangers of Shaker tunes including these names:

Jack Bomer, Judy Collins, Aaron Copland, Bill Crofut, Mary Ann Haagen, Roger Lee Hall, Conrad Held, ,
Marleen Montgomery, Wayland Rogers, Kevin Siegfried, Salli Terri,
John Williams.

 

Just the facts, please...

In Chosen Faith, Chosen Land (DownEast Books, 2009),
there is this picture of composer Aaron Copland meeting Sister Mildred Barker:

 

© Photograph by Gail M. Hall, 1974.

This is the caption with the picture in the book on page 123:

Sister Mildred with Composer Aaron Copeland in Shaker Heights, Ohio in 1974. Sr. Mildred, Sr. Frances, and Br. Ted were in Ohio
to conduct seminars during the Shaker bicentennial. They were invited to attend a birthday party for Mr. Copeland.
He gave Sr. Mildred an autographed copy of his arrangement of "Simple Gifts."



In addition to Copland's name being misspelled twice, no credit is given to the person who arranged this meeting in 1974 -- Roger Hall.
He donated his personal copy of the "Simple Gifts" choral arrangement for Copland to autograph for the Sabbathday Lake Shakers.
Mr. Hall then gave his autographed copy to the Shakers for their library at Sabbathday Lake.

The picture is also not credited to the photographer at this meeting, Gail M. Hall.

This meeting was not a birthday party for Mr. Copland. It was a meeting of graduate music students from Case Western Reserve University.

It was the only meeting of Mr. Copland and the Shakers.

Mr. Hall was not consulted to verify the information for the caption in the book.

 

 

 

 

Giving Proper Credit For Shaker Music


Since Shaker songs, hymns and anthems from the 18th and 19th centuries are in public domain,
it may be assumed they don't have to be credited from any published source. Not true.

Any Shaker music published in a book or a music collection should be credited to an editor or arranger, if known.
The same applies to any recordings of Shaker music.

If no name is listed, then the published music collection where the music appears should be mentioned in person or in print.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


Shaker Music Research Series

 

 

 

"The Humble Heart" -
A Fifty year Survey of Shaker Music

 

 

 

"Invitation to Zion" -
A Shaker Music Guide

 

 

 

 

"More Love" -
A Shaker Music Legacy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shaker Music Scholar Honored in Who's Who

 

Most of the information provided on this website is from the research and publications of Roger L. Hall,
who has been one of the most active Shaker music scholars for fifty years.

He is an ethnomusicologist, ASCAP composer, and singer with multiple degrees in music.

He has researched, edited, arranged and produced recordings of Shaker music.

He has also written extensively about Shaker music. To see the list of titles --- click here

Most of his Shaker music collection has been donated to the research library at Canterbury Shaker Village in New Hampshire.
To see the Finders Aid of his music collection there -- click here

To read about his extensive Shaker music research -- click here

See his available music lectures and workshops -- click here

 

Roger Lee Hall has received the honor of being listed in two well-known directories:

Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World

 

 

 

Shaker music editions and arrangements by Roger Hall
are available

 

click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Original Shaker Music On Recordings

 

 

 

 


"Let Zion Move" by Eldress Mary Ann Gillespie
CD: Let Zion Move

 

"Blended Together" by Elder Joseph Holden
CD: Blended Together: Interviews with the Shakers

Two of the most important CD releases were released by Rounder Records with 40 spirituals each,
sung by the Shakers, with background notes by two authorities on the subject:

 

 

 

Early Shaker Spirituals:
The United Society of Shakers,Sabbathday Lake Maine,
with background notes by Daniel W. Patterson

 

 

 

 

 

Let Zion Move: Music of the Shakers
2 CD set and illustrated booklet,
with background notes by Roger L. Hall

 


 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 


 

 

 

 

 

Shaker Music Preservation Archive

click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Summer of a Shaker Song - 1967

click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shaker Music for concerts, recordings, or films

If you are looking for one or more Shaker spirituals to perform in a concert
or to include on a recording, or a film, see this list of Shaker tunes --
click here

For music arrangements by Roger Lee Hall -- click here

 

Attention film and documentary producers!

Shaker music can make an ideal accompaniment for your film

Write for details to:

Shaker music for film

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book, CD and Theater Reviews

 

 

Book Reviews

 

 

 

CD Reviews

 

 

 

Theater Reviews

ANGEL REAPERS (Martha Clarke and Alfred Uhry)

AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (Arlene Hutton)

 

 

 

 

 

Related Links on this site

 

"The Best Choice" - A Sampling of American Communal Hymns (new edition now available!)

Shaker music books and articles

Shaker and Non-Shaker Tunes

Shaker lectures and workshops

Shaker music arrangements

Shaker music in our time

Shaker music news

Shaker music on CDs and DVDs

Shaker music discoveries

"Simple Gifts" (multi-media computer disc about the best-known Shaker song)

Note:

This information about Shaker music here on Americanmusicpreservation.com has been updated and greatly expanded
from an earlier AOL page known as AMERICAN SHAKER MUSIC available Online between 1998 and 2005 but no longer active.
However, links to it are still available for reference information at ShakerPedia.

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Please remember to credit this website

When using any of the information found on this page
please give credit to the Center for American Music Preservation (CAMP)

For any questions, write to:

 

 

 

 

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