Simple Gifts: Shaker Chants and Spirituals

Issachar Bates (Composer), James Whittaker (Composer), Anonymous (Composer), Richard McNemar (Composer), Clarissa Jacobs (Composer), Ann Lee (Composer), Shaker Traditional (Composer), Jane Sutton (Composer), Paulina Springer (Composer), Joseph Brackett (Performer), Robert Dobson (Performer), Arthur Rawding (Performer), Mary Ann Valaitis (Artist), Joel Cohen and the Boston Camerata (Artist), Schola Cantorum (Artist), Shakers of Sabbathday Lake (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Joseph Brackett, Robert Dobson, Arthur Rawding
• Composer: Issachar Bates, James Whittaker, Anonymous, Richard McNemar, Clarissa Jacobs, et al.
• Audio CD (September 5, 1995)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Erato
• ASIN: B000005EDQ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,072 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Come Life, Shaker Life, song

2. In yonder valley (Shaker Hymn)

3. Virgins clothed in a clean white garment (Shaker Hymn)

4. Mother (Shaker Hymn)

5. Father James' Song (Shaker Hymn)

6. Followers of the Lamb (Shaker Hymn)

7. Mother Ann's Song

8. I have a soul to be saved or lost (Shaker Hymn)

9. Heavenly comfort (Shaker Hymn)

10. Companion to stiff (Shaker Hymn)

11. Pinch'd up nip'd up (Shaker Hymn)

12. I will fight and never slack (Shaker Hymn)

13. Celestial choir (Shaker Hymn)

14. Holy Angel (Shaker Hymn)

15. Lark (Shaker Hymn)

16. Nightingale's song (Shaker Hymn)

17. Holy Order Song (Shaker Hymn)

18. Learned of Angel (Shaker Hymn)

19. Laughing John's Intterogatory (Shaker Hymn)

20. I'll beat my drum as I march along (Shaker Hymn)

See all 34 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True to the Spirit of Shaker Vitality, January 19, 2000

By 

"rrr338" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Simple Gifts: Shaker Chants and Spirituals (Audio CD)

It's funny how we often draw the wrong conclusions about people of the past, by looking at evidence of their physical lives. Shaker furniture and room design often convey ascetic austerity, and repressed emotions. And then... there is the music! Here one realizes that Shakers were deeply spiritual people and found great joy in their music and dance. The Boston Camerata really succeeds in recreating the atmosphere of a Shaker meeting hall, with music that captures the power of communal gatherings. There are reflective melodies here, but also energetic "hand-clapping, foot stomping" chants. The result is that, in listening to this CD, you are likely to "see" the Shakers in a new light. If you like early American historical music, or just appreciate the power of shared hymns, you will truly appreciate this wonderful performance.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gentle introduction to Shaker music, July 6, 2000

By 

M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Simple Gifts: Shaker Chants and Spirituals (Audio CD)

This album is sung by professional singers with some Shaker community participation. This contrasts with the folk recordings of Shakers alone - or of music groups retaining the Shaker tradition. Just as the Boston Camarata recordings of Billings, Dear etc. helped revive an interest in early American music of what became the shaped note tradition, so this album should revive interest in the American Shaker tradition.

The music is folksy - simple and direct - and by its style directly reflects the Shaker philosophy of life. The pieces are short - a disadvantage for those tunes you love. Simple Gifts is the best known work - but you are apt to find other pieces you like as much. Come Life, Shaker Life is one of my favorites.

This album is a must for anyone interested in Shakers, early American music, or American folk music. It will whet your appetite for the albums put out by Shaker musuems - but the professional performance is a better starting point for most people.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and Simple Gifts by a cappella chorus, January 11, 2000

By 

Mire Uno - See all my reviews

This review is from: Simple Gifts: Shaker Chants and Spirituals (Audio CD)

Simple Gifts from Copland's Appalachian Spring is my favorites. I bought this CD since I wanted to listen to the original Simple Gifts, Shaker Hymn. Wow, I love this Simple Gifts, too! Powerful and simple a cappella chorus. I never thought original has lyrics. I love the lyrics. Other songs are also beautiful.

The CD comes with thick program notes of 63 pages, which outlined short history of the Shakers and lyrics of whole 34 songs in English, French and German.