Peace

“Peace” is the very first Shaker song I arranged for SATB chorus. It is lightly harmonized and spotlights the the chant-like nature of the original melody. I first came across the tune in Roger Hall’s songbook “Love is Little: A Sampling of Shaker Spirituals,” and the free-flowing lyricism of this melody is one of the unique qualities that initially attracted me to Shaker music.

“Peace” was published in 1998 by Earthsongs as the opening song in the “Shaker Songs” suite. It is available on multiple recordings, including The Dale Warland Singers’ best-selling “Harvest Home.”

Pacifism and nonviolence are part of the Shakers’ core principles.

Read more: War and Peace - A Shaker Viewpoint

Peace unto Zion.
Peace, peace to the faithful,
and a crown of rejoicing from your Heavenly Father.

When Zion shall be cleansed she shall flourish as a rose.
I will walk in her midst and will bless all those with a tenfold blessing.
And their sorrows shall cease, for I’ll cry upon her walls.

Peace, peace, sweet peace.