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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Shaker Hymns |
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Shaker Hymns: Vibrant Expressions of Praise
From the first notes of their lively tunes, you can almost feel this community of believers tapping their toes and moving with the spirited lyrics. The hymns and songs of the Shakers of early America remain a joyful legacy for today’s worshipers.
The lively anthem “Followers of the Lamb,” a strong celebration of faith written in 1847, will be offered by the Good Shepherd Chancel Choir at 8:30 and 10 a.m. services on Sunday, March 13. Another Shaker classic -- “Simple Gifts” -- serves as the supporting tune for the anthem “Lord of the Dance,” to be performed during worship in April.
Written at their community in New Lebanon, New York, “Followers of the Lamb” poses a wonderfully simple question of Christian faith: “Oh brethren ain’t you happy… oh sisters ain’t you happy? Ye followers of the Lamb!” As the harmonies rapidly trade back and forth between the men’s and women’s parts, the song urges believers to sing and dance in celebration of gladness to be God’s obedient servants. Listeners can’t help feeling embraced by the joy expressed in the lively melody that drives the anthem and repeats in a round-like form. Musical accompaniment wasn’t sanctioned in Shaker worship, so their hymns were performed a cappella with vocal dynamics and pulsing melody providing rhythm.
“Followers” is a perfect
example of the rich heritage of music composed by both men and women Shakers in
the 1800s.
Much like the way in which Shakers lived, writing of the melodies and lyrics for worship were a divided and communal task. A person blessed with the inspiration of a tune then would pass it on to another talented member of his or her community to write the words. This shared artistic labor, which aimed to reveal the believer’s Inner Light, often would occur in the trading of unfinished songs between Shaker villages and their musicians before a hymn was completed and celebrated at worship.
But a key element in their music could only be added at worship: The personal spiritualism of praise and passionate belief had to be shown physically in movement along with the singing. They viewed music and its expression as a central and essential part of their culture. So, the Shakers always trembled, danced, swayed, swirled and clapped when singing together -- a joyful trait that earned their sect its name ”Shakers.”
The religious community’s real name is United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing. Established in America in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Shakers led by Mother Ann Lee set up colonies throughout New York, New England and the upper Midwest. Converts were bound by faith in God, commitment to common property, celibacy, confession of sins, equality of men and women, pacificism and separation from the world. Their vision of seeking to establish heaven on Earth required virtues of purity, simplicity and perfection in their work and themselves.
The Shaker work ethic and skill in farming, architecture, crafts and furniture- making gradually brought them into the mainstream of American society as businessmen and trades people. In an effort to preserve their hymns and songs (and to limit their dependence on outside influences), Shakers without formal music training even developed their own unique version of music notation. Despite this, thousands of simple and singable songs written by Shakers before and after the Civil War have become part of America’s folk and sacred music tradition. The tune of “Simple Gifts,” perhaps the best-known Shaker song, was incorporated by composer Aaron Copland in his ballet “Appalachian Spring.”
As we enjoy these Shaker hymns in worship, listen for elements of not only their passionate and gentle nature, but also the lively heartbeat of faith that drove their Christian community for centuries.
--- Contributed by Penny Risen