Music has always been an essential part of Shakers’ experience. Right from the beginning, music was an important part of Shaker worship. At first, the music was chanting and were transmitted by word of mouth. But, as some of the members experienced a ‘spiritual gift’, the hymns were written down.

Since most of them had no formal musical training, their hymns were not written in musical notation but in a form using letters. The Shakers felt that these hymns were inspired by God.

The Shakers’ first hymnal, Millennial Praises, contained 140 songs and was published in 1812.

Most people are familiar with the song, Simple Gifts. Simple Gifts was composed in 1848 by Elder Joseph Brackett, on or about the time he moved to the Shaker community at Alfred, Maine, otherwise known as Sabbathday Lake. This community is the model for Zion, the community I include in my Will Rees mysteries.

Here is a link to a version done by Allison Krauss and Yo Yo Ma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baNueuDCue0&list=RDbaNueuDCue0&start_radio=1