Gentle Words: A Shaker Music Sampler
(AMRC 0016)

 

This CD features original music written by Shaker men and women, with editions and arrangements by music preservationist and composer, Roger Lee Hall. It illustrates the simplicity and joyous spirituality of Shaker music.

Included on this CD are music examples sung by Shaker sisters from field recordings and includes an excerpt from a lengthy interview by Roger with the distinguished classical composer, Aaron Copland, about his arrangements of "Simple Gifts."

Track titles:

1. ++Song: Welcome, Welcome Precious Gospel Kindred --
Rosetta Cummings, Enfield, New Hampshire, 1869

2. Dance Song: Come Life, Shaker Life-- Issachar Bates, New Lebanon, NY, 1835

3. +Anthem: Mount Zion -- Issachar Bates, Ohio, about 1815

4. +Hymn: Rights of Conscience -- Issachar Bates, Ohio, 1810

5. +Hymn: Ode to Contentment -- Issachar Bates, 1833

6. +Song: While We're Marching -- North Union, Ohio, 1847

7. +Dancing Song: Simple Gifts ('Tis the gift to be simple)
--Joseph Brackett, Alfred, Maine, 1848

8. +Hymn: Doxology -- Oliver C. Hampton, Union Village, Ohio, 1850s

9. +Song: A Dream -- Harvey L. Eades, Union Village, Ohio, 1860

10. +Hymn: A Prayer for the Captive -- Cecilia DeVere, New Lebanon, New York, 1862

11. Anthem: Millennial Praise-- James G. Russell, Enfield, NH, 1883

12. ++Humility Song: Gentle Words -- Polly M. Rupe, Pleasant Hill, KY, 1867

13. ++Humility Song: love is little -- South Union, KY, about 1834

14. ++Hymn: Celestial Praises -- Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1841

15. ++Hymn: Celestial Choir -- Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1847

16. ++Song: May I Softly Walk and Wisely Speak -- Mount Lebanon, New York, 1869
recorded live in concert in 1976

17. ++Seven Variations on a Shaker Marching Tune -- for piano, 1984
(composed by Roger Lee Hall) - recorded live at a piano concert in 1986

18. #Interview and Song: +Living Souls, Let's Be Marching --
Brother Ricardo Belden interview with Jerome Count, Shaker Village Work Camp

19. #Hymn: I Must Live Must Have My Being -- sung by Sister Mildred Barker and Sister Frances Carr recorded in 1974 at Shaker Heights, Ohio

20. #Song: O My Sweet Shaker Home --sung by Eldress Bertha Lindsay, 1980

21. #Hymn: I Want To Be Like A Lily -- Eldress Bertha Lindsay, 1980

22. #Commentary on Shaker songs by Eldress Bertha Lindsay, Canterbury, NH, 1980

23. #Skipping Song: O We're A Band of Sisters -- Eldress Bertha Lindsay, 1980

24. Song: Simple Gifts -- vocal arrangement by Aaron Copland, 1950

25. Highlights from an interview with composer Aaron Copland at his home, 1980

26. Song: Give Good Gifts -- Martha Jane Anderson (ca. 1892)

27. ++Hymn: The Humble Heart -- text:: Eunice Wyeth/ tune: Thomas Hammond,
Harvard, Massachusetts, 1822 (arranged by Roger Lee Hall - in memory of Randy Folger)

28. ++Song: We Will All Go Home With You --
Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1862

# No. 18-23 = music and commentary by Shaker singers

Non-Shaker performers:

No. 1, 15: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Choir, North Easton, Massachusetts
Nos. 2-13: Soloists and Plymouth Church Chancel Choir, John D. Herr, Dir.,Shaker Heights, Ohio
No. 14: Shaker Bicentennial Chorus, Cleveland, Ohio
No. 16: Shaker Heights High School Choraleers, Shaker Heights, Ohio
No. 17: David Hagen, pianist, Lexington, Massachusetts
No. 26-8: The Sampler Singers

+ Nos. 3-10 - edited by Roger Lee Hall

++ Nos.1, 12-17, 27-28 - arranged by Roger Lee Hall

CD art design: GMH

 

This CD is an accompanying disc with all the 25 Shaker tunes
mentioned in the book listed below...

 

Revised edition now available
with the accompanying CD!

This popular book
features historical information about Shaker music,
the lyrics to 25 Shaker spirituals on the CD,
and at the back of the book a new Music Supplement
with arrangements by Roger Lee Hall.

Now you can order at a 20% discount!

You can get the book and CD together for
the reduced price of $27.95.

For orders outside of the USA,
write for the cost with Overseas Air Mail -- click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

These two limited edition CDs available separately

 

 

 

 

For any questions -- click here

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