canasg choral music publishing

SA5005

Mother Ann's song

Shaker song

arranged by Sheena Phillips
for soprano, alto and tenor(and/or bass) unaccompanied chorus

SATB performance time approx 1m 30s (sung once through)

Arranger's note

This song, dating from the New Lebanon community of 1844, is one of many Shaker songs written using the syllables 'vum, vi, ve, vo'. As well as being strong syllables to sing, they are close to words about life (Latin 'vivo', 'vita' etc and the old incantation 'Fe fi fo fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman..'). The song has a driving energy and works well sung twice through, once at a moderate pace, the second time much faster.

Traditionally nearly all the Shaker songs were sung in unison but they come alive in a different way when harmonised. As with Gaelic mouth music, a sequence of Shaker tunes can work well in concert. Other harmonised Shaker tunes published by Canasg include Lay me low, Simple gifts, Star of purity and Turning shuffle tune.

Music

See a sample of the music

You need Acrobat Reader on your computer to see music pages. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, go to our 'links' page to find out how to get it free of charge. (You'll have to go back to the catalogue page first).

Hear a MIDI file of the song

Words

Mother Ann's song

Vum vive vum vive vum vum vo,
Ve vum vive vum vive vum vum vo,
Vum vive vum vive vum vum vo,
Ve vum vive vo ve vum vum vo,

Vum vive vum vive vum vum vo,
Vive vive vive vive vum vum vo,
Vum vive vum vive vum vum vo,
Ve vum vive vum ve vum vum vo.

Shaker song 'learned of Mother Ann', September 1844.

Ann Lee was a leader of the Shaker movement and was given the title Mother. She was viewed virtually as a female deity and many Shaker songs are attributed to her inspiration or refer warmly to her.

Our transcription of these words and the tune is taken from Edward Deming Andrews' book The Gift to be Simple: songs, dances and rituals of the American Shakers published by Dover Publications, New York (and on the web at www.doverpublications.com).

Price

The price of this piece depends on the number of singers in your group. This is a single payment for a licence to make as many copies as you need for your group to rehearse and perform the song as often as you wish. Copies of the song must not be given, lent or sold to any other group.

Number of singers in your group
up to 12 singers	13 to 24 singers	25 singers or more
Ł3 (approx US$5.00)	Ł6 (approx US$10)	Ł9 (approx US$15)
Please note that your Paypal transaction will be in sterling but it should automatically be converted if your credit card draws on a different currency.

Companion pieces

Browse the 'Sacred music' section of the Canasg catalogue for more songs like this one. To go there now, click on the 'catalogue' box to the right.

Canasg Music

publishing refreshingly original choral music

Mother Ann's song

Arranger's note

Music

Words

Price

Companion pieces

Canasg Music