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American Shaker Music
CD Reviews and Recordings
| Contents |
- Historical Record Set: Let Zion Move: Music of the Shakers
- Recommended Recordings
- Recordings Not Recommended
Read more about Shaker music at this website:
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Let Zion Move: Music of the Shakers (Rounder Select 0471 - 0472)
The most extensive recordings of contemporary Shakers ever commercially released!
Rounder Records has produced a landmark 2 CD collection of Shaker spirituals.
Here are what a few reviewers wrote about this Rounder release:
| "wonderful collection of vocal
and instrumental hymns...its merit lies in the investigation of one of the
most fascinating utopian societies in American history."
-- T. Druckenmiller, Sing Out! Magazine, Vol. 44, No. 3 (Spring 2000) |
| "This beautifully packaged two-CD set consists
of excerpts from a 10-record set which came out in 1961...The accompanying
booklet contains a wealth of pertinent historical information, photos,
reproductions of early Shaker notation, and lyrics...the documentary importance
of this material would be hard to overestimate."
-- D. Baker, Dirty Linen Magazine, #88 (June/July 2000)
|
The cover has details from a beautiful Shaker gift drawing [Note: this drawing is incorrectly identified in the CD booklet as being from Frutilands Museums, Harvard, MA. This gift drawing is in the collection of The Shaker Museum, Old Chatham, NY.]
The recordings include Shaker music and rare interviews with Shaker sisters made between 1960 and 1980.
Most of the recordings were made in 1960 by Bill Randle, the Cleveland disc jockey who first introduced Elvis Presley on national TV [see Elvis On Record: The Early Years].
Later interviews were done in 1972 and 1980 by Shaker music scholar, Roger Hall.
The first CD has 33 Shaker songs and hymns, including some piano-organ duets.
On the second CD are:
- An extensive history of Shaker music narrated by two Shaker sisters
- 7 additional Shaker spirituals
- Interviews with three important Shaker sisters: Eldress Bertha Lindsay (1897-1990); Sister Lillian Phelps (1876-1973); and Sister Mildred Barker (1897-1990)
The 72 page CD booklet, edited with extensive notes by Roger Hall, has the words to all 40 spirituals, many historical photographs of the Shakers and their original music, an extensive bibliography & discography, plus other useful information.
Almost all of the music is available for the FIRST TIME on any commercial CDs.
Complete List of Tracks for Let Zion Move: Music of the Shakers
* = duplicate title (vocal version sung by the Shaker singers)
DISC ONE
Commentary by Sister Mildred Barker and Sister Lillian Phelps
Instrumental duets: Sister Lillian Phelps, pipe organ; Sister Ada Elam, piano
Group I: Five songs and hymns from Maine
1. Let Zion Move (Eldress Mary Ann Gillespie)
2. Redeeming Love (Eldress Mary Ann Gillespie)
3. Let My Name Be Recorded (Eldress Mary Ann Gillespie)
4. Arise and Sing
5. I See the Light Before Me (Eldress Mary Ann Gillespie)
Group II: Two songs from New Hampshire
6. Just Enough Cross By The Way
7. Lion-hearted, Brave and True
Group III: Two songs from New York
8. I Will Bless Thee O Zion!
9. Out of the Shadows
Group IV: Five duets for piano and organ
10. Stewardship
11. Press On
12. Silver Lining
13. The Hymn Eternal
14. Cup of Blessing
Group V: Three gospel hymns from New Hampshire and Maine
*Cup of Blessing (Eldress Dorothea Cochran)
15. Tempest-Tossed (pipe organ solo)
16. Consolation (Eldress Mary Ann Gillespie) - soloist: Charles Thompson
Group VI: Three gospel hymns from New Hampshire, New York and Ohio
17. Blessedness of Love
*My Cross (Sister Mary McCoy)
18. Star of Purity (words: Sister Susanna M. Brady/ music: Brother Ezra T. Leggett)
Group VII: Four Canterbury hymns
19. O Tarry Not (Sister Lillian Phelps)
20. My Saviour (Sister Ascenath Stickney)
21. Committal (pipe organ)
*The Hymn Eternal
Group VIII: Three piano and organ duets
22. My Cross
23. Christ of the Ages
24. Abiding Care
Group IX: Three songs from Maine
25. My Dear Companions, Let's Move On
26. 'Tis a Kind Word (Sister Sarah Fletcher)
27. Lead Me On to Greater Victory (Elder Otis Sawyer)
Group X: Two songs from New York
28. I Know That Christ My Saviour Lives
29. Blessed Saviour
Group XI: Two songs of the spirit
30. Praised Be the God of My Salvation
31. Just to Be Holy in Spirit (Sister S. Evelyn Polsey)
Group XII: Prayer song and hymn
32. Prayer is Sweet
33. Prayer Universal
DISC TWO
Group I: History of Shaker Music (Sister Mildred Barker and Sister Lillian Phelps)
34. May I Softly Walk - sung by Charles Thompson
*Abiding Care (Eldress Dorothy Ann Durgin)
35. Rejoice (pipe organ solo)
Group II: Interview with Sister Mildred Barker (1960)
Group III: Interviews with Sister Lillian Phelps and Eldress Bertha Lindsay (1972)
36. Let Mine Be the Heart [Hand] (Lillian Phelps)
37. Mother Says, O Rise Be Glad - sung by Eldress Bertha Lindsay
38. I Will Go On My Way - sung by Eldress Bertha Lindsay
Group IV. Interview with Sister Mildred Barker (1980)
39. On Zion's Holy Ground - sung by Sister Mildred Barker
40. Precious Gospel Kindred (Eldress Mary Ann Gillespie) - sung by Sister Mildred Barker &
Let Zion Move (reprise)
You can order directly from
American Music Preservation.com
Or from Amazon.com at
Let Zion Move: Music of the Shakers (Rounder Select 0471/72)
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CD Reviews
"...early Shaker music is still vigorously alive in the Maine community, and also it is one of the very richest veins in all of American musical and cultural history."
--The Boston Camerata Newsletter, Winter 1995
To read about the two Camerata CDs of Shaker music ( Simple Gifts and The Golden Harvest ), see reviews below.
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Recommended Recordings
Listed in alphabetical order
Carols
from the Old & New Worlds, Volume
II
Harmonia Mundi CD HMU 907233, 1998.
Total Time = 63:00
The Pro Arte Singers and Indiana University Children's Chamber Chorus, Paul Hillier, director.
This fine collection of 22 English and American carols from the medieval era to the 20th century has 5 Shaker spirituals, all taken from the Sampler collection, Joy of Angels: Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and the New Year.
The opening selection, "This is Jesus Birthday" (transcription by Randy Folger), is arranged as a lively round, perhaps a bit too fast, but it's certainly energetic.
The next selection, "Give good gifts to one another," is a lovely Shaker gospel song and is very sensitively performed.
The third Shaker spiritual is the long revival hymn, "Hail the memorable morn" (transcription by Randy Folger), attributed to "Elders Bates and McNemar." That's a bit confusing, since only Elder Issachar Bates wrote the tune. Elder Richard McNemar wrote the text.
Following that selection is Sister Martha J. Anderson's marvelous Christmas hymn,"Sweetest music softly stealing."
The fifth Shaker spiritual is the very short, "To all the good children, a happy New Year," which closes out this CD with the adult and children's chorus singing together.
This is a very good recording of Shaker spirituals and other Christmas music.
It is beautifully performed too.
--Roger Hall, 1999
Rounder Records LP, Tape and CD No. 0078. LP (now out-of-print) released in 1976. Cassette Tape released in 1988. CD released in 1996.
Total Time = 51:09
The United Society of Shakers, Sabbathday Lake, Maine, including Sisters Ethel Peaccock, Elsie McCool, Della Haskell, Marie Burgess, Frances Carr, and solos by R. Mildred Barker - the greatest modern day Shaker singer.
There are 40 spirituals including Sister Mildred Barker's her favorite song, "Mother has come with her beautiful song." Other spirituals are: the anthem "I looked and lo a lamb"; the dance song "Simple Gifts"; and the humility song, "Love is Little."
This is the real thing - the Shakers themselves singing their own music. Notes by Daniel W. Patterson.
Highly recommended.
Gentle
Words - Shaker Songs arranged by Kevin
Siegfried
The Tudor Choir, Doug Fullington, director.
Loft CD LRCD 1041 [Total Time = 67:35]
In the past decade or so there has been a steady increase in Shaker music recordings, some good and others not so good. Some have only a few Shaker tunes with little to recommend. Others present the Shaker tunes in their original versions.
This is a rather lengthy review because this CD deserves it. There are 28 Shaker tunes, most of them set in contemporary arrangements by Kevin Siegfried, a doctoral student in composition at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.
Anyone who has heard other Shaker recordings should recognize some of the Shaker tunes included on this CD, such as "Followers of the Lamb"; "Love is Little"; and "Come to Zion."
Siegfried has made good choices in the tunes he has chosen to arrange. As he writes in the CD booklet: "my goal in arranging these Shaker melodies for choirs is to make them accessible and useful in modern worship and concert settings." While his arrangements are suitable for concert performances, I'm not sure that the average church choir would be able to handle the modernistic harmony settings. That's not to deny his well-constructed arrangements.
But there are a few problems...
What I noticed first was the CD title. Since there are both Shaker songs and hymns included, it is misleading to indicate them all as: "Shaker Songs." It would have been more accurate to use "Shaker Spirituals," as employed by Daniel Patterson and myself. Also, the CD volume levels were very low. I had to turn the volume way up to adequately hear the performances.
Unfortunately, the interpretations weren't always correct.
The opening track has a medley of two Shaker tunes: "I will bow and be simple" and "Who will bow like a willow." This is an awkward mixing of both tunes in an "antiphonal performance" which the Shakers probably never sang and surely they didn't mix two tunes together. Also, the word "yea" is mispronounced. It should be pronounced with a long a (as in "say") and not be pronounced as "ye" as the singers pronounce it.
The five soloists (Ann Glusker, Lisa Cardwell Ponten, Penni Ferraris, Linda Sabee, David Stutz) are adequate. Unfortunately, they sometimes sound a bit tentative. This is especially apparent in David Stutz's weak solo singing of "Love is Little", and Penni Ferrari's shaky singing of the great anthem, "Revelation" (track 20). Known by its first line ("I looked and lo a lamb stood on Mount Zion"), this anthem was a favorite of Sister Mildred Barker, who recorded it in its most authoritative version on Early Shaker Spirituals.
"Almighty Savior," an intensely reflective hymn by Elder Issachar Bates, is apparently from my transcribed edition printed in The Shaker Messenger magazine (Winter 1987). In the CD bibliography, there is no mention of it in the now defunct magazine, where I had a regular column - titled "Shaker Song Series" - between 1981 and 1996. I have done quite a bit of research on Elder Issachar and don't think anyone else has found this marvelous hymn, composed a year before his death. Siegfried's arrangement of "Almighty Savior" is quite expressive and beautifully performed.
The twenty-four page CD booklet has notes by Siegried and all the words included. The one verse songs are frequently broken up to appear like several stanzas. To avoid confusion, only the multi-verse hymns should be printed with separate stanzas.
I was gratified to see eight tunes used from my music collection, Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals I'll just make a few comments about them.
"In Yonder Valley" (track 2) uses two different text versions of the song with "take our fill" from one manuscript (in The Shaker Spiritual); and "drink our fill" (in Love is Little) from another manuscript. This isn't indicated in the notes. "All is Summer" (track 3) has an very appealing arrangement for women voices. "Love is Little" (track 5) is a lovely arrangement of this popular Shaker humility song. I first published it in 1976 in my first music collection, A Western Shaker Music Sampler. "Followers of the Lamb" (track 10) uses four of the six stanzas. Why not sing them all? Two extra stanzas shouldn't take up that much time. When I sang "Followers of the Lamb" on the Love is Little CD, I performed all six stanzas. Siegfried writes that it "resembles an early American revival hymn." Actually it is a revival hymn. The soloists (Stutz and Glusker) and choir perform "Followers of the Lamb" in lively fashion, with handclapping and foot stomping as the Sabbathday Lake Shakers have traditionally performed it. "Peace" (track 16) is actually titled, "Peace to Zion." The arrangement is very sensitive to the words of this haunting Enfield Shaker song. "Angels of Heaven" (track 17) is another song with a different title: "Slow March." I found this charming Whitewater song about thirty years ago in a manuscript in Shaker Heights, Ohio and included it in my 1976 collection. Then I reprinted the song in the Love is Little songbook. "Prayer for the Captive" (track 21) is also included in Daniel Patterson's book, where it's titled: "Supplication in a Nation's Calamity." Siegfried's arrangement opens with a soloist (Stutz) singing the melody, then goes off on a darkly hued choral setting which suits this strong anti-war Civil War hymn by Cecilia DeVere. It was sung on the day of Abraham Lincoln's funeral in many of the Shaker villages.
The title song of the CD, "Gentle Words" (track 22), has a few changes in the melody, such as on the words: "troubled mind." Still it's a fine arrangement. To my knowledge, I was the first to transcribe "Gentle Words" and publish it in A Western Shaker Music Sampler. It was reprinted in The Shaker Messenger magazine in 1989 and then again in the Love is Little collection. I have always believed it to be one of the most expressive Shaker songs. I'm pleased that it has become so popular. It has been used as the title of Randy Folger's CD and now this CD as well - which Siegfried has dedicated to Randy's memory - an appropriate tribute to one of the most dedicated past Shaker music performers.
Besides the tunes already mentioned, others I found appealing include: "Lay Me Low" (track 13) - an ingenious arrangement for eight-part chorus, with voices gradually dropping off or "laid low." This is the highlight of the entire CD - a beautiful setting of a Shaker melody reminiscent of a Native American melody. Another outstanding arrangement is "Cords of Love" (track 27) - an effective setting of this memorable gift song from Canterbury.
The final song, "I will go on my way," is from the 1908 Canterbury hymnal. It's ironic that I first heard this song sung by Eldress Bertha Lindsay at Canterbury, New Hampshire back in 1972. She sang if for me when I was collecting tunes. The song is a good way to end this CD of Shaker arrangements.
Even with my reservations over lack of proper identifications and interpretations, this remains a very good selection of Shaker tunes.
Kevin Siegried's arrangements are respectful and tasteful. I recommend this CD to anyone who wants to hear what can be done with these beautiful Shaker melodies.
The Tudor Choir performs the music with great clarity and sensitivity, under Doug Fullington's fine direction. Their performances reflect both the joy and contemplation of Shaker religious life.
A very appealing CD, with outstanding choral performances, and an attractive album design.
--Roger Hall, July 2001
For more information go to the Loft Records web site: www.loft.cc
The Golden Harvest - More Shaker Chants and Spirituals
The Boston Camerata, Joel Cohen, director; Members of the Harvard University Choir, Murray Forbes Somerville, director; Members of the Youth Pro Musica, Hazel Somerville, director; The Shaker Family of Sabbathday Lake, Maine.
Glissando CD 779 020-2 [Time = 76:36]
This CD is the second volume of Shaker music featuring the same performers.
The first one, titled Simple Gifts, was released in 1995 on the Erato record label and was very popular. That CD had 33 Shaker spirituals.
The new Glissando one has 38, and includes many Shaker tunes from manuscripts in the library of the Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake, Maine.
Several of the tunes have been recorded on other CDs: "Sweep As I Go" (Joy of Angels) & "Woben Mesa Crelana" ( All at Home).
I was pleased to see "Holy Habitation" included since I have longed believed it to be one of the most meaningful Shaker hymns. I wrote an arrangement of it back in 1975 (in A Guide to Shaker Music ). The tune was composed at New Lebanon, New York to a beautiful text by the gifted poetess, Eunice Wyeth from the Shaker community at Harvard, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, she is not credited on the CD.
With much information available on Shaker music, it's too bad that a few obvious errors have slipped by. For example, "Rights of Conscience" was not written by Issachar Bates at New Lebanon, New York. He wrote it in Ohio about 1810, as I identified it in a Shaker music column back in 1984. His tune is freely based on "The President's March" written in honor of George Washington, and later used for the patriotic song: "Hail, Columbia!" Issachar Bates no doubt knew both of these songs before he joined the Shakers. He had been a fifer during the American Revolution.
Another Shaker tune on the CD, "Woben Mesa Crelana," which is beautifully performed by Donald Wilkinson and the Camerata men, is not identified in any Shaker manuscript to my knowledge as being an Indian Song. Instead, it was said to be received in an "unknown tongue."
Also, I believe the designation "chants" in the CD title is misleading. This was a term seldom used by the Shakers. It implies connections to unrelated song traditions, such as Gregorian or Anglican chants. Another questionable practice is the use of bass drones in a few of the tunes without designating them as interpretations or arrangements. I haven't found any hard evidence that the Shakers used bass drones during the 19th century, when the tunes were composed.
But these misgivings aside, this is a well prepared and performed CD. Most of the solo singers are very good, especially the husky voiced Deborah Leath Rentz and the deep bass of Joel Frederiksen. For my ears, Margaret Frazier and Anne Azema sing with too much of the early music singing style. Their singing is well suited for early music, but with these simple Shaker folk tunes they just don't sound right. The various choruses (Camerata, Harvard University Choir and Youth Pro Musica) do their tasks admirably.
And what about the Sabbathday Lake Shakers? They don't have any solo tunes, but do perform with other singers on these tracks: 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, 19, 24, 26, 28, 30, 33, 37, 38. The Shakers get the opportunity to sing by themselves in an interview with Joel Cohen on the last track of the CD. The Shakers talk a bit about their music and sing two of their favorite tunes: "Fall On The Rock" (a hauntung humility song) and "Sweep As I Go" (a song sung traditionally at Christmas time - the words and music are available in Joy of Angels.
The CD notes by Joel Cohen and the Shakers are extensive and very informative, and include the words for all the music, plus a list of the manuscripts and printed hymnals that were consulted. The CD cover photo of the red barn at Sabbathday Lake is quite attractive. But the color photo on the back inside cover of the musicians is poorly shot, very dark and filled with shadows. The black and white photos mixed within the texts are too small and hard to see clearly. It was a wise decision to include oval portraits of two of the greatest Maine Shaker musicians: Elder Otis Sawyer and Sister Mildred Barker. Both made considerable efforts to preserve the Shaker music tradition and their work remains in the manuscripts and recordings at Sabbathday Lake.
Many of the Shaker spirituals on the CD are recorded for the first time anywhere. A special commendation should go out to Joel Cohen and Anne Azema, who transcribed most of the tunes from the manuscripts in the Sabbathday Lake Shaker library. They have made a real contribution to the cause of Shaker music research.
The CD title is taken from the last song: "The Angel Reapers." The last lines read:
"Say, brothers will you go with me, Go to the land of promise;
Say, sisters will you meet me there, In the land of the Golden Harvest?"
As "The Angel Reapers" words expressed it so well - listening to this CD will take you to "the land of the Golden Harvest."
I recommend going there soon.
--Roger Hall
For more information about this release, go to:
Harp of Christmas Peace
Diane Schneider, therapeutic harpist
15 Tracks [Time = 54:13]
"Shaker Christmas Song" (track 8, 3:05) arranged and performed by harpist, Diane Schneider.
This is a lovely CD of mostly familiar Christmas melodies. It also includes some not so well known, such as: "Bohemian Carol"' "Huron Carol"; and "Shaker Christmas Song (When Christ Was of a Virgin Born)" found in the music collection:
Joy of Angels - Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and the New Year.
The CD is a gift well worth giving, not only at Christmastime, but all year round.
A beautifully recorded CD filled with ample amounts of "Christmas Peace."
Harp of Hope
Diane Schneider, therapeutic harpist
17 Tracks [Time = 68:34]
"Simple Gifts" arranged and performed by therapeutic harpist, Diane Schneider.
A simple and tender arrangement (track 13, 3:36) of the famous Shaker dance song. The remainder of the CD features renditions of classical melodies ("Pachelbel's Canon"; "Brahms' Lullaby"), hymns ("Amazing Grace"; "Nearer My God to Thee") and folk songs ("Greensleeves"; "The Ash Grove") intended to provide "healing and renewal." The bonus track, "Angel's Wing" is, according to Diane Schneider, "a 9 minute improvisation with floating rhythmless arpeggios to induce relaxation."
A CD that is very comforting to listen to, especially those suffering from stress or a serious illness.
Should be of benefit to anyone who wishes a good choice of beautiful soothing harp music.
Harp of Joy
Diane Schneider, therapeutic harpist
Total Time = 48:01
Includes 11 lovely harp solos of Celtic and Advent/Christmas music; and 15 Shaker spirituals, with a few of them by the Pleasant Hill Singers from 1987 (Marilyn Wehri, Chris Kabat, Marty Harrington, Teri Ceremele, Diane Schneider). Most of the spirituals are sung by Diana Schneider.
The Shaker spirituals on the CD are:
"Living Souls";"Come to Zion"; "Simple Gifts"; "Come Life, Shaker Life"; "Love Oh Love Is Sweetly Flowing"; "Love is Little"; "My Love To My Mother"; "Farewell Earthly Joys"; "My Sweet Home in Zion"; "The Humble Heart"; "My Carnal Life"; "Oh The Beautiful Treasures"; "Mother Has Come"; "We Must Be Meek"; "Oh Brethren Ain't You Happy."
This CD was recorded live at the Historic Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Kentucky.
It is dedicated "in memory of beloved friends in Shaker spirit: Steve Kistler and Randy Folger."
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Harp of Quiet
Faith
Diane Schneider, therapeutic harpist
Total Time = 45:10
The selections on this latest CD by Diane Schneider are:
"Rock of Ages"/"Amazing Grace" medley (6:14)
"How Great Thou Art" (4:42)
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus" (4:07)
"Love Is Little" (American Shaker Song, 2:43)
"Jesus Loves Me" (3:24)
"Ave Maria" (4:45)
"We Must Be Meek" (American Shaker Song, 2:37)
"O Sanctissima" (6:41)
"Tantus Ergo" (2:00)
"My Carnal Life I Will Lay Down" (American Shaker Song, 3:35)
"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (3:00)
"The Doxology" (0:50)
All the harp arrangements are by Diane Schneider and are very sensitively written.
This is another recommended CD for all who wish a meaningful expression of "quiet faith."
--Roger Hall
To order any of the four CDs or learn about her activities, go to Diane Schneider's website at:
Harvest
Home
The Dale Warland Singers.
Gothic CD G49243, 2005.
Of the 17 songs and hymns on this CD, four of them are by the Shakers, sung in tasteful arrangements.
The first Shaker song is "Simple Gifts" (track 2, 2:14) in a fine arrangement by Dale Warland for singers, guitar and flute. Proper credit is also given of this Shaker dance song as composed by Elder Joseph Brackett. Fortunately, there are no inappropriate additional verses added by some non-Shaker author, as often happens these days. This is one of the best recent arrangements of the most famous Shaker tune.
Two of the other Shaker songs are by Kevin Siegfried and were featured on the Gentle Words CD, as performed by The Tudor Choir and released on a Gothic CD (see above review). The first one is the reflective "Peace" (track 4, 3:19). The actual title of this Shaker song is: "Peace to Zion" and it comes from Enfield, New Hampshire, about 1851, and is included in the songbook, Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals. The other song is the wonderfully expressive tune: "Lay Me Low" (track 16, 4:01). This haunting Shaker song has been attributed to Addah Z. Potter, from New Lebanon, New York, 1838, and included in the book, The Gift to be Simple: Songs, Dances and Rituals of the American Shakers.
The most striking of all is the Shaker song, "Not One Sparrow is Forgotten" (track 9, 2:44), lovingly arranged by New York composer, William Hawley. This beautiful arrangement is dedicated to Dale Warland. The song comes from Mt. Lebanon, New York and is included in an 1884 Shaker hymnal. I believe it is the first time this memorable Shaker song has been recorded and is well worth being rediscovered.
I highly recommend this lovely CD, not just for the Shaker songs, but for every one of the well chosen tunes. It is especially worth having since this superb singing ensemble has now disbanded.
This HARVEST HOME CD is an excellent example of brilliant choral singing and direction, and is a commendable farewell release by The Dale Warland Singers.
Highly recommended!
--Roger Hall, 7 April 2006
I Am Filled With Heavenly Treasures
The Enfield Shaker Singers.
New World Records 80617-2, 2004.
It includes 39 tracks of Shaker tunes. Most of the Shaker music is available for the first time on a commercial recording.
Among the highlights are the "Great I" Medley (track 20); the highly unusual "Harmony of Angels" anthem (track 22); the short and spirited title song (track 23); and the masterful hymn, "Grateful Remembrance" (track 34).
The Enfield Shaker Singers, are under the skillful musical direction of Mary Ann Haagen.
This is a CD certainly worth adding to your Shaker music collection.
--Roger Hall
To order, go to:
I Am Filled With Heavenly Treasures
Enfield Shaker Singers website:
Joy of Angels: Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and the New Year
Sampler Records Ltd. CD and Tape No. 9528, 1995. Accompanying Music Book.
Total Time = 71:25
CD & Tape: Randy Folger, Colleen Liggett, Kathy Leigh Johnson, Mitzie Collins, Eastman Bach Children's Chorus, The Sampler Chorus. 38 Shaker spirituals sung from original sources, including: "Give good gifts"; "Glory unto God"; "Hail, hail the beautiful morn"; "Mother's Golden Trumpet"; "O see the lovely angels"; "Simple Gifts"; "Star of Purity"; "To all the good children, a Happy New year"; "When Christ was of a Virgin born."
Music book (74 pages): Compiled by Mitzie Collins and Colleen Liggett, Introduction and Shaker descriptions about Christmas and the New Year by Roger Hall. Includes all the music, performance notes and notes on all 38 Shaker spirituals, Checklist of Printed Shaker Hymnals, and Aaron Copland's "Simple Gifts" - a checklist of recordings by Roger Hall.
[Music book alone - $16/ CD and music book - $28/ Tape and music book - $22.50.]
"The editorial essays in the printed anthology are models of their kind, providing clear and wise guidance to students and performers alike. The performances on the recording are lovingly skillful and delightfully varied and will repay repeated listenings."
--Raplh P. Locke, Professor of Musicology, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester
"Here is a rich lode of possibilities for all kinds of singing occasions - some for congregations at Christmas, like the wonderful regional carols - and others for specific events, such as a Shaker pagent or historical program...I love the melodic ideas - this is not what you hear every day. Congratulations to all involved."
--George Ward, recording artist and folklorist, Albany, New York.
You may order Joy of Angels by visiting:
or call Sampler Records at: 1-800-537-2755.
Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals
Sampler Records Ltd. CD and Tape No. 9222, 1992. Accompanying Music Book.
Total Time = 56:32
CD & Tape: Roger Hall, Mitzie Collins, The Sampler Chorus. 36 Shaker spirituals sung from original sources, including: "Followers of the Lamb"; "Gentle Words"; "Living Souls, Let's Be Marching"; "Love is Little"; "Mother"; "On the Landing of Mother Ann in America;" "The Shakers"; "Simple Gifts."
Music book (50 pages): Compiled and Edited by Roger Hall. Includes all the music, notes on the music, "Shaker Song Series" (1981-1996), and bibliography.
[Music book alone = $15/ Audio tape alone = $9.50/ CD alone = $15.00/CD and music book = $27/ Audio tape and music book = $21.50.]
Review: "The recording includes a nice contrast of styles, tempi, vocal timbres and ranges. It resists the temptation to 'arrange' the music for modern performance, but lets the music speak for itself. I'd recommend both the book and recording as useful for singers and scholars, and would suggest that traditional music groups will find the collection a means of incorporating these songs into their own repertories. I'd also recommend the recording if for no other reason than that you'll enjoy it."
---Susan Porter, Professor of Music, Ohio State University, Lima, Ohio in The Sonneck Society for American Music Bulletin, Summer, 1993.
"The excellent vocals of Mitzie, Roger and the Sampler Chorus carry this recording onto a high level of musical achievement. Anyone interested in the Shakers and their music must have this recording."
---"Andy Recommends" in Andy's Front Hall Order Catalog, Voorheesville, New York.
You may order Love is Little by visiting:
or call Sampler Records at: 1-800-537-2755.
Music of Angels: Songs of the Shaker West
Verdant Groves Music Foundation CD-VGMF01, 1999
Total Time = 55:26
This new CD was co-produced by Vicki Bell and Randy Folger, and featuring various soloists (Vicki Bell, Randy Folger, Tommy Hines, Jennifer Rose, Kathy Shewmaker, others) plus the Pleasant Hill Singers. There are 31 original Shaker spirituals on the CD and two arrangements by Jack Bomer.
Many of these spirituals are recorded for the first time. Here are some of the titles, all from Pleasant Hill, Kentucky: "A Welcome Song" (Polly Rupe); "Music of Angels" (Betsy Spaulding); "O Hear the Heavenly Harpers" (Nancy Harris); "Mother's Good Drink" (Patsy Williamson); "A Pretty New Song" (Anon.); "I'll Reel, I'll Reel To and Fro" (Hortency Hooser); "Mongst All the Pursuits and Toil" (John Dunlavy); "Pretty Love and Union" (John Whitbey).
This is a wonderful recording and should appeal to anyone searching for new Shaker music from the western communities in Kentucky and Ohio.
The CD is dedicated to the memory of Randy Folger (1952-1999).
--Roger Hall, 1999
To order copies of this new CD, write to:
Verdant Groves Music Foundation, 171 Shaker Landing Road, Harrodsburg, KY 40330.
Various Artists
PBS Records/Warner Bros. CD 9 47521-2 (1999)
DVD also available: Not for Ourselves Alone (2003)
VHS video also available: Not for Ourselves Alone (2002)
In the PBS documentary about Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony by Ken Burns and Paul Barnes, there is an arrangement of two Shaker songs featured on the soundtrack.
The soundtrack CD for "NOT FOR OURSELVES ALONE" incorrectly lists only one song: "Good Evening My Friends" (track 8 of the CD).
Actually there are TWO Shaker songs:
"Good Evening, My Friends" (New Lebanon, New York, 1837)
"Mount Lebanon March" (New Lebanon, New York, 1822)
Both Shaker songs were published in The Happy Journey, Harvard, Massachusetts: Fruitlands Museums, 1982.
That collection is now out-of-print, but some of the music is included in the songbook:
Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals
The two song arrangements by William Coulter and Barry Phillips are available on their own CD, Music On The Mountain (Gourd GM 123, 1996). This is the best recording of Shaker instrumental arrangements available today. If you love simple and tasteful instrumental arrangements, then this is the CD to get.
--Roger Hall, 2001
For other recommended CD recordings, order your copy of A Guide to Shaker Music
Impact Media CD 5001, 1992.
Total Time = 37:42
The Singers of Lower Shaker Village, The Singers of Lower Shaker Village, Enfield, New Hampshire. Very good performances of 33 original and arranged Shaker tunes, including: "Welcome, Welcome Precious Gospel Kindred"; "I Will Bow and Be Simple"; "Come Life, Shaker Life"; "Who Will Bow and Bend"; "I Never Did Believe"; "In My Father's House."
A second outstanding CD by the Enfield Shaker Singers, directed by Mary Ann Haagen, has 34 Shaker spirituals. It is titled: All at Home (Impact Media 5020 - Total Time = 47:35) - including "Star of Purity"; "Sweet Summer Land"; "Gentle Words"; "Great I little i; "Woben Mesa Crelana"; "In Wisdom's Lovely Pleasant Ways."
You can order both CDs or tapes from: The Enfield Shaker Museum, 24 Caleb Dyer Lane, Enfield, New Hampshire 03748.
Shall We Gather - American Hymns & Spirituals
Albany CD TROY 476 (2001)
27 Tracks. Total Time = 58:47
William Appling Singers; Diane Marazzi, organ; William Appling, conductor.
Even though this CD has been out for a few years, I recently bought a copy and so that's the reason for this late review.
The CD features the performance of over two dozen American hymns and spirituals, some well known and others much less so. They include such 19th century folk hymns as: "Nettleton" and "Wondrous Love"; well known hymns like, Lowell Mason's "Watchman, Tell Us of the Night" and Robert Lowry's "Shall We Gather at the River?"; a number of fine old Afro-American spiriutals, including "Rise, Shine, for Thy Light is A-Comin'"; "The Old Ship of Zion", and the wonderfully descriptive "Inching Along"; and one Shaker hymn: "More Love."
While the singing of this lovely Shaker hymn is nicely done, the source used for this hymn is not so good. It was included in a collection known as American Hymns Old & New (Columbia University Press, 1980). The setting of "More Love" from an 1876 Shaker hymnal is not the same as the one in American Hymns. It has been arranged and has not been indicated that way in the AH collection. It gives the impression that it's the original Shaker version, but it's not. The same is true for another song in that AH collection: "Gospel Liberty." This lack of proper identification is one of the serious drawbacks of AH. It was probably unknown to William McClelland, who appears to have written all the CD music notes. But this is still unfortunate since the more common version of "More Love" is found in the Edward Deming Andrews book, The Gift to be Simple, which is included in the CD's Selected Discogrpahy. Why include the Andrews book and yet not at least mention the single line melody version of the Shaker hymn? That version of "More Love" is now the one most generally known and has been featured on several other CDs, such as Love is Little.
Another complaint is the overly reserved singing of the spirituals. They sound too "white bread", as a former black music director once told a chorus of all white singers. The refined singing works well with the hymns but I think a more emotionally explosive performance of the black spirituals would have provided greater diversity to the choral sound.
Nevertheless, what concerns me the most is the one Shaker hymn included that's incorrectly identified. Hopefully other singers won't make the same mistake of thinking the four part arrangement of "More Love" in AH is the original Shaker four part harmony. There are other Shaker hymns in original four part harmony that might have been featured on the CD, such as "Prayer Universal" or "Redeeming Love" (both included in the Love is Little collection).
The group of 13 singers under William Appling's careful direction perform with much dignity and respect for the music.
A special kudo to Ian Frazier's brilliantly written introductory notes in the CD booklet. If only more writers were as eloquent as he!
Even with my concern about the Shaker hymn's improper identification, I still think this is a worthwhile collection of American hymns and spirituals.
It should provide much enjoyment to those searching for a good sampling of religious music from America's past.
--Roger Hall, October 2003
For more about the William Appling Singers, go to -
Simple Gifts - Shaker Chants and Spirituals
Erato CD No. 4509-98491-2, 1995.
Total Time = 59:55
The Shakers of Sabbathday Lake, The Schola Cantorum, and The Boston Camerata, directed by Joel Cohen. 33 Shaker tunes performed, with the Sabbathday Lake Shakers singing on 9 of them. Highlights: "Followers of the Lamb"; "Holy Angel" (solo: William Hite); "Mother"; "Sad Days" (solo: Daniel McCabe); "In Yonder Valley"; "Simple Gifts."
This best-selling and critically acclaimed CD is worth having for its extensive notes and newly recorded Shaker tunes, but it does have some misleading statements and inappropriate singing style.
This is a reply to Joel Cohen's "Letter to the Editor" in 1996:
"Mr. Cohen's assertion that "The Spiritual Sailor" is a Shaker hymn is questionable. The hymn by Elder Richard McNemar titled "Voyage to Canaan" has melody only rather than the four part setting heard on the CD...Both hymn settings do have similar text and melody, but that's the only connection. They are two different hymn settings. Mr. Cohen contradicts himself when he claims that he has not 'tampered with the the basic source material.' On one hand, he states it is 'simply untrue.' And on the other hand, he admits to adding bass drones to the Shaker tunes, when none are indicated in the manuscripts...By adding drones and using an improper singing style, the Shaker tunes sound more like ancient music from centuries before the Shakers even existed. It's like adding elaborate ornaments to the original design of a Shaker chair. They don't belong there. Such alterations are not authentic and certainly not Shaker-like. Like their chairs, these haunting melodies are strong and beautiful enough to exist by themselves."
---Roger Hall in Shakers World magazine, Vol 1/ No. 2, August 1996
For more information about this CD, go to:
Verdant Groves -
A musical journey through four New England Shaker Villages
Community Music School of Santa Cruz, CM 101, 1998
Total Time = 60:33
Debra Spencer (vocals), Shelley Phillips (Celtic harp), Lars Johannesson (wooden flute). Location recording and editing by Barry Phillips. Artistic Director and Music Arranging: Shelley Phillips. Text editing: Debra Spencer and Roger Hall.
The CD features 22 beautiful Shaker tune arrangements by Shelley Phillips, recorded at four Shaker Villages:
Watervliet, New York (5 tunes); Hancock, Massachusetts (3 tunes); Canterbury, New Hampshire (7 tunes); Enfield, New Hampshire (7 tunes).
The titles include a few wordless songs but most are Shaker hymns.
The hymns include: "When Christ Was Of A Virgin Born"; "Reflections on Mother Ann's Birthday"; "The Ballad of Mother Ann"; "The Spirit is Calling (Prayer Universal); "More Love"; and "God is Infinitely Able."
The music was recorded in the Shaker meeting houses at each village.
The CD is available in the gift shop at any of the four Shaker Village museums.
Recordings Not Recommended
Listed in alphabetical order
Alleluia
- An American Hymnal
Nimbus CD NI 5568, 1998
Kansas City Chorale, Charles Bruffy, conductor.
There are 4 Shaker spirituals in this collection of 20 American religious pieces.
Unfortunately, most of the Shaker selections are incorrectly identified and performed.
The first song, "I Want to Shake with Indignation," is credited to Sister Betsy Spaulding at "New Lebanon, New York." That's incorrect. Sister Betsy was a member at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky.
The second song, "I've Set My Face for Zion's Kingdom," is attributed to an unknown composer at "Pleasant Hill, New York." Once again, that's incorrect. It is actually an 1840's marching song from Sister Betsy Spaulding at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky.
The next selection is "The Precious Way of God." This one is identified as being from Sabbathday Lake, Maine. Wrong again. It originated at one of the western Shaker communities (probably Union Village, Ohio) and the text is found in the first printed Shaker hymnal (1813), published in Hancock, Massachusetts.
Finally, the fourth and last Shaker spiritual in this group, "Encouragement," is performed the exact same way as the Boston Camerata CD, Simple Gifts [listed above]. While this may seem the correct way, it's not. The Shakers did not sing bass drones in their music. So both recordings have improper performances.
The singing on the Kansas City Chorale is done by woman soloists (Pamela Williamson and Rebecca Lord) and small chorus. The Shakers did use solo singers in their singing, but not sung in this highly cultivated fashion.
The other religious music on this CD is well performed.
So buy it for that music, or consider any of the recommended recordings of Shaker music instead of this one.
--Roger Hall, 2000
The Chieftans, James Galway (flute and whistle), John McDermott (tenor), Liz Knowles (fiddle), Kieran O'Hare (uilleann pipes and whistles), Silver Arm Celtic Band, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, conducted by Erich Kunzel.
16 Tracks (58:57)
Telarc 80571
This CD should appeal to those who enjoy Celtic music. However, the arrangement of "Simple Gifts" (track 4, 4:47) by Jospeh D. Price really should be titled "Lord of the Dance," since it is based more on Sydney Carter's song than the Shaker tune by Elder Joseph Brackett. It is highly ornamented and bears little resemblance to the famous Shaker tune.
In his CD notes, Richard E. Rodda correctly mentions that the "Simple Gifts" tune was used as the basis for Sydney Carter's song but he fails to give the correct information. He writes that "Lord of the Dance" was "fitted with a new text in 1968." Actually Sydney Carter wrote his own version and it was published in 1963.
It's too bad that these errors continue to be made when Carter's music publisher's website gives all the information on "Lord of the Dance."
Will any CD producer ever get the correct information about Sydney Carter's wonderful song and the Shaker tune?
Hopefully someday both tunes will get simpler arrangements, unlike the overblown one by Joseph Price on A Celtic Spectacular.
--Roger Hall, July 2003
Michael
Flatley's LORD OF THE DANCE
Philips CD 314 533 757-2, 1997
For the many fans of Micahel Flatley's "Lord of the Dance" dance extravaganza who have bought this CD, it should be emphasized that no credit is given anywhere to the man who actually wrote "Lord of the Dance."
His name is Sydney Carter and the song was first published in 1963. It also isn't mentioned anywhere that the Shaker song,"Simple Gifts," was the inspiration for the Carter song.
This oversight could have been handled easily with just a few sentences of credit.
Instead, we get a lot of bloated bios and color photos.
Many listeners love this CD and it's a huge seller.
But the CD and video don't do justice to any traditional folk music (English, Irish, or Shaker).
It's just pure show biz with very garish music as well.
--Roger Hall, 1999
Note: For information about both Sydney Carter's song and the Shaker song, see:
Shaker Songs: Come to Zion
Hancock Shaker Village HSV-0001, 1993
Norumbega Harmony and singers from Hancock Shaker Village.
"This recording contains 35 Shaker songs, hymns and anthems recorded in the Hancock Shaker meeting house...While this is a very broad survey, the chronological arrangement of tunes is a good one. But there are a number of significant problems with the recording. The title of the recording itself, "Shaker Songs," is misleading since there are also hymns and anthems included in the survey...Some of the headings are also misleading. Why is "the classic period" indicated for Shaker tunes from the 1820's and 1830's? It is generally agreed that the period from the mid-1830's to mid-1850's would be more accurately defined as this so-called classic period - a very arbitrary designation to use anyway.
There are some good tunes that are recorded here for the first time, such as "By Freedom Invited." But more than half of the tunes have been recorded before and in better performances. The singing on the recording is sometimes quite good and sometimes surprisingly bad. Some of the soloists are very shaky and obviously off-pitch. Some of the tunes, like "Willow Tree" are not correctly sung (is should be "yea" not "ye")...The performances are often not "sung as the Shakers wrote it,"as Cheryl Anderson writes in her notes.
In fact, the recording has some strange and erratic singing styles."
---quoted from
Roger Hall's review in The Shaker
Messenger magazine, Vol 16/No. 1,
1994.
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