Selection of Books for Shaker Music Research
A Collection of Millennial Hymns (Canterbury, N.H., 1847) - hardcover reprint, 1975.
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. By Roger L. Hall (spiral bound book, 6th edition, 2006).
Heavenly Visions: Shaker Gifts Drawings and Gift Songs. Edited by France Moran (hardcover, 2002).
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).
A Shaker Hymnal: A Facsimile Edition of the 1908 Hymnal of the Canterbury Shakers (paperback, 1996).
Shaker Music: A Manifestation of American Folk Culture. By Harold E. Cook (hardcover, 1973).
A Shaker Musical Legacy. By Robert Opdahl and Viola Opdahl (paperback, 2004).
The Shaker Spiritual. By Daniel W. Patterson (2nd edition, paperback, 2000).
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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 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] 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 the Let Zion Move collection, which includes an illustrated 72 page booklet discussing Shaker music, go to: CD Releases
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Music Collections
"The Best Choice" - A Sampling of American Communal Hymns (2nd ed, 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
To order this collection, write to:
American Communal Hymns
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:
- A chronology of Shaker music from 1774 to 1999
- 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 tunes 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, 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: R. Mildred Barker, 1921/
music: Roger 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, Watervlit, New York, 1846
15. Introduction to Souls - Mathilda Butler, Whitewater, Ohio, 1846
+ = among the most often recorded Shaker tunes.
Order A Guide to Shaker Music which includes an accompanying CD with
all 15 Shaker spirituals at the
AMP Store
How Happy Are They -- Twelve Shaker Spirituals (2007)
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,KY
5. 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, 1860
11. Hymn: Doxology -- Oliver C. Hampton,
Union Village, 1856
12. My Dear Companions Let's Move On --
Union Village, 1850s
To order your copy of How Happy Are They, go to the
AMP Store
The Story of SIMPLE GIFTS :
Joseph Brackett's
Shaker Dance Song
By Roger L. Hall
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 illustrated e-book which gives more accurate information about the well known Shaker dance song than you'll find anywhere else.
This e-book gives the evolution of "Simple Gifts" from the timje 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 manuscript pages showing the song in its original Shaker notation.
To accompany the e-book, there are audio files including rare interviews with Sister Mildred Barker (1897-1990) at Sabbathday Lake; and composer Aaron Copland (1900-1990) about his popular arrangements of "Simple Gifts." A list of the music on the e-book CD-ROM is available at Shaker Music.
Order your copy of the eBook: The Story of SIMPLE GIFTS on CD-ROM. It includes 25 music files with the eBook. Order this eBook at the
AMP Store
An abridged version of The Story of Simple Gifts is available as a printed book without the music files. To inquire about ordering it, write to:
Elder Joseph Brackett: Shaker Songwriter
You can get a copy a rare First Edition monograph about the "Simple Gifts" song at:
Amazon.com
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Articles About Shaker Music
Journal of Church Music
In the October 1975 issue/
also reprinted in The Hymn (January 1976):
"Shaker Hymnody: An American Communal Tradition" by Roger Hall
-- a reprint of this article may be ordered from American Music Preservation
The Shaker Journal
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 published by Diana and Paul Van Kolken in Holland, Michigan.
"Shaker Song Series" -- 56 Shaker tunes compiled and edited by Roger Hall between 1981 and 1996. Also reviews and other news items. A list of the Shaker tunes is available by request.
Shakers World
Quarterly magazine published by K.C. and Alanna Parkinson in Manchester, Connecticut. "Shaker Music Notes" -- a column by Roger Hall in these issues:
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 article includes a history of Shaker music.
Also included are words and music of two Shaker spirituals: "Let Zion Move" (Mary Ann Gillespie, Alfred, Maine) and "Ode to Contentment" (Tune: Issachar Bates/ Text: Richard Pelham, North Union, Ohio). Along with the article are many illustrations and a list of music sources, including CDs.
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 religious leader who wrote 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 to an arrangement in a TV commercial for the Olsmobile Aurora car.
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Related Links
American Music Recordings Collection -- recordings of Shaker singing and interviews.
American Shaker Music -- affialiated site with more information about the music.
CD Releases -- selected list of 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 & dance.
Shaker Music Today -- about the Shakers in New England.
Society for Earlier American Music -- recordings which include Shaker music.
Tune Talk -- Joseph Brackett's "Simple Gifts" and Sydney Carter's "Lord of the Dance."
Wikipedia -- article about "Simple Gifts."
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