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Simple Gifts: Shaker Chants And Spirituals

Boston Camerata / Cohen
Release Date: 07/26/2011 
Label:  Apex   Catalog #: 4603672   Spars Code: DDD 
Composer:  Issachar Bates,  James Whittaker,  Clarissa Jacobs,  Traditional,   ... 
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Number of Discs: 1 
Recorded in: Stereo 
Length: 1 Hours 0 Mins. 

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2 Customer
Reviews

Notes and Editorial Reviews

Joel Cohen has done more than almost anyone to research and make available to the vast listening public the music of cultures whose traditions were little-known or underappreciated—and with this project he turned to a tiny but unique communal society for whom music was/is essential, a prized gift from God. He found his source material in the small but still active Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake in Maine, where he went in the spring of 1994 to comb the village’s extensive archive of Shaker tunes, recorded in its library’s treasured manuscripts. The result of his research—full disclosure: I was present for one of these recording sessions during a weekend visit to Sabbathday Lake—is this excellent recording of original Shaker songs and Read more hymns, from the most familiar “Simple gifts” to the dozens (34 in all) of lesser-known but no less inspiring or infectious representatives of this vast repertoire of hundreds—thousands—of songs.

Cohen and his expert professional singing colleagues are joined on some pieces by several of the real live Sabbthday Lake Shakers, and the liner notes are very helpful in describing the purpose and significance of the selections. This is a truly invaluable, living document of American musical history whose preservation in the modern world was, in a word, “shakey”. But thanks to Cohen and his ensemble—and the cooperative individuals of the Shaker community in Maine—we have something of this tradition to hold on to, to appreciate, and to enjoy. After all, this is music designed to be joined by everyone, to sing and dance, a life-affirming celebration. It’s wonderful to have this original Erato production readily available again.

-- David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording

1.
Come Life, Shaker Life, song by Issachar Bates
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 0 Minutes 44 Secs. 
2.
In yonder valley (Shaker Hymn) by James Whittaker
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 42 Secs. 
3.
Father James' Song (Shaker Hymn) by James Whittaker
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 37 Secs. 
4.
Followers of the Lamb (Shaker Hymn) by Clarissa Jacobs
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 30 Secs. 
5.
Mother Ann's Song by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 2 Minutes 20 Secs. 
6.
I'll beat my drum as I march along (Shaker Hymn) by Jane Sutton
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 14 Secs. 
7.
The Spiritual Sailor (Shaker Hymn) by Richard McNemar
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 3 Minutes 24 Secs. 
8.
Mother has come (Shaker Hymn) by Paulina Springer
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 0 Minutes 42 Secs. 
9.
Simple Gifts by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Written: USA 
 Length: 1 Minutes 4 Secs. 
10.
Virgins Clothed in a Clean White Garment, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 22 Secs. 
11.
Mother, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Period: Classical 
 Length: 4 Minutes 30 Secs. 
12.
I Have a Soul to Be Saved or Lost, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 50 Secs. 
13.
Heavenly Comfort, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 2 Minutes 28 Secs. 
14.
Companion to Stiff, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 0 Secs. 
15.
Pinch'd Up, Nip'd Up, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 0 Minutes 36 Secs. 
16.
I Will Fight and Never Slack, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 34 Secs. 
17.
Celestial Choir, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 2 Minutes 14 Secs. 
18.
Holy Angel , traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 3 Minutes 23 Secs. 
19.
The Lark, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Period: Classical 
 Length: 0 Minutes 59 Secs. 
20.
Nightingale's Song, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 23 Secs. 
21.
Holy Order Song, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Period: Romantic 
 Length: 1 Minutes 26 Secs. 
22.
Learned of Angel, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 36 Secs. 
23.
Laughing John's Interrogatory, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 0 Minutes 53 Secs. 
24.
Mother's Warning, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 0 Minutes 46 Secs. 
25.
The Solemn Bell, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 33 Secs. 
26.
Mother's Cup of Tribulation, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 3 Minutes 24 Secs. 
27.
Sad Days, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 2 Minutes 15 Secs. 
28.
Encouragement, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 2 Minutes 36 Secs. 
29.
Verdant Valley, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 12 Secs. 
30.
Solemn Song, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 29 Secs. 
31.
Turn to the Right, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 0 Minutes 46 Secs. 
32.
O Will You Sing Another Song, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 1 Minutes 26 Secs. 
33.
Holy Mother's Protecting Chain, traditional Shaker hymn by Traditional
Conductor:  Joel Cohen
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Camerata,  Schola Cantorum
Length: 3 Minutes 11 Secs. 

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 2 Customer Reviews )
 Not too good. August 4, 2012 By norma s green (los angeles, CA) See All My Reviews "The voices are good - but selection of chants are rather boring. Only good one was at the end - "Simple Gifts"." Report Abuse
 Not what I expected... May 29, 2012 By Margaret V. (Fenwick, Ontario) See All My Reviews "It is very well sung, no doubt about that. I was disappointed because I had expected a lot more harmony. I am familiar with cut #31 (The Spiritual Sailor) and thought that the other selections would be in the same vein...." Report Abuse
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