Come Life, Shaker Life!

Transcription

1 Gwyneth Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! for High oice, Piano and Clarinet (with two songs for Children s oices)

2 This new version of Come Life, Shaker Life! for solo voice, clarinet and piano was adapted from the original scoring for chorus with orchestra. The intent was to provide an option for smaller-scale performance. The clarinet, with its versatile blending-yetsoloistic timbre, was a natural choice. One may use either Soprano or Tenor voice. Two songs feature children s voices. Come Life, Shaker Life! is a celebration of life -- both as the Shakers may have celebrated in the 19th-century, and as we may choose to celebrate now. Shaker tunes and lyrics form the basis of this work. But the musical arrangements are definitely 21stcentury American in style. Often a straightforward rhythm in the favorite Shaker 2/2 meter is transformed into a swing rhythm. Sparse harmonies have dissonances and blues sonorities interspersed. The intent is to enjoy the enduring liveliness of the music of the Shakers, and also to add fresh life. Our life! The suite opens with the title song, Come Life! Come life, Shaker life, come life eternal. The reference to David in the lyrics ( I ll take nimble steps, I ll be a David ) derives from the biblical quotation of King David "leaping and dancing before the Lord." And indeed, the Shakers also worshipped the Lord through dance. I Never Did Believe presents the individual Shaker, on spiritual quest. "I never did believe that I ever would be saved without giving up all to God." The texture is sparse -- the solo voice and clarinet answer each other in musical phrase. In lighthearted contrast, the next song, Followers of the Lamb is boisterous and colorful song: "I'm glad I am a Shaker...I love to attend to order." [!] The Shakers were energetic in both their work and dance. [They must have had a sense of humor too!] The next song, Little Children, is marked with a playful bounce. ["Little children, says Holy Mother, soothe and comfort one another."] This is followed by Watch Ye, Watch Ye, a solemn yet hopeful expression of waiting for the Lord to come. ["Fear ye not, for with my hand I will lead you on. And safely I'll guide your little boat beyond this vale of sorrow."] Repeated notes in the accompaniment may be heard as a clock striking the hours. The little boat rocks on its wave-like patterns. "Hop Up and Jump Up" is a round and a dancing song for Treble oices. Choreography may be included. This leads directly into the Finale, Come to Zion, a forceful and celebratory song. "All who will may come and share the glories of this Jubilee. Halleluia!" Come Life, Shaker Life! is inspired by the Shaker joy of living: song, dance, faith, humor, playfulness, prayer and celebration. Life then. Life now.

3 Score in C Traditional Come Life, Shaker Life! for High oice, Clarinet and Piano 1. Come Life! Gwyneth Walker Clarinet Piano Rhythmically = 66 as a dance [constant tempo throughout] Rhythmically = 66 as a dance [constant tempo throughout] (B Clarinet) 5 A with energy and joy A Come life, Sha -ker life, come life e - ter - nal. 9 Shake, shake, out of me all that is car - nal. Copyright 2017 by Gwyneth Walker 252 Park Street, New Canaan, CT All rights reserved

4 2 1 B B Shake! Shake! Shake! shake! 17 Shake! Shake! Shake! Shake! Shake! 21 C daintily, nimbly C * lightly I ll take nim -ble steps, I ll be a Da - vid. I ll show Mi -chal twice lightly Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 1. Come Life! *The scriptural passage most often cited by Shakers in defense of their dances is 2 Samuel 6: 14-16: And David danced before the Lord with all his might... And as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul s daughter, looked through a window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

5 25 D lightly how he be - ha - ved. I ll take nim -ble steps, I ll be a Da - vid. D 29 daintily I ll show Mi -chal twice how he be - ha - ved. E E very rhythmically Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 1. Come Life!

6 4 8 () *Hand claps () 42 F Come life! Sha-ker life! Come life! F 47 G G with pedal e *Shakers often accompanied their singing and dancing with rhythmic hand claps. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 1. Come Life! - ter nal,

7 52 5 cresc. e - ter - nal, e - ter H H - - nal. Sha-ker life! 60 Come life, Sha-ker life, come life e -ter - nal. Shake shake, out of me all that is car - nal. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 1. Come Life!

8 6 64 I I lightly I ll take nim -ble steps, I ll be a Da - vid. I ll show Mi - chal twice how he be - ha - ved. lightly 68 lightly I ll take nim -ble steps, I ll be a Da - vid. I ll show Mi -chal twice daintily white-note gliss. 72 Hand claps how he be - ha - Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 1. Come Life! ved. 2:15

9 2. I Never Did Believe 7 Freely, as an introduction (as a solitary voice in worship) A A At a moderate, flowing = 108 At a moderate, flowing = 108 slow, gentle arpeggios, played in a soothing manner with much pedal in a simple, reverant and expressive manner I nev - er did be - lieve that I 18 ev - er could be saved with - out giv - ing up all to God. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 2. I Never Did Believe

10 8 2 in a simple manner, reverent in style (to answer the voice) B B 27 lightly tongued more expressive So I 2 C free - ly give the whole, my bod - y and my soul, to the Lord God, C Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 2. I Never Did Believe

11 7 more expressive D 9 A men. D 41 lightly tongued 45 E E cresc. poco a poco 49 cresc. poco a poco (cresc.) Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 2. I Never Did Believe F F grandly, with strength

12 10 5 celebratory () celebratory 56 A men! A men! with pedal A - men! Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 2. I Never Did Believe

13 62 G () 11 ( ) A men! G A men! 68 col piano with pedal Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 2. I Never Did Believe

14 12 71 () expressively So dim. I H lightly tongued, as a background of gentle intensity free - ly give the H with intensity gently quivering with much pedal whole, 74 (breathe ad lib.) my bod - y and my soul, 77 to the Lord God, A Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 2. I Never Did Believe

15 80 1 men, to the Lord God, cresc. poco a poco 8 I * ( dim. 86 A (cresc.) rit. to end (dim.) ) rit. to end I men. () () A - men. () *Ossia for lower voices :0 Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 2. I Never Did Believe

16 14. Followers of the Lamb With a joyful bounce = 108 With a joyful bounce = 108 in a rough-hewn New England style 7 boisterously A Oh *breth - ren ain t you hap - py, Oh *breth - ren ain t you love to at - tend to ord - er, I love to at - tend to A 12 hap ord - py, Oh *breth - ren ain t you hap - py, Ye Fol - low-ers - er, I love to at -tend to ord - er, Ye Fol - low-ers of of the the Lamb. Lamb. B B *When sung by a Soprano substitute Sisters for Brethren. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life!. Followers of the Lamb

17 18 lightly...hap...sweep - py,...hap - py,...hap - py - ing,...clean - ing, all in ord - er C 29 loco Sing C on, with much pedal dance on, Fol -low - ers of E - man - u - el, D colla voce sing on, dance on, Ye Fol - low - ers of the Lamb. D Sing on, *Clap hands at shoulder level on left side and right side as indicated. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life!. Followers of the Lamb

18 16 4 dance on, Fol - low - ers of E - man - u - el. Sing on, dance on, Ye 9 Fol - low - ers of... Fol - low - ers of the Lamb. with pedal E Interlude I 44 * E 1. playfully, lightly *Clap hands in any location(s), to accompany the instrumental interlude. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life!. Followers of the Lamb

19 49 17 Sing ( ) I Interlude II F * F playfully white-note gliss. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life!. Followers of the Lamb G G Singer may vary claps in next 8 measures *Clap hands in any location(s) (as at E).

20 18 66 Sing with extra enthusiasm H 71 H glissando I m glad I am a Sha - ker, I m glad I am a Sha - ker, I m glad I am a Sha - ker, Ye () 76 I Fol - low - ers of the Lamb....Ye breth - ren, Ye sis - ters, I Walker Come Life, Shaker Life!. Followers of the Lamb

21 all de - vot - ed Fol - low - ers of the dance on, Fol - low - ers of E - man - u - el. Lamb. Sing on, J ( ) Sing on, J joyful eighths with much pedal dance on, Ye Fol - low - ers of the Lamb. Sing on, dance on, Fol - low - ers of E - K colla voce K 19 Walker Come Life, Shaker Life!. Followers of the Lamb

22 () man - u - el. Sing on, dance on, Ye Fol - low - ers of... L L Fol -low- ers of... Fol - low - ers, Fol - low- ers, Fol - low - ers, Fol - low - ers, I m M M Walker Come Life, Shaker Life!. Followers of the Lamb glad I am a Sha - ker, animated, joyous trill/shake () animated, joyous trill/shake animated, joyous trill/shake animated, joyous trill/shake

23 111 () 115 so I m N glad I am a 5 5 () 119 of the glad I am a N 5 5 lightly tongued Lamb! Walker Come Life, Shaker Life!. Followers of the Lamb Sha - ker, 4 4 () Sha - ker, Ye Fol - low - ers 4 4 Clap in front of face 21 :00

24 22 4. Little Children With a playful bounce = 120 (constant tempo throughout) 5 A 9 A Perhaps Children s voices Lit - tle chil - dren, says Ho - ly Moth - er, soothe and com - fort one an - oth - er. 1 lightly tongued, colla voce () Lo lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - with slight pedal dum. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 4. Little Children

25 B () Draw the cords of un - ion strong - er, wind and bind them a - round each oth - er. B 24 Make them feel your love and bless () ing. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 4. Little Children

26 24 28 C lightly tongued C 1 () Lo lo - dle, lo - dle, 5 () D lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dum. D Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 4. Little Children

27 25 9 colla voce () Lo lo - dle, lo - dle, 4 E 46 E lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - cle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle. Lit - tle chil - dren, says Ho - ly Moth - er, soothe and com - fort one an - oth - er. (answering voice) Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 4. Little Children

28 26 50 Lo lo dle, lo dle, lo dle, lo dle, lo dle, lo dle, lo dle, lo dle, lo - dum. Draw the cords of un - ion strong - er, wind and bind them a - F F 57 round each oth - er. Make them feel your love. Make them feel your Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 4. Little Children

29 61 love, Make them feel your love and G bless G ing. 68 Lo lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 4. Little Children (to in A) dum. 2:20

30 28 5. Watch Ye, Watch Ye Slowly = 80 as a clock striking the hours 8 A with solemnity, awaiting the coming of the Lord A Watch ye, watch ye, and be read-y to 14 meet me, for lo, I come at noon (Clarinet in A) - day. B Fear ye not, fear ye not, for B Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 5. Watch Ye, Watch Ye

31 19 29 with my hand I will lead you on, and safe -ly I ll guide your lit - tle boat be -yond this vale of 2 C with more energy accel. poco a poco sor - row. Be - C accel. poco a poco () 28 Faster = 92 () yond this vale, be - yond this vale, be - yond this Faster = 92 Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 5. Watch Ye, Watch Ye

32 0 D vale of D sor with intensity row. 8 E 4 For lo, I come at noon - day. E loco with pedal cantabile And safe - ly I ll guide your Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 5. Watch Ye, Watch Ye

33 47 F 1 lit - tle boat be - yond this vale of sor row. F as waves 51 () I ll guide your boat, 55 I ll guide your lit - tle, lit - tle boat. cresc. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 5. Watch Ye, Watch Ye

34 () 71 * Ah ( noon colla voce and be (** day. * Ossia for lower voices **Play lower note if singer takes lower note. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 5. Watch Ye, Watch Ye - read - y to meet G with intensity Watch ye, G with intensity me, cresc for ) ) lo, I watch ye, come at

35 75 H Fear ye not, H fear ye not, for with my hand I will rit. lead you on, and I cantabile I safe - ly I ll guide, safe - ly I ll guide your lit - tle boat be - yond this vale, be - rit. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 5. Watch Ye, Watch Ye Slowly, freely Slowly, freely () and yond this vale, (answering voice)

36 4 89 colla voce be - yond this vale, be - yond this vale of sor - J With solemnity = 92 row. () 95 rit. to end () Watch ye, rit. to end () J With solemnity = 92 watch ye, () 100 () (rit.) (rit.) watch ye, Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 5. Watch Ye, Watch Ye watch ye. (to B Cl) :50

37 At a lively, energetic tempo = 144, or faster At a lively, energetic tempo = 144, or faster 6. Hop Up and Jump Up Children s voices [Hop up] Hop up and jump up and 5 6 (B Clarinet) *(answering voice) [Hop up] [turn around] whirl round, whirl round. Gath - er love, here it is, [and sit down] all round, all round. 10 [turn around] A A *Suggested choreography for the children is included in the score. It might be especially charming if Clarinet might duplicate the children s choreography while playing, ad lib. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 6. Hop Up and Jump Up

38 6 15 B () Here is love flow -ing round, catch it as you whirl round. B 19 (hand gestures) [up] [down] Reach up and reach down, [out] here it is all round. [in] (answering voice) () [Hold clarinet up... lower lower... lower] C *[dip] *[dip] C *Everyone lean to the left and dip on the third beat. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 6. Hop Up and Jump Up

39 29 D 7 [hands sway to and fro] La, la, la, D 4 colla voce [Sway to and fro] () la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la, la, 9 la, la, la, la, la, la. E a * [Hop up] Hop up and jump up and [turn around] whirl round, whirl round. E *If using Children s Chorus, rather than a Soloist, groups a and b may answer one another. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 6. Hop Up and Jump Up

40 8 4 Gath-er love, here it is, all round, all round. [and sit down] b * [Hop up] Hop up and jump up and [turn around] whirl round, whirl round. 47 F [and sit down] a Gath-er love, here it is, all round, all round. Here is love, flow-ing round, catch it as you whirl round. F 51 [up] [down] Reach up and reach down, [out] [in] here it is all round. b Here is love, flow-ing round, catch it as you whirl round. *If using Children s Chorus, rather than a Soloist, groups a and b may answer one another. Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 6. Hop Up and Jump Up

41 55 G 9 (hand gestures) [up] [down] Reach up and reach down, [out] here is love all round. [in] G 59 [dip] [dip] 64 H a [hands sway to and fro] La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. H Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 6. Hop Up and Jump Up

42 40 69 [Sway to and fro] b [hands sway to and fro] La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. 7 I a b La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, I 78 J a [Hop up] la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. Hop up and jump up and J Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 6. Hop Up and Jump Up

43 82 41 [turn around] whirl round, whirl round. Gath - er love, here it is [and sit down] all round, all round. b [Hop up] Hop up and jump up and 86 K [turn around] whirl round, whirl round. [and sit down] a Gath - er love, here it is, all round, all round. Here is love, flow-ing round, K 90 catch it as you whirl round. [up] [down] Reach up and reach down, [out] [in] here is love all round. b Here is love flow-ing round, Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 6. Hop Up and Jump Up

44 42 94 catch it as you whirl round. [up] [down] Reach up and reach down, [out] [in] here is love all round, a + b all round, all round, 98 L [dip] all round, all round. L [dip] 10 [point clarinet towards audience] [hands out towards the audience] Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 6. Hop Up and Jump Up 2:50 This song connects directly to the next song, with only about a 2 sec. break.

45 7. Come to Zion [for High oice, Clarinet, Piano and optional Children s oices] 4 = 100, swing eighths forcefully Come to Zi - on, come to Zi - on, sin - sick souls in 4 = 100, swing eighths with pedal (B Clarinet) forcefully sor - row bound. Lay your cares be - fore the al - tar where true heal - ing 8 A can be found. Shout Hal - le - lu - ia. A Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 7. Come to Zion

46 44 12 Hal - le - lu - ia! Praise re - sounds o er land and sea. All who will may 16 B come and share the glo - ries of this Ju - bi - lee. B 20 Hal - le - lu - ia! Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 7. Come to Zion

47 24 Hal - le - lu - ia! Hal - le - lu - ia! C C Hal - le, hal - le, hal - le, hal - le, hal - le - lu - ia! 1 () Hal - le, hal - le, hal - le, hal - le, hal - le - lu - ia! Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 7. Come to Zion

48 46 5 D () Ch. * Children s voices Hal - le - lu! Hal-le - lu! Hal-le - lu - ia! forcefully Come to Zi - on, come to Zi - on, sin - sick souls in sor - row bound. D 9 Ch. Hal - le - lu! Hal - le - lu! Hal - le - lu - ia! Lay your cares be - fore the al - tar where true heal - ing may be found. *Optional Children s Choir Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 7. Come to Zion

49 *[children] *[adult] ( ) Shout E ***col voice ** Hal - le - lu - ia! Hal - le - lu - ia! E Hal - le - lu - ia! Hal - le - lu - ia! Hal - le - lu - ia! Hal - le - lu - ia! Praise re -sounds o er land and sea. *[all] All who will may F * If Children s Choir is present, they should answer the adult singer in mm , then all in m. 49. ** Cue-sized notes are an ossia for lower voices *** Clarinet performs same line as the voice (full-sized or cue-sized). Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 7. Come to Zion F [all] come and share the 47

50 48 55 G ( Faster = 120 straight eighths very rhythmically glor - ies of this Ju - bi - lee! 59 ) G Faster = 120 straight eighths very rhythmically *[children] [Play only when there is no H Children s Chorus (through m. 68)] lightly tongued Little chil - dren, says H background accompaniment 62 Ho - ly Moth - er, soothe and com - fort one an - oth - er, lo - dle, *If Children s Choir present Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 7. Come to Zion

51 65 49 lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, lo - dle, 68 I I lo - dum. 71 daintily [adult] daintily I ll take nim -ble steps, I ll be a Da - vid. daintily Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 7. Come to Zion

52 colla voce I ll show Mi - chal twice how he be - ha - ved. Come! [add children] J J ( ) ( ) Come! Come! 80 rit. Slower colla voce ( ) Come Sha -ker life, come life e - rit. Slower Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 7. Come to Zion

53 51 8 Ch. [children] ter ter nal, nal, Come life! Come life! Come 86 portamento Ch. life! Come life! () Walker Come Life, Shaker Life! 7. Come to Zion :0 Total: 21:15 August 9, 2017 New Canaan, Connecticut