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MUSIC OF THE AMERICAN SHAKERS
Resources and Recordings
This is the longest-running and most accurate website
containing information about music of the
Shakers,
America's oldest surviving communal sect.
But there is much misleading and incorrect information
elsewhere on the web and in some books.
Read the information on this page and follow the links
for more accurate information.
Music History
The Shakers began in the 18th century in the area around Manchester, England
and after arriving in America in 1774
over the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries they produced over 10,000 original texts and tunes.
There are three basic types of Shaker vocal music:
Songs - usually just one verse in two sections and often repeated.
Form = AA + BB
Sample Title: "Simple Gifts" (a dancing song)
Hymns - more than one verse and second section often but not always repeated.
Form = A+BB
Sample Title: "Followers of the Lamb" (a revival hymn with 6 verses) -
Anthems - longer composition mostly in free verse.
Sample Title: "Millennial Praise" (in four-part harmony)
All three of the Shaker titles are included in this music scollection:
Love is Little:
A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals (1992/reprinted, 1996)
The largest collection of audio and video examples of Shaker music
are included on this multimedia collection with research information,
100 audio examples and and 10 video files
To read about this collection click this picture
Evolution of Shaker Music
The earliest Shaker songs in America were composed in the 1780s
and were sung without any words and used syllables when singing.
In the early 1800s,
the Shakers added texts
and wrote hymns and anthems
in the 19th century
and composed music as single line melodies
and in three-part and four-part harmony.
Because of their highly ritualistic nature including the spirited dancing,
their music together should be classified as
"Shaker Spirituals"
Shaker Spirituals
Composed by Women
Some of the earliest religious music in Americawas composed by Shaker women in the 18th and 19th centuries.
You can hear some of their music on the "My Shaker Home" CD
edited and arranged by the Shaker music scholar, Roger Lee Hall
who has studied and performed Shaker music for over 50 years
"Mother Ann's Song" (1783)
is included on this highly praised AMRC CD
titled after the last known Shaker song written in the 20th century
(click the picture to read about this CD)
The Testament of Ann Lee
A new film,
directed by Mona Fastvold
and co-written with Brady Corbet,
This film uses some original Shaker songs
as arranged by Daniel Blumberg
Two of them are from music editions
by Shaker music scholar, Roger Hall
"All Is Summer"
Groveland, NY, ca. 1875in this music collection
"I Hunger And Thirst"
Alfred, Maine, 1837Shaker Music Preservation Series:
https://www.americanmusicpreservation.com/shakermusicseries.htm
You can order sheet music
of either or both original Shaker songs"All Is Summer" and "I Hunger And Thirst"
and with your order you will receive
an audio of each Shaker song.To order one or both songs
the price is $2.00 each title
To order, click the "Add to Cart" below
to pay through Safe and Secure PayPal
Important!
After you have ordered
please indicate which song(s)
you have ordered and sent by email attachmentSend your email address -- here
Two of the Shakers
who were interviewed by Mr. Hall
about their music tradition
© photograph by Gail M. Hall
Sister Bertha Lillian Phelps,
Canterbury, New Hampshire
(1876-1973)
© photograph by Gail M. Hall
Sister Ruth Mildred Barker,
Sabbathday Lake, Maine
(1897-1990)
Sister Lillian Phelps and Sister Mildred Barker
were narrators on the most extensive
recordings about their music
released on a 2-CD set from
Rounder Records,with 72 page booklet written by Roger Hall
Both Sister Lillian and Sister Mildred
are mentioned in this book -- click on this picture
Learn about Shaker music
in this collecdtion
There continues to be confusion on the web
and in some books
about the best known Shaker song
"Simple Gifts" -- also known
by its opening words:
"Tis the gift to be simple"
It was NOT classified as "a hymn"
in Shaker manuscripts
Instead, it was called a "Dancing Song"
or a "Quick Dance Song"
Read about this popular Shaker dance song
and Elder Joseph Brackett who wrote it--
click here
Read the ebook about this Shaker dance song
Be careful what you read on the web!
Here is totally incorrect information
on a website followed by the corrections
- "Simple Gifts": Perhaps the most famous of all Shaker hymns, "Simple Gifts" was composed by Elder Joseph Brackett in the mid-19th century. Its enduring melody and poignant lyrics have made it a beloved anthem of simplicity, humility, and gratitude. The song gained widespread popularity beyond the Shaker community and has been embraced as a cherished American folk tune, performed by numerous artists and ensembles
across different musical genres.
Correction: It was written as a dance song NOT a hymn in 1848.
This popular Shaker dance song has been recorded at a lively dance tempo
on the AMRC CD, Gentle Words
- "Tis the Gift to Be Simple": Another iconic Shaker hymn, "Tis the Gift to Be Simple" is a timeless expression of the Shaker commitment to simplicity and humility. The hymn's lyrics, attributed to Elder Joseph Brackett, convey the profound spiritual wisdom of embracing a life of modesty and contentment. Its enduring message has resonated with audiences worldwide, making it a cherished piece in the repertoire of American folk music.
Correction: That is NOT "another iconic Shaker hymn."
It is the opening line from the same song as No. 1:
"Simple Gifts"
An arrangement of this song on the AMRC CD:
Celestial Praises
- "The Humble Heart": Composed by Elder Issachar Bates, "The Humble Heart" is a poignant Shaker hymn that reflects the Shaker emphasis on humility, sincerity, and inner transformation. The hymn's introspective lyrics and gentle melody convey a sense of spiritual introspection and devotion, inviting listeners to embrace the virtues of humility and inner peace.
Correction: That beautiful Shaker hymn was NOT composed by
Elder Issachar Bates. The words are by Sister Eunice Wyethe and the tune by Brother Thomas Hammond from the Shaker community in Harvard, Massachusetts.
Arrangemernt of the hymn on AMRC CD: Celestial Praises
- "Lay Me Low": This hauntingly beautiful Shaker hymn, attributed to Elder Joseph Brackett, captures the solemnity and reverence of the Shaker worship tradition. Its evocative lyrics and mournful melody convey a sense of spiritual solemnity and contemplation, reflecting the Shaker belief in the transience of earthly life and the eternal peace found in the afterlife.
Correction: Once again this is a single verse song and not a hymn
and was NOT written by Elder Joseph Brackett.
This song has been recorded on the Sampler CD:
Joy of Angels: Shaker Spirituals
for Christmas and The New Year.
- "Love is Little": Composed by Elder Issachar Bates, "Love is Little" is a tender and introspective Shaker hymn that celebrates the virtues of love, compassion, and spiritual devotion. The hymn's gentle melody and heartfelt lyrics express the Shaker belief in the transformative power of love and the importance of cultivating a compassionate heart in the pursuit of spiritual perfection.
Correction: This beautiful single verse humility song
was NOT composed by Elder Issachar Bates.
An arrangement of the song is included on this AMRC CD: Gentle Words
- "Mother Ann's Song": As a tribute to the founder of the Shaker movement, "Mother Ann's Song" is a reverent hymn that honors the spiritual legacy of Mother Ann Lee. Composed by an anonymous Shaker songwriter, the hymn's lyrics pay homage to Mother Ann's teachings and her profound impact on the Shaker community, serving as a timeless testament to her enduring influence.
Correction: This early song was NOT written by "an anonymous Shaker songwriter."
It is atrributed to Mother Ann Lee herself and has been recorded on the AMRC CD: My Shaker Home
All the incorrect Shaker music information is found on Christian.Net -
https://christian.net/arts-and-culture/what-are-shaker-hymns/
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50th anniversary of the historic meeting with distinguished composer, Aaron Copland, and several Shakers
A special Zoom program was presented by Roger Lee Hall in 2024 sponsored
by the Shaker Historical Society and Shaker Heights Public Library in Ohio.
In 1974, a meeting was arranged by Mr. Hall with the composer who first used the Shaker songin his popular ballet score for "Appalachian Spring" in 1944.
At that time, Copland was introduced to several Maine Shakers who were in Shaker Heights, Ohio for a teacher workshop.
Also discussed in the Zoom program was the popular Shaker dance song, "Simple Gifts," by Elder Joseph Brackett
and the arrangements of the song. Also a new song, "Lord of the Dance," by Sydney Carter based on the Shaker tune.
- Read about the Zoom program at this link - 'Tis the gift to be simple - Aaron Copland Meets the Shakers in Shaker Heights
Two books about the popular Shaker song
- 50th anniversary of a Shaker hymn arrangement
In October of 1974, a conference was held at The Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio
to commemorate the bicentennial of the Shakers arrival in America from England in 1774.
For one of the programs, a community chorus performed a selection of Shaker songs and hymns, directed by Roger Hall.
One of the hymns receiving its premiere performance was "Celestial Praises" (shown above in Shaker alphabet music notation).
A choral arrangement of this 1841 hymn is now available on this CD:.jpg)
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2024: The 250th anniversary of the first Shakers arrival in America from England in 1774
They arrived in New York City on August 6, 1774. This important date was celebrated by Shakers in their hymns like this one:
One of the earliest and most important Shaker hymns has words by Elder Richard McNemar and titled simply, "Mother."
It was published in 1813 in the first Shaker hymnbook, Millennial Praises, with 16 verses of text but no music.The tune was composed by Brother Joel Turner.
It was edited by Roger Hall and published in this popular songbook
with accompanying CD, Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals.
Sister Mildred Barker introduced the hymn, "Mother," in 1974 at a Sabbathday Lake, Maine conference
celebrating the bicentennial of the Shakers arrival in America.
Here are two of the sixteen verses of this ballad hymn:At Manchester, in England,
This blessed fire began,
And like a flame in stubble,
From house to house it ran:
A few at first receiv'd it,
And did their lusts forsake;
And soon their inward power
Brought on a mighty shake.To mark their shining passage,
Good angels flew before,
Towards the land of promise,
Columbia's happy shore.
Hail, thou victorious gospel!
Abd that auspicious day,
When Mother safely landed
In Hudson's lovely bay.
If you wish to perform a choral arrangement by Roger Hall of this ballad hymn
with your chorus
write to request a copy -- here
"On the Landing of Mother Ann in America" (1860)
This hymn was edited by Roger Hall and first performed in 1974
by a community chorus during the
Bicentennial Shaker Conference
held at The Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio.
The sheet music and audio of this hymn
is included in this multi-media collection:
New 3rd edition is now available
about the best-known Shaker song:
"Simple Gifts" - Great American Folk Song
Includes "Variations on a Shaker Marching Tune"
- a piano composition by Roger Lee Hall
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A False Identification on the Web
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This picture has been circulating on the Web and claims to be Mother Ann Lee...
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That is FALSE. There are no photographs or prints of Mother Ann Lee (1736-1784).
This picture is of Eldress Anna White (1831-1910) from the Mount Lebanon Shaker Community in New York,
who co-authored the important Shaker history, Shakerism: Its Meaning and Message.Please help correct this error if you notice it on the web or in print.
Hear one of Eldress Anna White's songs, "Brilliant Gem," arranged by Jack Bomer, on this popular AMRC CD:
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Shaker Music CD Collections
"Blended Together":
Interviews with The Shakers
AMRC CD 0007
Interviews with several Shaker women singers in New Hampshire and Maine including some singing.
This CD is useful
for anyone interested in Shakers in the 20th century and American cultural or religious history.
To read about how to order this special audio collection --
click here
"Celestial Praises":
A Celebration of Shaker Spirituals
AMRC CD 0017This CD is titled from the Shaker hymn arranged for chorus
and first sung at the Bicentennial Shaker Conference held in Cleveland in 1974For more information -- click here
"Gentle Words":
A Shaker Music Sampler
AMRC CD 0016Includes a selection of Shaker spirituals
plus music sung by Shaker singers
and highlights from an interview with composer, Aaron CoplandFor more information -- click here
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Shaker Music Research Series
"Give Good Gifts" -
Shaker Music in the 20th Century
"The Humble Heart" -
A Fifty year Survey of Shaker Music
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"Invitation to Zion" -
A Shaker Music Guide
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 has 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 (Eldresses/ Sisters) and men (Elders/ Brothers) wrote words and musicfrom the 18th to 20th centuries and many of them are identified.
It is estimated there have been over 10,000 Shaker texts and tunes written in hundreds of manuscript music books and printed in many hymnals,
Their hymnals were published between 1812 and 1908.A checklist of these hymnals is available on the new multimedia collection,
See the list of books and artciles
about Shaker music -- click this picture
50th anniversary of a Shaker hymn arrangement
It was in 1974 that composer, Roger Lee Hall, arranged his first Shaker hymn, "Celestial Praises,"
from a melody in an 1851 Shaker music collection. The hymn was "given by inspiration, Jan. 10, 1841" in Canterbury, New Hampshire.
His arrangement of this Shaker hymn was first performed at a two day conference in Cleveland, Ohio in October of 1974,
commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Shakers arrival in America from England.
His arrangement of this Shaker hymn is on the CELESTIAL PRAISES 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 hereIt 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 identified as being "Traditional."
But that is not accurate. Roger Hall found that this hymn was actually 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:
Research article:
"Simple Gifts": The Discovery and Popularity of a Shaker Dance Song
by Roger Lee Hall
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 scholarly paper 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
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, Diane Schneider, Kevin Siegfried, Salli Terri, John Williams.
Just the facts, please...
In Chosen Faith, Chosen Land (DownEast Books, 2009),
there is a picture of composer Aaron Copland meeting Sister Mildred Barker:
© Photograph by Gail M. Hall, 1974.
This is the caption with this 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 this 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 actually a meeting of graduate music students from Case Western Reserve University.
No mention was made that this was the only meeting of composer Aaron Copland and the Shakers.
Mr. Hall was not consulted to verify the information for that 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 listed in print.
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:
Shaker Music Preservation Archive
See over 50 Shaker songs and hymns published in The Shaker Messanger magazine
The Summer of a Shaker Song - 1967
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 hereFor 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:
Book, CD and Theater Reviews
Theater Reviews
ANGEL REAPERS (Martha Clarke and Alfred Uhry)
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (Arlene Hutton)
Related Links on this site
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"The Best Choice" - A Sampling of American Communal Hymns (new edition now available!)
Shaker music books and articles
Shaker and Non-Shaker Tunes"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 Help Support The CAMP:
All the information provided here is intended for educational use.
Your support is needed to keep the Shaker music information pages available on this free informational website.You can help support the CAMP website by ordering any of the CDs or the publications listed.
Please remember to credit this website
When using any of the information found on this page
please give credit to Shaker music scholar, Roger Hall
For any questions, write to:
© 1998-2026 by PineTree Productions.
No information or illustrations on this website to be used for publication without prior permission. For permission, contact this email: pinetreepro@aol.com