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"Gentle Words"
A Shaker Song Discovery
Words to the Shaker song:
What the dew is to the flower,
Gente words are to the soul,
And a blessing to the giver,
And so dear to the receiver
We should never withhold.
Gentle words, kindly spoken,
Often soothe the troubled mind,
While links of love are broken
By words that are unkind.
Then O, thou gentle spirit,
My constant Guardian be,
"Do to others," be my motto,
"As I'd have them do to me."
Back in 1974, while collecting research in Ohio for my first music collection, I discovered the beautiful song, "Gentle Words," in a manuscript music volume in Shaker letteral music notation (using letters of the alphabet instead of notes). I was immediately impressed with the song's poetic beauty, including the last two lines which are a paraphrase of the Golden Rule, as well as the lovely tune.
This song had been collected by Alma McGill Stoll (1855-1940), who lived with the Shakers from 1858 to 1877.Her manuscript book was titled:
"A Collection of Songs, Hymns and Anthems, Selected and Written by Alma McGill, North Union, Ohio, April 21st 1872."The North Union Shaker community was disbanded in 1889 and eventually became part of what is today the city of Shaker Heights, Ohio.
Alma McGill left the Shakers and married a man who had also lived with the North Union Shakers, Joseph Stoll (1857-1935).
In her music book it contains music from these Shaker communities:
North Union, Ohio
Pleasant Hill, Kentucky
Canterbury, New Hampshire
Union Village, Ohio
Alfed, Maine
Groveland, New York
New Lebanon, New York
White Water, Ohio
Enfield, New Hampshire
New Gloucester (today - Sabbathday Lake), Maine"Gentle Words" is credited to "PMR P. Hill" which was Sister Polly M. Rupe from Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. This Shaker humility song was composed about 1867, just after the end of the Civil War. It was written perhaps as a reaction to the horrors of that bloody conflict, similar to the pacifist Shaker hymn, "A Prayer For The Captive."
My edited version of "Gentle Words," along with another song found in Alma McGill's music book, "Slow March" by Ephraim Frost, was published in my first music collection, A Western Shaker Music Sampler (Cleveland, Ohio: Western Reserve Historical Society, 1976). This was the first published edition of "Gentle Words."
I performed the song with several other singers at a Friends of the Shakers meeting at Sabbathday Lake, Maine in 1976. After that program, I was surprised but very pleased when Sister Mildred Barker told me she remembered that song from her youth when she lived at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine. Sister Marie Burgess was so moved by the words that she recited them in Sunday worship the next day at Sabbathday Lake.
I also arranged "Gentle Words" for SATB chorus in 1976 and it was recorded by the Plymouth Church Choir of Shaker Heights, Ohio and is included on the Gentle Words CD.
Years later, I found a slightly different version of "Gentle Words" in a Canterbury, New Hampshire Shaker music manuscript and my edition was published in The Shaker Messenger magazine. This edited version was included in the Love is Little songbook and CD by Sampler Records Ltd.
Since that time, this humility song has been recorded by the Enfield Shaker Singers, directed by Mary Ann Haagen, and by Randy Folger, former music interpreter at the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. Also, it has been recorded on a popular CD performed by The Tudor Choir. It was my edition of "Gentle Words,""Almighty Savior" and a few other Shaker tunes that were used as source material by Kevin Siegfried for his arrangements on the Tudor Choir CD.
Since I first discovered it back in 1974, "Gentle Words" has become a meaningful song to those who feel the impact of its message, and it joins a few other Shaker songs that continue to grow in popularity.
Now 35 years later, I'm pleased to have the opportunity to include my arrangement of "Gentle Words" on the CD with that song title.
--- Roger Lee Hall, May 2009
Track titles for the CD, Gentle Words: A Shaker Music Sampler
1. +Song: Welcome, Welcome Precious Gospel Kindred --
Rosetta Cummings, Enfield, New Hampshire, 1869 (arr. by Roger Lee Hall)
2. Dance Song: Come Life, Shaker Life-- Issachar Bates,
New Lebanon, NY, 1835
3. +Anthem: Mount Zion -- Issachar Bates, Ohio ca. 1815
4. +Hymn: Rights of Conscience -- Issachar Bates, Ohio, ca. 1810
5. +Hymn: Ode to Contentment -- Issachar Bates, 1833
6. +Song: While We're Marching -- North Union, Ohio, 1847
7. +Dance Song: Simple Gifts -- Joseph Brackett Jr., Alfred, Maine, 1848
(ed. Roger Hall)
8. +Hymn: Doxology -- Oliver C. Hampton, Union Village, Ohio, 1850s
9. +Song: A Dream -- Harvey L. Eades, Union Village, Ohio, 1860
10. +Pacifist 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, 1867 (arr. Roger Lee Hall)
13. +Humility Song: Love is Little -- South Union, Kentucky, 1834
(arranged by Roger Lee Hall)
14. +Hymn: Celestial Praises -- Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1841
(arranged by Roger Lee Hall)
15. +Hymn: Celestial Choir-- Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1847
(arranged by Roger Lee Hall)
16. +Song: May I Softly Walk -- Lebanon, New York, 1869
17. +Piano Variations on a Shaker Marching Tune -- composed by Roger Lee Hall
18. Interview and Song: +Living Souls, Let's Be Marching --
Brother Ricardo Belden (recorded in 1957)
19. +Hymn: I Must Live Must Have My Being -- R. Mildred Barker, 1974
20. +Song: O My Sweet Shaker Home -- Bertha Lindsay, 1980
21. +Hymn: I Want To Be Like The Lily -- Bertha Lindsay (recorded in 1980)
22. Commentary on Shaker songs by Bertha Lindsay (recorded in 1980)
23. +Skipping Song: O We're A Band of Sisters --Bertha Lindsay,
Canterbury, New Hampshire (recorded in 1980)
24. Song: Simple Gifts (arranged by Aaron Copland)
25. Interview with composer Aaron Copland in 1980
26. +Song: Give Good Gifts -- The Sampler Singers, 2002
27. +Hymn: The Humble Heart -- text: Eunice Wyeth/ tune: Thomas Hammond, Harvard, Massachusetts (arranged by Roger Lee Hall)
28. +Song: We Will All Go Home With You -- Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1862 - arranged by Roger Lee Hall+ = Premiere Recording = 24 titles
Order the CD, Gentle Words - A Shaker Music Sampler
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Accompanying Lyrics Book
This informative book contains the lyrics and sources for all 25 Shaker songs, hymns and anthems on the CD. These Shaker spirituals originated in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Kentucky. The book also includes a great deal of historical information and a rare interview with two past Canterbury Shaker sisters.
This beautifully illustrated collection by Shaker scholar Roger Lee Hall contains informative historical material about Shaker music during the 20th century, with lyrics of 25 representative Shaker spirituals, including such favorites as: "Come Life, Shaker Life" and "Simple Gifts."
The book is dedicated "In Loving Memory of Sister R. Mildred Barker."
Among its treasures are many of the discoveries made by Roger over the past thirty-five years in his travels along the Shaker music trail.
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 little known facts and unique illustrations, such as the Canterbury Shaker Orchestra and a concert program from 1932.
Part Two contains the words and commentary for the 25 Shaker songs, hymns, and anthems all sung during the 20th century and available on the accompanying music files.
One of them is a pacifist hymn from the Civil War era, shown here in Shaker letteral music notation:
There are many attractive illustrations in color and black & white, including Shaker church leaders and sample music manuscripts.
At the back is an exclusive interview with composer Aaron Copland (1900-1990) about his arrangements of "Simple Gifts."
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including the music album with Shaker spirituals
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