River of Love
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Music by the Shakers and music inspired by Shaker themes.

The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, called the Shakers, came to the New World in 1774. Ann Lee Standerin, called Mother Ann by her followers, traveled to America with seven disciples to establish the Shaker religion in the New World. The group was so named because of fervent prayer rituals in which they entered into trance-like states Ñ twitching, shaking, whirling, singing and dancing, seeking transcendence from the burdens of sin. A gentle, highly ethical people there were, at the height of the movement in 1850, 6,000 Shakers, a number that began to decline after industrialization took over. Because the Shakers believed the human voice to be the perfect instrument for the expression to God, they were prolific composers. It is said that there are over 10,000 hymns in existence. This unique disc presents both original hymns and modern American works based on the materials. Fittingly, the first of these is one that is beloved by many: Aaron Copland's setting of Simple Gifts.
Contents:
Shaker Hymn
Prayer Universal
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Aaron Copland, composer
Simple Gifts
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Aaron Copland, composer
A Mince Pie or a Puding
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

William Cutter, composer
There's a Light
New England Voices, Amy Carroll, flute, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

William Cutter, composer
Let Zion Move
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

William Cutter, composer
I Will Go on My Way
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spiritual
Drink Ye
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spiritual
I Love Mother
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spiritual
Mother Ann's Song
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spiritual
Mother Ann's Closet
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spiritual
Dismission of the Devil
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spiritual
The Humble Heart
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Eric Sawyer, composer
The Humble Heart
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spirituals
More Love
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spirituals
Invitation to the River of Love
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spirituals
Love is Little
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spirituals
Pretty Home
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spirituals
A Snag of It or a Handful of Gospel Love
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Traditional
Tuvan Throat Singing
Thomas Erik Sumner, tenor

Eric Sawyer, composer
Adagio in Lydian Mode
Karen Oosterbaan, Frederick Bednarz, violin, Thomas Fajaro, viola, Harel Gietheim, cello

Shaker Hymns
Sweet Summerland
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Hymns
I'll Tell Thee of Heaven
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Hymns
I Hunger and Thirst
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Hymns
I Know How To Pray
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Hymns
On Zion's Holy Ground
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Hymns
Work for the Harvest
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Hymns
In My Father's House
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Hymns
Come Life, Shaker Life
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Hymns
O Heaven of Heavens
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Hymns
One, Two, Three Steps
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Hymns
Little Trumpet
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Hymns
I've Set My Face for Zion's Kingdom
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Hymns
Funeral Hymn
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Jacob Druckman, composer
The Simple Gifts
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spirituals
Farewell Song
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spirituals
I Will Bow and Be SimpleNew England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Shaker Spirituals
Living Souls Let's Be Marching
New England Voices, Malcolm Halliday, conductor

Review:
"Especially inviting and inventive is "The Humble Heart,"...Although it's a dramatic and emotional journey scored for adult and children's choruses, vocal soloist, strings and piano, the piece never loses touch with the spacious simplicity of the Shaker aesthetic." (Albany Times Union)

"This collection...is a fascinating hybrid, mixing three choral suites...with a selection of the Shaker hymns and spirituals that inspired them. ...A primary New England Voices mandate is to commission new works on Shaker themes. Good news, as this beautifully presented first sampling demonstrates." (American Record Guide)
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