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Music Collections
and
Songbooks
For those interested in concert performance or resource information,
the music books and collections listed below are currently available.
For the Love of Zion (Songbook with CD, 2007)
The songbook has 30 Shaker songs and hymns, many available for the first time anywhere. On the CD they are sung in beautiful arrangements by Jack Bomer, an American musician living in Vienna, Austria. The CD features an outstanding vocal quartet known as "Simplicity" (Alyssa Daudt, soprano; Amy Stevens, alto; Ian Sanchez, tenor; and Joey Chen, bass), with Leah R. Stein, director.
The CD includes familiar Shaker spirituals, like "I Will Bow and Be Simple" and "Simple Gifts," plus less familiar ones, such as"Hallelujah Hymn" and
"Pretty Love and Union."To hear audio samples from the CD and see the track titles, click on
To order the CD and the accompanying songbook, go to the
How Happy Are They (Songbook, 2007)
2007 marked the bicentennial of the Shaker community at South Union, Kentucky.
To commemorate that bicentennial anniversary, Roger Hall has compiled this collection which includes arrangements of two South Union Shaker hymns:
"The Morning Sun" and "The Millennium." They are included in this songbook:
1. A Welcome Song -- Polly M. Rupe, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, 1869
2. Hymn: Typical Dancing -- Richard McNemar/ Polly M. Rupe, Pleasant Hill, 1809
3. Hymn: Farewell Vain World -- Samuel Hooser, Pleasant Hill, 1833
4. I Want to be Living & Free -- South Union, KY5. Hymn: The Morning Sun -- South Union, 1847 (arr. Roger Hall)
6. Hymn: The Millennium -- South Union, 1847 (arr. Roger Hall)
7. Hymn: How Happy Are They -- Richard McNemar, Watervliet, Ohio, 1833
8. Hymn: Invitation to Souls -- Matilda A. Butler, Whitewater, Ohio, 1846
9. Hymn: On The Birthday of Mother Ann -- James S. Prescott, North Union, Ohio, 1850
10. A Dream -- Harvey L. Eades, Union Village, Ohio
11. Hymn: Doxology -- Oliver C. Hampton, Union Village, 1856
12. My Dear Companions Let's Move On -- Union Village, 1850s
Some of these songs and hymns are available on these CDs:Blended Together: Shaker Hymns and Songs
Gentle Words: A Shaker Music Sampler
Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals
To order your copy of this collection,
write to:
How Happy Are They
"The Best Choice"
A Sampling of American Communal Hymns (2nd edition, 2006)
This historical collection, compiled and edited by Roger L. Hall, contains hymns from nine communal groups: The Contented of the God-loving Soul, General Economy (Moravians), Ephrata Cloister, Harmony Society, United Order (Latter Day Saints), Zoar Separatists, Bishop Hill, The Shakers, and Hopedale Community.
There is also a Checklist of American Communal Hymnals from 1730 to 1855.
For more information, go to:
A Guide to Shaker Music --
With Music Supplement (6th edition, 2006)
This popular guide was first published in 1996. It has remained the most extensive reference guide to Shaker music. Now in its 6th edition, it contains the following information:
- A timeline for the first prominent tunesmith, Issachar Bates
- A list of major Shaker tunesmiths
- Where to find original and arranged Shaker music
- Tune comparisons of Shaker and other folk tunes
- Bibliography - Where to look for further information
- What Has Been Recorded on LP, Tape and CD
Also included is a Music Supplement with 15 Shaker songs and hymns, composed and arranged by Roger Hall:
1. Song: Welcome, Welcome - Enfield, New Hampshire, 1869
2. Song: We Will All Go Home With You - Canterbury, NH, 1862
3. Hymn: Holy Habitation - Harvard, Massachusetts, ca. 1848
4. Hymn: The Humble Heart - text: Eunice Wyeth/
tune: Thomas Hammond, Harvard, Massachusetts, ca. 1820
5. Hymn: Voyage to Canaan - Richard McNemar, Union Village, ca. 1810
6. Hymn: Celestial Praises - Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1841
7. Hymn: Christian Love - poem: Elvah F. Collins, 1881/ music: Roger Hall
8. Hymn: My Shepherd - poem: R. Mildred Barker, 1926/ music: Roger Hall
9. Hymn: A New Year's Prayer - poem: Mildred Barker, 1921/ music: R. Hall
10. Hymn: A Prayer - poem: R. Mildred Barker, 1922/ music: Roger Hall
11. Song: May I Softly Walk - Lebanon, New York, ca. 1869
12. Song: Simple Gifts - Joseph Brackett, Alfred, Maine, 1848
13. A Welcome Song - Polly M. Rupe, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, 1869
14. Introduction to Zion - David A. Buckingham, Watervliet, NY, 1846
15. Introduction to Souls - Matilda A. Butler, Whitewater, Ohio, 1846Order A Guide to Shaker Music with accompanying music on CD-R
at the
Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals (1992)
A few copies remain of the Rare First Edition of this songbook with 36 Shaker tunes from all the major Shaker communities.
To order click on this link:
Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals
Related Links
American Music Recordings Collection - recordings of Shaker singing and interviews.
Books and Articles - recommended literature relating to Shaker music.
CD and DVD Releases - original and arranged Shaker tunes.
Joseph Brackett's "Simple Gifts"-- about the best known Shaker song.
Recommended Books and Articles -- from various outlets.
Shaker Music History -- highlights from 1781 to 2001.
Shaker Music Lectures and Workshops
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