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Shaker Music News
Music Anniversary
From a Shaker music manuscript
(Courtesy: Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio)
One of the most popular Shaker songs has been "Come Life, Shaker Life", a dance song composed by Elder Issachar Bates in 1835, the same year that "Amazing Grace" (or NEW BRITAIN) was published in The Southern Harmony.
This year marks the 175th anniversary of "Come Life, Shaker Life." Several other songs, hymns and anthems by Elder Issachar Bates (the first prominent Shaker tunesmith) have been recorded, including the ballad hymn, Rights of Conscience, and the powerful anthem, Mount Zion; all available on the CD, Gentle Words.
Lecture - Recital
On Saturday, August 15, 2009, Roger Lee Hall was keynote speaker in the Scott Swank Lecture Series at the Canterbury Shaker Village museum.
He played a few of the songs from his new publication, Gentle Words: Shaker Music in the 20th Century , and rare field recordings of Canterbury Shaker singers from the accompanying CD.
He also sang what is believed to be the last Canterbury Shaker song, "My Shaker Home," written in 1959 by Sister Lillian Phelps. It was performed for the FIRST TIME in a public program at the Canterbury Shaker Village lecture-recital.
New Publication and CD
Available now is an illustrated booklet which includes a history of their music written by a Shaker sister, an interview with two Canterbury Shakers, and the lyrics to 25 representative Shaker songs, hymns and anthems, including the best known Shaker song, "Simple Gifts."
Read more at
Also available is the accompanying CD, Gentle Words: A Shaker Music Sampler, with the 25 Shaker spirituals, including several versions of "Simple Gifts." To read more, go to:
Now Available in a Printed Edition
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Originally published as an e-book in 2006, this title has now been updated and is available in limited quantities as a printed booklet with the complete words and music for this famous Shaker song. To read more about it, go to
Joseph Brackett's Simple Gifts
New music for the New U.S. President
A new piece by film composer John Williams, titled, "Air and Simple Gifts," was premiered during the Inauguration Day ceremonies for U.S. President Barack Obama on 20 January 2009. Read about the Shaker tune which John Williams used and also about the Shaker elder who wrote the tune at:
Joseph Brackett's "Simple Gifts"
A Memorial Hymn For U.S. President Abraham Lincoln
One of the most unusual Shaker hymns from the Civil War era was received in a dream in 1862 by Sister Cecilia DeVere at New Lebanon, New York and one of her Shaker sisters woke up and copied it down whicle she was still sleeping. Sister Cecilia's hymn is titled, "A Prayer for the Captive" (also titled: "Supplication in a Nation's Calamity") and it was reportedly sung in all Shaker communities on the day of President Abraham Lincoln's funeral.
The first recording of this important Shaker hymn is available on a CD titled:
Lincoln and Liberty: Music from Abraham Lincoln's Era
It is also available on the CD:
Gentle Words: A Shaker Music Sampler
Shaker Music Broadsides
See the latest attractive and colorful art works available on heavy cover stock in the
Latest Releases
Read about the latest Shaker music items available at this link:
Shaker Music History
The pages tracing the evolution of Shaker music from 1781 to 2001 have been updated with additional information. To read the description, go to:
New e-book available
An illustrated e-book, written by Roger Hall, about the most famous Shaker song, known also by its first line: "'Tis the gift to be simple."
The e-book title is:
The Story of 'SIMPLE GIFTS' - Joseph Brackett's Shaker Dance Song
This e-book is available on CD-ROM and is the most extensive account ever offered about the background on the song and its composer, Elder Joseph Brackett.
It includes words and music for two of Elder Joseph Bracketts's best known songs: "Simple Gifts" and "The True Vine."
You can read this on any computer with Microsoft Word or compatible software and print out any of the pages.
Here is the list of contents:
Preface
Introduction: A World of "Simple Gifts"
Part One: 18th Century
1. From England to America
2. Early Song Types
Part Two: 19th Century
3. The Dance Song
4. The Gift Song
5. Biography of Elder Joseph Brackett
6. "Simple Gifts" and "The True Vine"
Part Three: 20th Century
7. Timeline and Arrangements
8. An Interview with Aaron Copland
9. Aaron Copland's "Simple Gifts"
10. Sydney's Carter's "Lord of the Dance"
Bibliography
Recordings
About the Author
The e-book has many illustrations, including original Shaker music manuscripts, a photograph of the historic occasion when composer Aaron Copland met Sister Mildred Barker, and a photograph of Sydney Carter, with his autographed score.
To find out more about this informative e-book with audio files, click on this link:
Elder Joseph Brackett Day
Look in the 2007 issue of Chase's Calendar of Events , under May 6 for this item:
"Day honoring the Shaker religious leader, born May 6, 1797, in Cumberland, ME. In 1848, he composed the popular Shaker song, 'Simple Gifts,' (also known as 'Tis the Gift To Be Simple'), while at the Shaker Community in Alfred, ME. This Shaker dance song became known worldwide after Aaron Copland used it in his score for the ballet 'Appalachian Spring' in 1944. Elder Joseph Brackett died at New Gloucester, ME, July 4, 1882."
See also this entry in Wikipedia about
In Celebration of Ann Lee's Birthday
Her life is vividly told in Richard McNemar's great ballad hymn, "Mother" (aka: "At Manchester in England") -- available on two different CDs: Love is Little and Simple Gifts ).
Mother Ann made extensive missionary travels throughout New England. In one Massachusetts town she and other Shaker leaders were punished severely and beaten for their beliefs. And yet she triumphed over it all through her charismatic zeal and her inspired singing.
Years later, the Shakers celebrated her birth in song.
For example, the millennial hymn which begins:
All hail the great Millennium!
Which thousands long'd to see;
Which ancients prophesi'd would come,
A Glorious Liberty!
The light of truth rolls brightly on
as doth the Orb of day;
Behold! the new Jerusalem,
The new and living way.
This is the first stanza of "Reflections on Mother Ann's Birthday."
It was written in 1840 by Brother David A. Buckingham from the Shaker community at Watervliet, New York.
The hymn was written in tribute to Mother Ann Lee.
She was born on Toad Lane in Manchester England on February 29, 1736.
In 1774, she emigrated to America with a few of her followers and eventually settled in a place known as Niskayuna, near Albany, New York. After suffering extreme persecution on her missionary journey throughout New England, she died at the age of only 48 at Watervliet, New York in 1784.
Mother Ann was said to be a good singer. Numerous songs and hymns were written in praise of her by later Shakers.
"Reflections on Mother Ann's Birthday" has six stanzas and this hymn was first printed in a modern edition by Roger Hall in 1986, published in The Shaker Messenger magazine.
Brother David's hymn has been recorded on the CD, Verdant Groves, in an arrangement by Shelley Phillips and sung beautifully by Debra Spencer.
Here is the sixth and last stanza which speaks directly about Mother Ann:
While we enjoy this day of grace,
How can we but adore
Our blessed Mother - and embrace,
And love her evermore!
O may her blessings still abound;
O may we holy be;
May we in righteousness be found,
In low humility.
"Reflections on Mother Ann's Birthday" is available in a simple two-part arrangement by Roger Hall.
Other Shaker spirituals about Mother Ann are available on these two CDs:
Joy of Angels: Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and the New Year
Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals
For more information about these CDs and the accompanying songbooks, go to:
Shaker Music Scholar Named to Who's Who Directory
Roger Hall, one of the world's leading authorities on Shaker music, has received the high honor of being listed in this directory:
Who's Who in the World
He is a music preservationist, composer, and singer who has researched, arranged and performed Shaker music for over thirty-five years.
His popular reference book, A Guide to Shaker Music, is the only one of its kind.
In addition to that book and many articles, he has served as singer and consultant for two Sampler CDs:
Joy of Angels: Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and the New Year - The Sampler Chorus (38 spirituals)
Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals - The Sampler Chorus (36 spirituals)
Also, he edited a 2 CD set featuring music and commentary by the Shakers from Canterbury, New Hampshire and Sabbathday Lake, Maine:
Let Zion Move: Music of the Shakers (40 Shaker spirituals)
In 2004, he produced a CD of his own music which includes arrangements of six Shaker tunes and is titled:
For a list of his music is available at this link:
To read more about his background, go to:
Aaron Copland Meets The Shakers
American Music Recordings Archive -- recordings of Shaker singing and interviews.
CD and DVD Releases -- 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 in Our Time -- about the Shakers in New Hampshire and Maine.
Wikipedia -- article about "Simple Gifts."
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