Come Life, Shaker Life! - Gwyneth Walker — Composer new version of Come Life, Shaker Life! for solo voice, clarinet and piano was adapted from the original scoring for chorus with

Gwyneth Walker

Come Life, Shaker Life!

for High Voice, Piano and Clarinet

(with two songs for Children’s Voices)

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-yet-soloistic 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 21st-century 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 Voices. 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.

Piano

Clarinet

Rhythmically = 66 as a dance[constant tempo throughout]

Rhythmically = 66 as a dance[constant tempo throughout]

(B¯ Clarinet)

V

Cl.

5

Come life, Sha ker life,

with energy and joy

A

A

come life e ter nal.

- - -

V

Cl.

9

Shake, shake, out of me

all that is car nal.

-

Come Life, Shaker Life!Gwyneth Walker

for High Voice, Clarinet and Piano

© Copyright 2017 by Gwyneth Walker252 Park Street, New Canaan, CT 06840

www.gwynethwalker.com All rights reserved

Traditional1. Come Life!

Score in C

V

Cl.

13

B

B

Shake! Shake!

Shake! shake!

V

Cl.

17

Shake! Shake!

Shake! Shake! Shake!

V

Cl.

21

I’ll take nim ble steps,

C

C

* lightly

lightly

I’ll be a Da vid.

daintily, nimbly

I’ll show Mi chal twice

- - -

2

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.”

V

Cl.

25

how he be ha ved.


D

D

lightly

I’ll be a Da vid.

- - - -

V

Cl.

29

daintily


how he be ha ved.

- - -

V

Cl.

33

E

Every rhythmically

3


V

Cl.

38

*Hand claps

()

()

V

Cl.

42

Come life!

F

F

Sha ker life!

Come life!

-

V

Cl.

47

G

G

with pedal

e

ter

nal,

- - - -

4


*Shakers often accompanied their singing and dancing with rhythmic hand claps.

V

Cl.

52

e

cresc.

ter nal, e

ter

- - - - - -

V

Cl.

56

nal.

H

H

Sha ker life!

- - -

V

Cl.

60

Come life, Sha ker life,

come life e ter nal.

Shake shake, out of me

all that is car nal.

- - - -

5


V

Cl.

64


lightly

lightly

I

I

I’ll be a Da vid.


how he be ha ved.

- - - - -

V

Cl.

white-n

ote gli

ss.

68


lightly

daintily

I’ll be a Da vid.


- - -

V

Cl.

72

how he be

ha ved.

Hand claps

2:15

- -

6


Cl.

Freely, as an introduction(as a “solitary voice” in worship)

Cl.

4

Cl.

9

V

13

A

A

At a moderate, flowing = 108

At a moderate, flowing = 108

with much pedal

slow, gentle arpeggios, played in a soothing manner

I

in a simple, reverant and expressive manner

nev er did be

lieve that I

- -

V

18

ev er could be

saved with out

giv ing up

all to

God.

- - -

7

Walker | Come Life, Shaker Life! | 2. I Never Did Believe

2. I Never Did Believe

V

Cl.

23

in a simple manner, reverent in style (to answer the voice)

B

B

V

Cl.

27

lightly tongued

So I

more expressive

V

Cl.

32

free ly give the

C

C

whole, my

bod y and my

soul, to the

3

Lord God,

- -

8


V

Cl.

37

A

men.

more expressive

D

D- - -

Cl.

41

3

lightly tongued

Cl.

45

cresc. poco a poco

E

E

Cl.

49

(cresc.)

cresc. poco a poco

grandly, with strength

F

F

9


V

Cl.

53

A

celebratory

()

celebratory

men!

5 5 5

5 5 5

3

- - - -

V

Cl.

56

A

men!

5 5 5

5 5 5

with pedal

- - - -

V

Cl.

59

3 3

A

men!

-

10


V

Cl.

62

G

G

A

()( )

men!

5 5 5

5 5 5

- - - - -

V

Cl.

65

3

A

men!

- - - -

V

Cl.

68

with pedal

3 3 3 3

3 3

3 3

3 3 3 3

3

col piano

11


V

Cl.

()

71

3 3

3

So I

3 3 3

3dim.

expressively

free ly give the

H

H

lightly tongued, as a background of gentle intensity

with much pedal

with intensity

gently quivering

whole,

-

V

Cl.

74

my

(breathe ad lib.)

bod y and my

soul,

-

V

Cl.

77

to the

Lord God,

A

- - - -

12


V

Cl.

80

men,

cresc. poco a poco

to the

Lord God,

V

Cl.

83

A

(cresc.)

men.

(*

I

I

dim.

- - - -

V

Cl.

()

86

)

(dim.)

rit. to end

rit. to end

A

()

()

men.

3:30

-

13


*Ossia for lower voices

Cl.

With a joyful bounce = 108

With a joyful bounce = 108

in a “rough-hewn” New England style

V

Cl.

7

Oh

boisterously

*breth ren ain’t you

love to at tend to

A

A

hapord

py,er,

OhI


love to at tend to

- - -- --

V

Cl.

12

hapord

py,er,

OhI


love to at tend to

hapord

py,er,

YeYe

FolFol

lowlow

ersers

ofof

thethe

Lamb.Lamb.

B

B

- - - - --- - - -

14

Walker | Come Life, Shaker Life! | 3. Followers of the Lamb

3. Followers of the Lamb

*When sung by a Soprano substitute “Sisters” for “Brethren.”

V

Cl.

18

. . .hap. . .sweep

py,ing,

lightly

. . .hap. . .clean

py,ing,

all in

. . .hap py

ord er. . .

- - -- - -

V

Cl.

23

loco

Sing on,

C

C

with much pedal

dance on,

Fol low ers of E

man u el,

- - - - -

V

Cl.

29

sing on,

dance on, Ye

Fol low ers of the

Lamb.

Sing on,

D

D

colla voce

- -

15


*Clap hands at shoulder level on left side and right side as indicated.

V

Cl.

34

dance on,

Fol low ers of E

man u el.

Sing on,

dance on, Ye

- - - - -

V

Cl.

39

Fol low ers of. . .

Fol low ers of the

Lamb.

with pedal

- - - -

V

44

1.

*

E

E

Interlude I

playfully, lightly

16


*Clap hands in any location(s), to accompany the instrumental interlude.

V

Cl.

49

I

( )Sing

V

Cl.

54 2.

2.

playfully

F

F

*

Interlude II

V

Cl.

white-note gliss.

60

G

G

Singer may vary claps in next 8 measures

17

Walker | Come Life, Shaker Life! | 3. Followers of the Lamb *Clap hands in any location(s) (as at E).

V

Cl.

glissando

66

I’m

with extra enthusiasmSing

glad I am a

H

H

V

Cl.

()

71

Sha ker, I’m

glad I am a

Sha ker, I’m

glad I am a

Sha ker, Ye

- - -

V

Cl.

76

Fol low ers of the

Lamb.

. . .Ye

I

I

breth ren,

Ye

sis ters,

- - - -

18


V

Cl.

82

all de

vot ed

Fol low ers of the

Lamb.

Sing on,

with much pedal

joyful eighths

( )

J

J

- - - -

V

Cl.

87

dance on,

Fol low ers of E

man u el.

Sing on,

dance on, Ye

- - - - -

V

Cl.

92

Fol low ers of the

Lamb.

Sing on,

K

K

colla voce

dance on,

Fol low ers of E

- - - - -

19


V

Cl.

97

man u el.

Sing on,

dance on, Ye

Fol low ers of. . .

L

L

- - - -

V

Cl.

102

Fol low ers of. . .

Fol low ers,

Fol low ers,

Fol low ers, Fol low ers,

4 4

4 4

- - - - - - - - - -

V

Cl.

()

107

I’m

glad I am a

M

M

Sha ker,

animated, joyous trill/shake

()




-

20


V

Cl.

()

111

so

glad I am a

5 5

Sha ker,

4 4

()

-

V

Cl.

()

115

I’m

glad I am a

5 5

N

N

Sha ker, Ye

4 4

Fol low ers

- - -

V

Cl.

119

of the

Lamb!

lightly tongued

Clap in frontof face

3:00

21


Cl.

3

With a playful bounce = 120(constant tempo throughout)

3

3

3

3

33 3 3

Cl.

5

3

3

3

3

3 3 3 3

3

3 3 3

3 3

3 3

V

9

3

Lit tle chil dren, says

A

A

Perhaps Children’s voices

Ho ly Moth er,

soothe and com fort

one an oth er.

- - - - - - -

V

Cl.

13

33

3

3

Lo lo dle, lo dle,

3

3

lightly tongued,colla voce

with slight pedal

()

3

3

lo dle, lo dle, lo dle,

3

3

33

3

3


3

3

3

lo dum.

3

- - - - - - - - -

22

Walker | Come Life, Shaker Life! | 4. Little Children

4. Little Children

V

Cl.

17

3

3

3 3 3 3

3

3 3 3

3 3

3 3

V

Cl.

20

3

Draw the cords of

B

B

()

un ion strong er,

3

wind and bind them a

round each oth er.

- - - -

V

Cl.

24

3

Make them feel your

3

3

love and bless

3

3

ing.

3

()

3

3

- - -

23


V

Cl.

28

3 3 3

3

3

3 3

3 3

3 3

3

3

3

3

C

C

lightly tongued

V

Cl.

31

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Lo lo dle, lo dle,

()

- -

V

Cl.

35

3

3


3

3


lo dum.

()

3 3

D

D

- - - - - - -

24


V

Cl.

39

3 3

3 3

3

3

3 3

Lo lo dle, lo dle,

3 3 3 3

colla voce

()

- -

V

Cl.

43

3

3

3 3


3 3 3 3

33 3 3

3 3 3 3

lo dle, lo dle, lo dle, lo cle,

3 3 3 3

33 3 3

3 3 3 3

lo dle, lo dle, lo dle, lo dle.

3 3 3 3

- - - - - - - - - - -

V

Cl.

46

3

Lit tle chil dren, says

E

E

3

Ho ly Moth er,

3

(answering voice)

soothe and com fort

3

one an oth er.

3

- - - - - - -

25


V

Cl.

50

3

3

Lo lo dle, lo dle,

3

3

3

3

3


3

3

3

3

3


3

- - - - - - - -

V

Cl.

53

3

3

lo dum.

3

3

Draw the cords of

F

F

3

un ion strong er,

3

wind and bind them a

- - - -

V

Cl.

57

3

round each oth er.

3

Make them feel your

3

3

love.

3

3

Make them feel your

3

-

26


V

Cl.

61

3

love,

3

3

3

Make them feel your

3

love and

bless

3 3

G

G

- - -

V

Cl.

65

ing.

3 3 3 3

3 3 3 3

3 3 3 3

33 3

3

V

Cl.

68

3

3

3

3

Lo lo dle, lo dle,

3

3


33

3

3


lo dum.

2:20

(to Cl. in A)

- - - - - - - - -

27


as a clock striking the hoursSlowly = 80

V

8

Watch ye,

with solemnity, awaiting the coming of the Lord

A

A

watch ye,

3

and be read y to

-

V

Cl.

14

meet me, for

lo, I come at noon

3

day.

(Clarinet in A)

Fear ye not,

B

B

fear ye not, for

-

28

Walker | Come Life, Shaker Life! | 5. Watch Ye, Watch Ye

5. Watch Ye, Watch Ye

V

Cl.

19

with my hand I will

3

lead you on, and

3

safe ly I’ll guide your lit tle

boat be yond this vale of

- - -

V

Cl.

()

23

sor row.

with more energy

C

C

accel. poco a poco

accel. poco a poco

Be

- -

V

Cl.

28

yond this

()

Faster = 92

Faster = 92

vale, be

yond this

vale, be

yond this

- -

29


V

Cl.

33

vale of

sor

with intensity

D

D

row.

3

3

- - -

V

Cl.

38

For lo, I come at

noon day.

3 3 3

E

E

loco

with pedal

-

V

Cl.

43

And

cantabile

safe ly I’ll guide your

3

3

3 3

-

30


V

Cl.

47

lit tle boat be

3

3

yond this vale of

sor

3 3

3

F

F

as waves

row.

3 3

3

- - - - -

V

Cl.

51

3 3

3

I’ll

3 3

3

()

guide your

3 3

3

boat,

3 3

3

V

Cl.

55

3 3

3

I’ll

3 3

3

guide your lit tle,

3 3 3

cresc.

lit tle boat.

3 3 3

- -

31


V

Cl.

59

Ah

Watch ye,

G

G

with intensity

with intensity

watch ye,

V

Cl.

()

64

and be

colla voce

read y to

meet me,

for

lo, I

come at

-

V

Cl.

71

noon

(

*

day.

(

**

5 5 5

5 5 5

cresc.

5 5

5

5 5

5

)

)

-

32


* Ossia for lower voices**Play lower note if singer takes lower note.

V

Cl.

75

Fear ye not,

H

H

fear ye not,

for

with my hand

V

Cl.

80

I will

lead you on,

and

cantabile

safe ly I’ll guide,

I

I

()

and

-

V

Cl.

85

safe ly I’ll guide your

3 3

3

3

rit.

rit.

lit tle boat be

3

3

Slowly, freely

Slowly, freely

yond this vale, be

yond this vale,

(answering voice)

- - - -

33


V

Cl.

()

89

be

colla voce

yond this vale, be

yond this vale of

sor

J

J

With solemnity = 92

With solemnity = 92

row.

- - -

V

Cl.

()

95

Watch ye,

rit. to end

rit. to end

()

3

()

watch ye,

V

Cl.

()

100

3

(rit.)

(rit.)

watch ye,

3

watch ye.

3

3:50

(to B¯ Cl)

34


V

At a lively, energetic tempo = 144, or faster

At a lively, energetic tempo = 144, or faster

Hop up and jump up and

[Hop up]

Children’s voices

V

Cl.

6

whirl round, whirl round.

[turn around]

Gath er love, here it is,

all round, all round.

[and sit down]

(B¯ Clarinet)

*(answering voice)

[Hop up]

-

V

Cl.

10

[turn around]

A

A

35

Walker | Come Life, Shaker Life! | 6. Hop Up and Jump Up

6. Hop Up and Jump Up

*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.

V

Cl.

15

Here is love flow ing round,

B

B

()

catch it as you whirl round.

-

V

Cl.

19

Reach up and reach down,

[up] [down]

(hand gestures)

here it is all round.

[out] [in]

(answering voice)

()

up... lower...[Hold clarinet

V

Cl.

24

lower... lower]

C

C

*[dip]

*[dip]

36


*Everyone lean to the left and “dip” on the third beat.

V

Cl.

29

La, la, la,

D

D

[hands sway to and fro]

V

Cl.

34

la, la, la, la,

la, la, la, la,

la, la.

La, la, la,

()

colla voce[Sway to and fro]

la, la, la, la,

V

Cl.

39

la, la, la, la,

la, la.


E

E

a *[Hop up]


[turn around]

37

*If using Children’s Chorus, rather than a Soloist, groups “a” and “b” may answer one another.


V

Cl.

43



[and sit down]


b *[Hop up]


[turn around]

-

V

Cl.

47



[and sit down]

Here is love, flow ing round,

F

F

a


- -

V

Cl.

51


[up] [down]

here it is all round.

[out] [in]


b


-

38

*If using Children’s Chorus, rather than a Soloist, groups “a” and “b” may answer one another.


V

Cl.

55


[up] [down](hand gestures)

here is love all round.

[out] [in]

G

G

V

Cl.

59

[dip]

[dip]

V

Cl.

64

La, la, la,

H

H

a

[hands sway to and fro]

la, la, la, la,

la, la, la, la,

la, la.

39


V

Cl.

69

La, la, la,

b[hands sway to and fro]

[Sway to and fro]

la, la, la, la,

la, la, la, la,

la, la.

V

Cl.

73

La, la, la,

I

I

a

la, la, la, la, la,

la, la, la, la,

la, la.

La, la, la,

b

V

Cl.

78

la, la, la, la, la,

la, la, la, la,

la, la.


J

J

a[Hop up]

40


V

Cl.

82


[turn around]

Gath er love, here it is


[and sit down]


b[Hop up]

-

V

Cl.

86


[turn around]



[and sit down]


K

K

a

- -

V

Cl.

90



[up] [down]

here is love all round.

[out] [in]

Here is love flow ing round,

b

-

41


V

Cl.

94



[up] [down]

here is love all round,

[out] [in]

all round, all round,

a + b

V

Cl.

98


L

L

[dip]

[dip]

V

Cl.

103

2:50This song connects directly to the next song, with only about a 2 sec. break.

[hands out towards the audience]

[point clarinet towards audience]

42


V

Come to Zi on,

forcefully= 100, swing eighths

= 100, swing eighths

with pedal

come to Zi on,

sin sick souls in

- - -

V

Cl.

4

sor row bound.

Lay your cares be

forcefully

(B¯ Clarinet)

fore the al tar

where true heal ing

- - - -

V

Cl.

8

3 3

can be found.

Shout

“Hal le lu ia.

A

A

- - -

43

Walker | Come Life, Shaker Life! | 7. Come to Zion

7. Come to Zion[for High Voice, Clarinet, Piano and optional Children’s Voices]

V

Cl.

12

Hal le lu ia!”

Praise re sounds o’er

land and sea.

3 3

All who will may

- - - -

V

Cl.

16

come and share the

glo ries of this

3 3

Ju bi lee.

B

B- - -

V

Cl.

20

Hal le

3 3

lu ia!

- - -

44


V

Cl.

24 3

3

Hal le lu ia!

Hal le lu ia!

- - - - - -

V

Cl.

27

Hal le, hal le, hal le,

C

C

hal le, hal le lu ia!

- - - - - - -

V

Cl.

31

Hal le, hal le, hal le,

hal le, hal le lu ia!

()

- - - - - - -

45


V

Cl.

Ch.

35

“Hal le

Come to Zi on,

D

D

* Children’s voices

()

forcefully

lu!” “Hal le

come to Zi on,

lu!” “Hal le

sin sick souls in

lu ia!”

sor row bound.

- - - -

- - - - - - -

V

Cl.

Ch.

39

“Hal le

Lay your cares be

lu!” “Hal le

fore the al tar

lu!” “Hal le

where true heal ing

3 3

lu ia!”

may be found.

-

- - -

- - - - - -

46


*Optional Children’s Choir

V

Cl.

43

Shout

( )*[adult]

“Hal le lu ia!

***col voice

**

E

E

Hal le lu ia!

- - - - - -

V

Cl.

47

Hal le lu ia!

*[children]

Hal le lu ia!

Hal le lu ia!

*[all]

Hal le lu ia!”

- - - - - - - - - - - -

V

Cl.

51

Praise re sounds o’er

land and sea.

3 3

All who will may

F

F

[all]

come and share the

-

47


* If Children’s Choir is present, they should “answer” the adult singer in mm. 45-46, 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).

V

Cl.

55

glor ies of this

Ju bi

lee!

(

G

G

Faster = 120 straight eighths

Faster = 120 straight eighthsvery rhythmically

very rhythmically

- - -

V

Cl.

59

)

Little chil dren, says

lightly tongued

H

H

*[children]

[Play only when there is no Children’s Chorus (through m. 68)]

background accompaniment

-

V

Cl.

62

Ho ly Moth er,

soothe and com fort

one an oth er, lo dle,

- - - - - -

48


*If Children’s Choir present

V

Cl.

65




- - - - - - - - -

V

Cl.

68

lo dum.

I

I

-

V

Cl.

71


daintily

daintily[adult]

daintily

I’ll be a Da vid.

- -

49


V

Cl.

74


colla voce

how he be ha ved. Come!

[add children]

J

J

(

- - -

V

Cl.

77

Come!

)

(

Come!

)

V

Cl.

80

(

)

rit.

rit.

Come Sha ker life, come life e

Slower

Slower

colla voce

- -

50


V

Cl.

Ch.

83

ter

ter

[children]

nal, Come

nal,

life! Come

Come life!

- - - - -

- - - - -

V

Cl.

Ch.

()

portamento

86

life!

Come life!

51


3:30 | Total: 21:15August 9, 2017

New Canaan, Connecticut

Documents

Come Life, Shaker Life! - Gwyneth Walker — Composer new version of Come Life, Shaker Life! for solo voice, clarinet and piano was adapted from the original scoring for chorus with