Learn about one of the oldest religious singing traditions in the USA!

The music of the Shakers contains some of the most beautiful and meaningful spiritual messages

from America's past.

In their excellent history, Shakerism: Its Meaning and Message (1904),

writen by Eldress Anna White and Leila S. Taylor,

they wrote that their Shaker hymns “are marked by sweetness, simplicity and spirituality,

a force of appeal which touches strongly all who listen.”

The Shakers (both women and men) composed some of the earliest religious music in the USA,

including by their early leaders:

Mother Ann Lee, Father William Lee, Father James Whittaker, and others.

Over several centuries the Shakers wrote well over 10,000 texts and tunes

more than any other American religious communal society.

Shaker music has become increasingly popular in our time and has been performed and

recorded by non-Shaker musicians.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Their best known dance song, "Simple Gifts" (aka: "Tis the gift to be simple"),

was arranged by various composers:


Arrangements of "Simple Gifts" were performed at three different U.S. Presidential Inaugurations:


Ronald Reagan (Aaron Copland vocal arrangement)

Bill Clinton (Aaron Copland vocal arrangement)

Barack Obama (John Williams instrumental arrangement, "Air and Simple Gifts")

In the 1960s , the "Simple Gifts" tune was used by Sydney Carter for his song, "Lord of the Dance."

 

Contents

The collection was compiled and edited by Shaker music scholar, Roger Lee Hall.

His first research project was on Shaker alphabet music notation at Binghamton University in 1972.

Since then, he has continued to be one of the most active researchers and singers

performing and recording Shaker music.

 

01 A GUIDE TO SHAKER MUSIC (Expanded Ediition)

Resources:

Chronology (18th-20th centuries)

List of top twelve recorded tunes

List of major Shaker tunesmiths

Tune comparisons

Visitor descriptions

Checklist of printed Shaker hymnals

Where to find original Shaker music

Shaker Song Series

Music arrangements

"Simple Gifts" in the 20th century

Discoveries:

1. Mother Ann's Song (1783)

2. Father Jame's Song (In Yonder Valley) (1787)

3. How Happy Are They (1833) - Richard McNemar

4. Invitation To Zion (1846) - David A. Buckingham

5. Followers Of The Lamb (ca. 1847) - Clarissa Jacobs

6. The True Vine (1856) - Joseph Brackett

7. A Prayer For The Captive (1862) - Cecilia DeVere

8. Gentle Words (ca. 1867) - Polly M. Rupe

9. Doxology (1881) - Oliver C. Hampton

10. My Shaker Home (1959) - Bertha Lillian Phelps


02 Music Supplement to A GUIDE TO SHAKER MUSIC

03 For The Record - comparing non-Shaker and Shaker tunes:

"Lord of the Dance" and "Simple Gifts"

"Run, Shaker Life" and "Come Life, Shaker Life"

"The President's March" and "Rights of Conscience"

"Animation" and "While We're Marching"

04 "Come Life, Shaker Life" - The Life and Music of Elder Issachar Bates, 1758-1837

05 "Simple Gifts" - information about the best known Shaker song

06 Image gallery including Shaker manuscript tunes and sheet music

07 Bonus No. 1 - A Western Shaker Music Sampler with sheet music

08 Bonus No. 2 - Interviews with several Shaker women members (1972-1987) and composer, Aaron Copland (1980)

09 Bonus No. 3 - Radio appearances with Mr. Hall on WGBH-FM in Boston

10 Bonus No. 4: Concert videos with arrangements by Roger Lee Hall and Conrad Held

 

 

How to order this disc:

This title is available exclusively on USB Flash Drive or sent by Dropbox.

The collection is recommended for singers, researchers, teachers, students

and anyone interested in this American religious culture.

 

 

Your order is payable through safe and secure PayPal for $24.95

To order your copy, click the "Add to Cart" below

 

 

 

 

After you have sent in your payment,

send an e-mail and mention this title

and if you wish to receive it on a USB

or sent by Dropbox to your email address.

Send to:

Invitation to Zion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This book is available separately...

Read about this informative book

now in its 3rd edition -- go here

 

 

 

Shaker Music Series on 4 CDs

"The Humble Heart" - 24 Shaker Spirituals
(AMRC 0052)

"My Shaker Home" - Words and Music by Shaker Sisters
(AMRC 0048)

" Celestial Praises" - A Celebration of Shaker Spirituals
(AMRC 0017)

"Gentle Words" - A Shaker Music Sampler
(AMRC 0016)

 

 

 

Shaker Music Publications

 

 

"Give Good Gifts"
Shaker Music in the 20th Century

 

 

 

"The Humble Heart"
A Fifty Year Survey of Shaker Music

 

 

 

"Simple Gifts"
Great American Folk Song

 

To see the list of Shaker music collections
by Roger Hall

click here

 

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