Lectures and Workshops
Are you interested in scheduling an entertaining music program
for your school, college, church, museum or other organization?
For more information, click on this link:
Shaker Music Lectures and Workshops
Recommended Books for Shaker Music Research
A Collection of Millennial Hymns (Canterbury, N.H., 1847) - hardcover reprint, 1975.
Gentle Words: Shaker Music in the 20th Century. By Roger Lee Hall (softcover, 2009) .
The Gift to be Simple: Songs, Dances and Rituals of the American Shakers. By Edward Deming Andrews (hardcover, 1940/ paperback, 1967).
A Guide to Shaker Music -- With Music Supplement. Compiled and annotated by Roger L. Hall
(6th revised edition, 2006). Includes arrangements of Shaker tunes.
Heavenly Visions: Shaker Gifts Drawings and Gift Songs. Edited by France Moran
(hardcover, 2002).
Millennial Praises: A Shaker Hymnal
Edited by Christian Goodwillie and Jane F. Crosthwaite (hardcover, 2009).
Sabbathday Lake Shakers: An Introduction to the Shaker Heritage. By Sister R. Mildred Barker (paperback, 1985).
A Shaker Family Album: Photographs from the Collection of Canterbury Shaker Village. By David R. Starbuck and Scott T. Swank (paperback, 1998).
Shaker Music: A Manifestation of American Folk Culture. By Harold E. Cook (hardcover, 1973).
A Shaker Musical Legacy. By Robert C. Opdahl and Viola Opdahl (paperback, 2004).
The Shaker Spiritual. By Daniel W. Patterson (2nd edition, paperback, 2000).
The Story of 'Simple Gifts.' By Roger L. Hall (1st edition, 2006/2nd revised edition, 2009)
Not Recommended for Shaker Music
Selling Shaker: The Commodification of Shaker Design in the Twentieth Century
by Stephen Bowe and Peter Richmond
This large and weighty volume discusses the "value--art--politics" of Shaker design, yet gives no more than a passing reference to Shaker music in the Twentieth Century. The authors neglect to discuss the "value" of this important aspect of Shaker culture. And what the authors list in the Bibliography is wrong as well.
Under "Television, Video, Music and Radio Material" their listing for the CD collection, Let Zion Move: Music of the Shakers, gives credit to:
"Hall, H., Thompson, D & Phelps, L."
The correct first name should be "Hall, R." (Roger Hall), who edited and wrote the notes for this CD collection. Most of the Shaker recordings were compiled by William Randle, who is not listed at all. "Thompson, D." [Darryl Thompson] only wrote the Preface. "Phelps, L." [Lillian Phelps] was one of the Shakers who narrated on the recordings but the other Shaker sister who was also a narrator, R. Mildred Barker, is not listed. Why not include all these people? Or if limited to a few names, then it should be Roger Hall and William Randle, who were both responsible for this CD collection.
The other important recording by the Sabbathday Lake Shakers, Early Shaker Spirituals, is not even listed in the Bibliography of the book.
While music is not the main focus of this book, the incorrect information or lack of it about these two essential recordings by 20th century Shakers and the lack of discussion of this important aspect of Shaker culture demonstrates the research was lacking in this area of Selling Shaker.
The importance of music in Shaker life remains underappreciated, especially by collectors and writers.
To read more about Early Shaker Spirituals and the Let Zion Move 2 CD set, which includes a 72 page illustrated booklet, go to:
CD Releases
Music Books and Collections
"The Best Choice":
A Sampling of American Communal Hymns
(2006)
This collection was edited and arranged by Roger L. Hall. It contains hymns from these nine American communal groups: The Contented of the God-loving Soul, General Economy, Ephrata Cloister, Harmony Society, United Order, Zoar Separatists, Bishop Hill, The Shakers, and The Hopedale Community.
There is also a Checklist of Selected American Communal Hymnals from 1730 to 1855.
Contents of the collection
Introduction: Singing Utopias - Early American Communal Hymnody
1. The Contented of the God-loving Soul (The Woman in the Wilderness):
"The Best Choice" (ca. 1705) - Johannes Kelpius
2. General Economy (Moravians):
"Hymn for the Spinning Sisters" (1745) -
August G. Spangenberg
3. Ephrata Cloister:
"How Gracious is the Lord" (1747) - Anna Thomen
4. Harmony Society:
"Children of Friendship" (ca. 1820) - Frederick Rapp
5. United Order (Latter Day Saints):
"The Spirit of God" (ca. 1835) -
words by William W. Phelps
6. Zoar Separatists:
"Let Us Your Brethren" (ca. 1840) - words: Gerhard Terstegen/
tune: Solomon Ackerman (arranged by Roger Hall)
7. Bishop Hill:
"O Youth Who Travel On So Far"(1846) - words: Eric Jansson/
tune: V. Schumann (arranged by Roger Hall)
8. The Shakers:
"Come and Welcome" (1846) - David A. Buckingham (arr. Roger Hall)
9. Hopedale Community:
"Farewell, Dear Friends (1849) - words by Adin Ballou/
tunes: New Hingham and Old Hundred (arranged by Roger Hall)
Brief Notes
This music collection is currently OUT-OF-PRINT.
For the Love of Zion:
Thirty Shaker Spirituals
for
Solo Quartet or SATB Chorus
This music collection has many Shaker songs and hymns not available anywhere else. The spirituals have been sensitively arranged for SATB by Jack Bomer, an American musician living in Vienna, Austria.
The accompanying CD performed by the quartet
"Simplicity" is currently unavailable.
These are few examples...
These are the titles in the collection:
1. We Have Found the Promised Savior (Lebanon, NY)
2. Sweet Love (Eastern Shaker song)
3. Good Brethren From the Holy Mount
(Elsa Parson, Enfield, Connecticut, 1843)
4. Here Take This Lovely Flower (Elmira Adams,
Harvard, Massachusetts, 1847)
5. O What Pretty Souls
(Joshua Bennett, Enfield, Connecticut, 1837)
6. The Humble Heart (Eunice Wyeth and Thomas Hammond, Harvard, MA, 1820)
7. O Brethren Ain't You Happy (Clarissa Jacobs, Lebanon, about 1847)
8. Christ's Suffering (Canterbury, New Hampshire, date unknown)
9. My Love is My Mother (South Union, Kentucky, 1821)
10. The Rolling Deep (Polly Lawrence, Sodus, New York, 1826)
11. I Never Did Believe (Betsy Bates, Lebanon, New York, 1829)
12. Lay Me Low (Addah Z. Potter, Lebanon, New York, 1838)
13. I Will Bow and Be Simple (Mary Hazard, Lebanon, New York, 1840s)
14. The Hallelujah Hymn (Polly M. Rupe, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky)
15. I Have a Soul to be Saved or Lost (Enfield, New Hampshire, 1865)
16. Mother's Love is Like an Ocean (Assanath Wilhite, South Union, Kentucky, 1820s)
17. Mother's Mantle (Lebanon, New York, 1821)
18. More Love (Canterbury, New Hampshire, about 1870)
19. Slow Song (Eastern Shaker song)
20. Pretty Love and Union (John Whitbey, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, 1824)
21. Living Souls Let's Be Marching (Tyringham, Massachusetts)
22. I'm On My Way to Zion (unknown community)
23. Love is Little (South Union, Kentucky, 1834)
24. A New Zion (Alfred, Maine, 1837)
25. Virgins Cloth'd in a Clean White Garment (Sabbathday Lake, Maine, 1830s)
26. Low Within the Vale (Paulina Bryant, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, 1850)
27. My Sweet Home in Zion (Otis Sawyer, Sabbathday Lake, Maine)
28. Brilliant Gem (Anna White , Lebanon, 1859)
29. Simple Gifts (Joseph Brackett Jr., Alfred, Maine, 1848)
30. Earnest Petition (unknown community)
To order the For the Love of Zion music collection
with arrangements of 30 Shaker Spirituals,
go to the
Store
NEW Publication!
Gentle Words:
Shaker Music in the 20th Century
Excerpt from the title song lyrics:
Gentle words, kindly spoken,
Often soothe the troubled mind.
While links of love are broken,
By words that are unkind.
This illustrated booklet contains informative historical material about Shaker music and the lyrics for 25 representative Shaker spirituals performed and recorded during the 20th century, including such favorite songs as: "Come Life, Shaker Life" and "Simple Gifts."
It is also a collection of the discoveries made by Roger Lee Hall over the past thirty-five years. The title of "Gentle Words" comes from an eloquent Shaker humility song he discovered in 1974 while collecting research in Ohio.
Part One of the booklet includes a brief history of Shaker music written by a Canterbury Shaker. Also, a conversation from 1972 with two Canterbury Shakers: Eldress Bertha Lindsay and Sister Lillian Phelps. In addition, there is a timeline of important events during the 20th century, including articles in national magazines, like LIFE and TIME.
Part Two contains the words and commentary for the 25 Shaker songs, hymns, and anthems. One of them is a pacifist hymn from the Civil War era,
"A Prayer for the Captive," shown from this manuscript
in Shaker letteral music notation:
This Shaker pacifist hymn is also included in a tribute music collection to
Abraham Lincoln, titled:
Lincoln and Liberty
List of the lyrics for Shaker spirituals in the Gentle Words booklet:
1. Song: Welcome, Welcome Precious Gospel Kindred -- Rosetta Cummings, 1869
2. Dance Song:Come Life, Shaker Life -- Issachar Bates, 1835
3. Anthem: Mount Zion -- Issachar Bates, ca. 1815
4. Ballad Hymn: Rights of Conscience --
Issachar Bates, ca. 1810
5. Hymn: Ode to Contentment -- Richard Pelham & Issachar Bates, 1835
6. Song: While We're Marching -- North Union, Ohio, 1847
7. Dance Song: Simple Gifts -- Joseph Brackett, Jr., 1848
8. Hymn: Come Let Us Chant The Melody Sweet -- Oliver C. Hampton, 1856
9. Dance Song: A Dream -- Harvey L. Eades, 1860
10. Pacifist Hymn: A Prayer For The Captive -- Cecilia DeVere, 1862
11. Anthem: Millennial Praise
-- James G. Russell, 1883
12. Humility Song: Gentle Words
-- Polly M. Rupe, 1867
13. Humility Song: Love is Little -- South Union, Kentucky, 1834
14. Hymn: Celestial Praises -- Canterbury, New Hampshiore, 1841
15.
Hymn: Celestial Choir -- Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1847
16. Humility Song: May I Softly Walk and Wisely Speak
-- New Lebanon, NY, 1869
17. Variations on a Shaker Marching Tune -- composition by Roger Hall, 1984
18.
Song: Living Souls, Let's Be Marching -- Ricardo Belden, recorded 1957
19. Hymn: Progression (Progress)
-- Abraham Perkins
20. O My Sweet Shaker Home -- Bertha Lindsay, recorded 1980
21. I Want To Be Like The Lily -- Bertha Lindsay, 1980
22. O We're a Band of Sisters -- Bertha Lindsay, 1980
23. Give Good Gifts -- Mt. Lebanon, New York
24. The Humble Heart -- Eunice Wyeth & Thomas Hammond, 1820
25.
We Will All Go Home With You -- Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1862
There are many attractive illustrations in color and black & white, including Shaker leaders and sample music manuscripts.
At the back of the booklet is an exclusive interview with composer Aaron Copland (1900-1990) about his arrangements of "Simple Gifts."
Included is a Bibliography and a list of Recordings made by Shaker singers.
Also, there is an accompanying CD with all the music in the booklet and may be purchased separately.
Special Discount!
For a limited time, this booklet and the accompanying CD are available
at a special discount price, if ordered together.
To find out how to order both,
go to the
Store
A Guide to Shaker Music --
With Music Supplement
(6th edition, 2006)
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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:
- Chronology: Evolution of Shaker music
- Shaker tunes and tunesmiths including list of Top Twelve recorded Shaker tunes
- Where to find original Shaker music
- Selected music for voice and instruments
- Shaker tunes vs. folk tunes
- Descriptions of Shaker music and dance
- Where to look for further information
- What music has been recorded on LP and CD
Also included in the Guide is a Music Supplement with 15 Shaker songs and hymns for solo voice and piano or organ; or SAB/SATB chorus; composed and arranged by Roger Hall:
1. Song: Welcome, Welcome -- Rosetta Cummings,
Enfield, NH, 1869
2. Song: We Will All Go Home With You --
Canterbury, NH, 1862
3. Hymn: Holy Habitation -- words: Eunice Wyeth/
music: ca. 1848
4. Hymn: The Humble Heart --
words: Eunice Wyeth/
music: Thomas Hammond, Harvard, MA, ca. 1820
5. Hymn: Voyage to Canaan -- Richard McNemar, Ohio,
ca. 1810
6. Hymn: Celestial Praises -- Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1841
7. Hymn: Christian Love -- poem: Elvah F. Collins, 1881/
music: Roger Hall, 1980
8. Hymn: My Shepherd -- poem: R. Mildred Barker, 1926/
music: Roger Hall, 1984
9. Hymn: A New Year's Prayer -- poem: R. Mildred Barker, 1921/
music: Roger Hall, 1983
10. Hymn: A Prayer -- poem: R. Mildred Barker, 1922/
music: Roger Hall, 1978
11. Song: May I Softly Walk -- Lebanon, New York, ca. 1869
12. Song: Simple Gifts -- Joseph Brackett Jr., Alfred, Maine, 1848
13. A Welcome Song -- Polly M. Rupe, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, 1869
14. Introduction to Zion -- David A. Buckingham,
Watervliet, New York, 1846
15. Introduction to Souls -- Matilda A. Butler, Whitewater, Ohio, 1846
Order A Guide to Shaker Music, which includes
an accompanying CD with
all 15 Shaker spirituals
in the
Music Supplement,
at the
Store
Two CDs and Songbooks
from Sampler Records Ltd.
Joy of Angels:
Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and the New Year
Love is Little:
A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals
THE STORY OF SIMPLE GIFTS:
Joseph Brackett's Shaker Dance Song
(1st edition, 2006/ 2nd revised edition, 2009)
Have you ever wondered where the Shaker song, "Simple Gifts" (aka: "Tis the gift to be simple") originated?
Now you can find out in this book written by Shaker music scholar, Roger Hall, which gives more accurate information about the well known Shaker dance song than you'll find anywhere else.
It describes the evolution of "Simple Gifts" from when it was written in 1848 until the present day.
Among the illustrations are a portrait of Elder Joseph Brackett, who wrote the Shaker dance song; and copies of music manuscripts showing the song in its original Shaker notation.
Also in the book is a rare interview with composer Aaron Copland (1900-1990) about his popular arrangements of "Simple Gifts"; and a letter from Sydney Carter, who based his song "Lord of the Dance" on the Shaker dance song.
Originally published as an e-book on CD-ROM in 2006, this newly updated 2009 printed edition is now available
at the
Store
Articles About Shaker Music
This section has a list of sample articles dealing with Shaker music.
Some of these articles are available through this website.
Write with specific requests to:
Shaker music articles
Journals and Magazines
American Communal Societies Quarterly
Volume 1, No. 3 (July 2007) is an article titled:
"The Shaker Leaf Song: Solving a Perplexing Puzzle" by Roger Hall.
-- to order a copy of this journal issue, write to the editor, Randall L. Ericson, at American Communal Societies Quarterly
Communal Societies
Volume Two (Autumn 1982): "Shaker Music." Daniel W. Patterson.
Journal of Church Music
Volume 17, Number 8 (October 1975)/
also reprinted in The Hymn (January 1976): "Shaker Hymnody: An American Communal Tradition" by Roger L. Hall.
Volume 24, Number 2 (February 1982): "An Interview with Aaron Copland"
by Roger L. Hall.
-- reprints of these articles may be ordered from American Music Preservation
The Shaker Journal (online only)
Vicki Bell: Music of the Angels
Randy Folger: The Pleasant Hill Singers Record a New CD
Roger Hall: Religion in Song - The Craftsmanship of Shaker Music
The Shaker Messenger
A magazine produced by The World of Shaker in Holland, Michigan, but no longer published.
In each issue there was a Shaker song or hymn compiled and edited by Roger Hall.
This was the longest-running series since the Shakers published music in their own publication, The Manifesto in the 19th century.
Between 1981 and 1996, there were 56 Shaker tunes in this Shaker Song Series.
A list of the Shaker tunes in this Shaker Song Series is available by request.
The Shaker Quarterly
A magazine published since 1961 by the Sabbathday Lake Shakers. These are some of the articles mentioning Shaker music:
Volume I, Number 1 (Spring 1961: "The Shakers' Sundry Strange Tunes," by Daniel W. Patterson.
Volume II, Number 2 (Summer 1962): "A Ballad by Elder Issachar Bates," by Daniel W. Patterson.
Volume IV, Number 4 (Winter 1964): "Mother Has Come With Her Beautiful Song," by Sister R. Mildred Barker.
Volume V, Number 1 (Spring 1965): "The Rolling Deep," by Sister R. Mildred Barker.
Volume V, Number 2 (Summer 1965): "My Sweet Home in Zion," by Brother Theodore E. Johnson.
Volume VI, Number 3 (Fall 1966): "The Influence of Inspiration and Discipline upon the Development of the Shaker Spiritual," by Daniel W. Patterson.
Volume VII, Number 2 (Summer 1967): "History of Union Branch, Gorham, Maine." Sister R. Mildred Barker. Biographical information about Elder Joseph Brackett and his song, "Simple Gifts."
Volume VII, Number 2 (Fall 1967): "O Thou God of My Salvation," by Brother Theodore E. Johnson.
Volume X, Number 4 (Winter 1970): "Eldress Mary Ann Gillespie's 'Beautiful Are They Who Stand Upon Zion," by Brother Theodore E. Johnson.
Volume XIV, Number 4 (Winter 1974): "The Shaker Dove," by Daniel W. Patterson.
Volume XVI, Number 3 (Fall 1988): "The 'Simple Gifts' of Elder Joseph Brackett Jr,"
by Wendell Hess.
Volume XVII, Number 4 (Winter 1989): "Implications of Late 19th Century Shaker Music," by Daniel W. Patterson.
Volume XVIII, Number 3 (Fall 1990): "Millennial Praises - Tune Location and Authorial Attributions of the First Shaker Hymnal," by Daniel W. Patterson.
Shakers World
Quarterly magazine from by K.C. and Alanna Parkinson in Manchester, Connecticut, and no longer published. These are the titles from Roger Hall's music column in each issue:
Volume 1, Number 1 (May 1996): "To Edit or Not to Edit?"
Volume 1, Number 2 (August 1996): "What's Your Favorite Shaker Song?"
Volume 1, Number 3 (December 1996): "Singing at Shaker Village Work Camp"
Volume 1, Number 4 (February 19977): "Collecting Shaker Spirituals"
Volume 2, Number 1 (June/July 1997):
"The Simple Gifts of Elder Joseph
and
Sister Mildred"
Sing Out! Magazine
In the Summer 1998 issue (Vol. 43/ No. 1) is an article titled:
"The Simple Gifts of Shaker Music" by Roger Hall
This extensive article includes a history of Shaker music, and included are words and music for two Shaker spirituals:
"Let Zion Move" (Mary Ann Gillespie, Alfred, Maine)
"Ode to Contentment" (Tune: Issachar Bates/ Text: Richard Pelham, North Union,OH)
Along with the article are many illustrations and a list of sources, including CDs.
The Sonneck Society Bulletin for American Music
Volume XVI, Number 3 (Fall 1990): "Aaron Copland's 'Simple Gifts'." Roger L. Hall.
Volume XXIII, Number 3 (Fall 1997): "Joseph Brackett's 'Simple Gifts." Roger L. Hall.
Newspaper Articles
Maine: Gray-New Gloucester Independent , February 15, 2008:
"Joseph Brackett's Simple Gifts" by Roger Hall
Background about the dance song and the Shaker elder who composed it.
Michigan: Detroit Free Press , November 11, 1998:
"150 Years of 'Simple Gifts'" by David Crumm
This article was about the uses of the Shaker song from its original melody in 1848 to an arrangement in a TV commercial for the Oldsmobile Aurora car.
Related Links
American Music Recordings Collection -- recordings of Shaker singing and interviews.
CD and DVD Releases -- original and arranged Shaker tunes.
Communal Studies Association -- links for additional research information.
Joseph Brackett's 'Simple Gifts' -- about the best known Shaker song.
Sabbathday Lake, Maine -- the last remaining active Shaker community.
Shaker Music History -- highlights from 1781 to 2001.
Shaker Music Lectures and Workshops -- programs about Shaker music.
Shaker Music Today -- about the Shakers in New Hampshire and Maine.
Society for Earlier American Music [SEAM] -- recordings which include Shaker music.
Wikipedia -- article about "Simple Gifts."
Please remember to credit this website
When using any of the original information found here
for research papers, books, magazines, CDs, or media programs,
please give credit to
American Music Preservation.com
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