The Shakers, or United Society of Believers, originated
in England around 1747. In 1770, the charismatic Ann Lee became the
acknowledged leader of this small, spirited band. Their animated and
ecstatic worship practices incorporating dancing and singing gave rise to
their common name. Directed by a revelation, nine Shakers, including
Mother Ann Lee, departed for America in 1774, to escape persecution and
spread their unique message. Stanzas from the early hymn Mother tell the
story:
At Manchester, in England, This blessed fire began, And
like a flame in stubble, From house to house it ran: A few at first receiv’d
it, And did their lusts forsake; And soon their inward power Brought on a
mighty shake.
The rulers cried, “Delusion! Who can these Shakers be?
Are these the wild fanatics, Bewitched by Ann Lee? We’ll stop this noise
and shaking, It never shall prevail; We’ll seize the grand deceiver; And
thrust her into jail.”
Before the learned councils, Though oft she was arraign’d,
Her life was uncondemned, Her character unstain’d: And by her painful
travel, Her suff’rings and her toil, A little Church was formed On the
European soil.
This little band of union, In apostolic life, Remain’d
awhile in England, Among the sons of strife; Till the Columbian Eagle,
Borne by an eastern breeze, Convey’d this little Kingdom Across the
rolling Seas.
To mark their shining passage, Good angels flew before,
Towards the land of promise, Columbia’s happy shore. Hail, thou
victorious gospel! And that auspicious day, When Mother safely landed In
Hudson’s lovely bay!
Near Albany they settled, And waited for a while, Until
a mighty shaking Made all the desert smile. At length a gentle whisper,
The tidings did convey, And many flock’d to Mother, To learn the living
way.
Through storms of persecution, The truth she did
maintain, And show’d how sin was conquer’d, And how we’re born
again: The old corrupted nature, From place to place she trod, And show’d
a new creation, The only way to God.
About four years she labour’d With the attentive
throng, Confirm’d the young believers, And help’d their souls along.
At length she clos’d her labour, And vanish’d out of sight, And left
the Church increasing, In the pure gospel light.
“Put your hands to work and your hearts to God,”
Mother Ann told her followers, and this they did. Shaker communal
societies spread throughout the eastern United States and west to Ohio,
Kentucky, and Indiana, with a total estimated population of 6,000 at its
peak by the 1840s. Guided by the principles of celibacy and devotion to
the gospel, these societies were characterized by pacifism, gender/racial
equality, and an astounding industriousness and invention. With one
society still remaining today in Maine, the Shakers have outlived all
other “utopian” religious communities, leaving an indelible mark on
American culture.
The visionary and original Shaker spirit perhaps found
its greatest expression in music and dance. As a result, Shaker music
represents the largest body of folksong in American history with
approximately 10,000 songs in existence. Seeking separation from the
world, the early Shakers avoided all harmony and instrumental
accompaniment in their music, and created their own musical notation to
record their unique, unfettered songs. These melodies reveal an inspired
imagination and strong sense of musical line and proportion.
Because Shaker music is undeniably important to American
musical history and culture, my goal in arranging these Shaker melodies
for choirs is to make them accessible and useful in modern worship and
concert settings. Central to all Shaker art and music is the theme of
functionality, defined by use. It is my hope that these arrangements will
move the Shaker songs from historical text into living musical settings.
They seek to combine the Shaker themes of beauty, simplicity and utility.
As a composer and arranger, my approach to these songs
grew out of an intense involvement with the material, rather than a
preconceived idea rooted in my particular musical style. I have attempted
to maintain the simplicity and directness of the original, unison
melodies, with an emphasis on unison singing and antiphonal performance
which were at the very heart of Shaker musical practice. The majority of
Shaker songs still remain hidden from public view, requiring a massive
effort of compilation and transcription. I am most grateful to the
scholars and performers whose passion and activity in the realm of Shaker
song study and transcription have brought so much to light: E.D. Andrews,
Mitzie Collins, Harold Cook, Randy Folger, Roger Hall, and Daniel
Patterson.
My first introduction to Shaker music came through
reading E.D. Andrews’ famous book The Gift to be Simple. The man who
brought Shaker music alive to my ears and imagination was Randy Folger,
who performed daily in the meeting house at Shaker Village of Pleasant
Hill in Kentucky. Randy’s position as Music and Special Programs Manager
at Shaker Village gave him the opportunity to establish a deep, intimate
relationship with Shaker music. As anyone who heard him knows, he gave
himself wholly to the songs, resurrecting the power and spirit of an
inspired Shaker singer. It was Randy who first encouraged me in this
project of arranging Shaker songs. Sadly, his life was taken in an auto
accident in 1999. This recording is dedicated to him, in gratitude for his
friendship, encouragement, and inspiration.
To Randy– your voice breathed life and goes on
singing.
Kevin Siegfried