The gift to be simple : songs, dances and rituals of the American Shakers / by Edward D. Andrews.
| Author/creator | Andrews, Edward Deming |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | New York : Dover Publications, 1962. |
| Description | xi, 170 pages : illustrations, facsimiles, music ; 21 cm |
| Subjects |
| Contents | Introduction -- Songs and rituals: texts illustrating various types of Shaker songs -- Tunes and music: a collection of tunes with texts -- Dances -- Post script. |
| Abstract | This is the only full and authoritative account of Shaker music, a curious phenomenon that was partly traditional, partly inspirational. Through an examination of the quaint and colorful songs sung by these fervent men and women and a discussion of the highly imaginative rituals and dances they performed, the book successfully recaptures the spirit of these humble and devout people. A short introduction shows the development of the movement from its beginning (about 1750), through the time of its greatest influence (the 1840s), to its decline after the Civil War. Then the author discusses the verses of the Shaker songs, where they came from--many were supposedly received through heavenly visions, for example--and what sort of rituals and gestures were performed as the songs were sung. Many of the actual texts of the songs are printed here, arranged in categories such as hymns and anthems, dance songs, ritualistic and gestural songs, songs in unknown tongues, songs of humility, etc. The author turns next to the melodies to which the verses were sung, presenting about 80 of them in musical notation, and explaining also the eccentric music theory that the Shaker musicians developed (staffless tunes, strange modalities, curious notation system, etc.). The chapter that follows, on the numerous kinds of Shaker dances--ring, wheel and circular dances, hollow square and square order shuffles, marches--reveals how the dances originated, how the Shakers justified the use of dances in the worship service, and how the dances changed form over the years. The book ends with a brief note on the extremely infrequent occasions when Shaker music has been performed in public. |
| General note | Some of the songs with music (unaccompanied melodies). |
| General note | Unabridged and unaltered republication of the work first published by J.J. Augustin Publisher in 1940. |
| General note | Includes texts of many songs as well as musical notation for about 80 melodies. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 160-163) and indexes. |
| ISBN | 0486200221 (paperback) |
| ISBN | 9780486200224 (paperback) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Closed Stacks - Ask at Circulation Desk | ML3178.S5 A5 1962 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |