These days most folks know about the Shakers from their crafts and furniture. Like the functional design of their furniture, their music employed the same care and skill. Shaker tunes were both simple and singable. And their music had a longer history, from the time of the first Shaker leaders in the 1780's to the 20th century. During these centuries, thousands of songs, hymns and anthems were composed and sung by Shaker brethren and sisters. And like their religion, Shaker music has always been a central aspect of their culture.
First Shaker Songs The first known Shaker song with words and music is *"In Yonder Valley," composed by Father James Whittaker in 1787. Like many of the early songs, the tune is not symmetrical and the text is unrhymed. This is a rare example of an early tune with words. Most of the first songs were written for dancing and thus the two sections were usually repeated. Two of these early dances were: "Square Order Shuffle" and "Quick Step Manner." The songs for these dances were sung without words and used syllables such as "lo-lodle-lo-lum." Gradually, there were two major types of music...
Shaker Songs and Hymns Basically, the difference with Shaker songs and hymns are in the repeated sections of the tune and the number of verses of text. The songs usually have both sections [A and B] of the tune repeated, giving a form of AA//BB. Hymns often have only the second section repeated, or A//BB. Even more important are the texts. In their songs, there is only one or two verses. The most famous Shaker song is Elder Joseph Brackett's "Simple Gifts." It has only one verse and refers to dance movements ("to turn, turn will be our delight"). Also, it has two sections and both are repeated. So rather than call it a Shaker hymn, as most writers do, it should be classified instead as a Shaker dance song.
Shaker hymns, on the other hand, have at least two verses. Sometimes they have over a dozen verses. Let's look at three examples of Shaker hymns, which demonstrate their continuing craftsmanship throughout the 19th century.
* - All of the songs and hymns mentioned in this article are found in Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals (songbook, CD and cassette tape), available from Sampler Records Ltd., PO Box 19270, Rochester, NY 14619. E-mail address: SamplerRec@aol.com
Shaker Ballad Hymn
Perhaps the greatest early ballad hymn is the one written about Mother Ann Lee (1736-1784) and her missionary work from England to America. It is titled simply, "Mother." It has 16 very powerful verses, written by the first important hymn writer, Elder Richard McNemar (1770-1839). This hymn was written at Union Village, Ohio, about 1813. It was not uncommon for the text to be written by one Shaker brother or sister, and the tune written by another member. That is the case with "Mother." The text was written in Ohio and the tune was composed by Brother Joel Turner (1772-1855) in New Lebanon, New York. This memorable tune is made up of 16 measures, divided into two 8 measure sections. That same symmetrical music pattern, using two 8 measure sections, was employed for many decades by Shaker composers. Just like the furniture, if it worked for them, they continued to use it. This was especially true during the peak years, known as the Millennial or Revival Period, from the 1830's to 1850's. After that time, Shaker hymns began to express more of the world around them.
Shaker Civil War Hymn
Since the Shakers were pacifists, they did not serve in the Civil War. But they did voice their concern for the tragedy of war. One of the most poignant examples was "A Prayer for the Captive." This hymn was received in a dream by Sister Cecilia DeVere (1836-1912). She reportedly sang it through three times in her sleep and it was copied down by one of the other sisters. Here is the first verse of this pacifist hymn:
"Dark is the cloud that rests over the nation,
Wild is the war cry that pierces the air.
God's heavy judgments spread wide desolation,
Strong hearts are bound in the depths of despair."
In Shakerism: Its Meaning and Message, it is reported that this hymn was sung in every Shaker community, "without any previous arrangement or understanding, on the occasion of President Lincoln's funeral." Then about 1870, a change took place in Shaker music.
Shaker Gospel Hymn
Many Shaker scholars have failed to recognize the large amount of songs and hymns composed after 1870. At this time, there was a conscious return to more traditional kinds of songs and hymns, many of them in four part harmony. The texts became more sentimental, like their poetry. But they still maintained the same attention to quality and their hymnals reflect that aspect. I have compiled a checklist of printed Shaker hymnals from 1813 to 1908. Of these 18 hymnals, 11 of them were printed after 1870. This is what is called the Gospel or Victorian Period. One example from this period is "Prayer Universal," composed at Canterbury, New Hampshire during the 1890's. It was printed in the last Shaker hymnal from Canterbury in 1908. This is one of the hymns sung by the Shakers in 1960, when the most extensive recordings were produced by Cleveland disc jockey, Bill Randle. The organist for the recording was Sister Lillian Phelps (1876-1973), who I had the pleasure of interviewing just before her death. She said that "Prayer Universal" was a hymn that speaks to everyone. Here is the end of the first verse:
"O pray for the fathers, the sisters, and brothers,
O pray for the whole household,
O pray for the mothers, remember all others;
O pray for the whole, whole world."
This marvelous hymn and 39 other Shaker tunes will be featured later this year on a 2-CD set, titled Let Zion Move, released by Rounder Records. It will also include rare interviews made between 1960 and 1980 with three departed Shaker sisters, speaking about the importance of their music heritage.
So when listening to Shaker music, remember that it has lived for over two centuries and still survives today in the last Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake, Maine. The skill used in making furniture and crafts has been called "religion in wood." Shaker craftsmanship can be found in everything they made, from the smallest oval box to the largest chest. The same holds true for their music, from the shortest melody to the longest hymn or anthem. Like the famous Shaker motto, "Hands to Work, Hearts to God," it can be expressed in their songs as well, as in this one from 1869:
"Put thy hands to work and thy heart to God,
And thy soul shall be protected,
And nothing shall be withheld from thee
That would make thee a vessel perfected."
So, obviously their music expresses their faith. To put it more simply, Shaker music is truly - "religion in song." Note: For further information about Shaker music, check out - The Music Buffs Web Pages (American Shaker Music)
SHAKER MUSIC ACTIVITIES By Roger Hall, Musicologist and Composer
Arranger -
Two Western Shaker Humility Songs [published by Music 70]:
"Gentle Words" (M70-439) - Polly Rupe, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, 1867.
"Love is Little" (M70-440) - South Union, KY, 1834.
Composer -
"Piano Variations on a Shaker Marching Tune," Op. 1, No. 2, Published by BKJ Publications, 1984.
"A Prayer" - In memory of Sister Mildred Barker, 1897-1990 Published in The Shaker Messenger magazine, Vol. 12/ No. 2 (1990) Reprinted in Love is Little (songbook), 1992/2nd edition, 1996
Consultant -
Music consultant for Elmira and Berkshire College Shaker Seminars.
LP album/audio tape: "Harp of Joy". Musical Heritage Society, 1979.
CD, tape and songbook: "Love is Little - A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals." Sampler Records Ltd. No. 9222, 1992.
CD, tape, songbook: "Joy of Angels - Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and the New Year." Sampler Records Ltd. No. 9528, 1995.
CD: "Simple Gifts - Shaker Chants and Spirituals." Erato Records,1995.
CD: "Verdant Groves - A musical journey through Four New England
Shaker Villages." Community Music School, Santa Clara, CA, 1998.
Editor -
Songbook: "A Western Shaker Music Sampler." Cleveland, Ohio: The Western Reserve Historical Society, 1976. 12 Shaker spirituals.
"Shaker Song Series" - regular column in The Shaker Messenger magazine between 1981 and 1996. 56 Shaker tunes transcribed and edited.
Songbook: "The Happy Journey." Fruitlands Museums, 1982. 35 spirituals.
Songbook: "Love is Little - A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals." 36 spirituals,1st edition: Holland, Michigan, The World of Shaker, 1992; 2nd edition: Rochester, New York, Sampler Records, 1996.
Lecturer - [A few of the over 100 lectures presented since 1973]
"Songs and Dances of the Shakers" - Cleveland, Ohio (first lecture,1973).
"Isaac N. Youngs: The Ingenuity of a Shaker Craftsman" - Museum of American Folk Art Shaker Seminar, New York City (1979).
Research -
Illustrated Booklet: "Joseph Brackett's 'Simple Gifts': Evolution of a Shaker Dance Song." Stoughton, MA: PineTree Press, 1997.
Reference Book: "A Guide to Shaker Music - With Music Supplement." Stoughton, MA: PineTree Press, 1996. 2nd revised edition, 1997.
For more information, send E-mail to: MusBuff@aol.com