[SHAKERS]. Manuscript Shaker hymn book from Whitewater Village, Ohio. [Ca 1840s].

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American Historical Ephemera & Photography

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 25, 2021

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The June 25 American Historical Ephemera and Photography Auction features an exciting assemblage of 18th-early 20th century material, including Civil War archives, Early Photography, Western Americana, Autographs and Manuscripts, and more. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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• Lot Description
  When Mother Ann Lee came to North America the newly forming collective had as one of its primary interests the unity of its members. As is frequent with dissident groups, Shakers rejected the traditional hymns of established religions. They also rejected a passive participation, such as simply listening to soloists, small groups of singers or even choirs. They believed unity in the group could only be achieved by everyone singing in unison. A bit later, some harmonies were added, but everyone still sang together. As a result, some of the earliest singing involved only vocables (utterances without specific meanings) instead of words. Tunes which were known by everyone (secular "folk songs") were commonly used, even though their origins were not uncommonly drinking songs or other what some considered "vulgar" tunes. A second advantage to these, besides being widely known, was that they were intended to be sung unaccompanied by instruments, another aspect of "mainstream" music rejected by the Shakers (a few keyboards began to be used near the end of Shaker existence). 
  
  Sometimes singing was accompanied by dance (thereby doubling its unifying effect), but Shakers were known for singing on many other occasions - greeting visitors, for leisure, even while working. They especially favored songs which were inspired by the writer and evoked feelings as much as carrying important messages. In the early years these songs were taught directly from person to person. It did not take long for these to become so numerous as to risk being forgotten. Some individuals saw and heard music everywhere. Songs were also given as gifts both within the village and between villages where they became a unifying factor across the many Shaker villages.
  
  Since many people did not read standard music notations, the Shakers began developing a number of shorthand notations. Several of the most common used letters for the heads of notes, with variations such as upper case letters, lower case letters, or mixed case letters. "Tails" could then be added in much the same way as with standard musical notations. These are generally referred to as letteral notations. Later, younger converts shifted to conventional notation and the letteral systems were nearly lost. The more conservative villages in Maine retained knowledge of these, however. 
  
  7.5 x 8 in. notebook with blank blue pages, 3/4 brown leather over green leather boards. A number of pages have been removed. Missing pages are 5-10; 17-22; 27-32; 35-36; 41-52; 59-60. Others are numbered a bit strangely - 167-158-169-160-161. OK after that to 202. (Unclear how many missing from rear - maybe a dozen leaves?). After page 136 there is a second title page: "Part Second / consisting of Songs from other parts of Zion, than White Water. Written by E Frost sept 14 1847." Throughout there are notes in shorthand. On p. 26, there is a song that appears to be in shorthand on the left, then written out on the right. (It is not Gregg shorthand, but appears to be Pittman or Munson [a derivative of Pittman] shorthand, likely with Mr. Frost's individual quirks, as well). In spite of missing pages, there are 102 pages of songs in the first part and 76 pages in the second part (178 pages total), and many pages have multiple songs on them. The majority have letteral notations, some fairly simple, others with symbols other than letter notes.
  
  The hymn noted above (p.26) has in its title: "The following hymn was given by "Insp" at U. Village for George King, of White Water Village." Union Village was the first and largest Shaker village west of the Alleghany Mountains, located in Turtlecreek Township, Warren County, Ohio. It was founded in 1805 and operated until about 1912.
  
  White Water Village was located in the northwest corner of Hamilton County, Ohio (Crosby and Morgan townships). This village was established in 1822-1824 by a group from Union Village. The last two residents left in 1916.
  
  [With:] 
  
  Notebook of Hymns/poems, 7 x 8 in., 1860s. No musical notation. Black leather boards with brown leather spine. (boards separated from text block). Approx. 100 pages
  
  [With:]
  
  Manuscript copy of The Battles of Tulavera (battle in Spain in 1809), by John Wilson Croker (1780-1857), Irish statesman and author, 22 verses. 7 x 9.5 in., paper wraps.
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