Issachar Bates
Encyclopedia
Issachar Bates was the most prominent composer of music for the Shakers
, best known for "Come Life, Shaker Life", which he wrote in 1835.
Bates was born in Hingham, Massachusetts
on January 29, 1758, he moved to the Shaker community in Watervliet, New York
in 1803.
In 1805, he left from New Lebanon, New York for an extended trip with two other Shaker missionaries, John Meacham and Benjamin S. Youngs. Their travels took them to Kentucky and Ohio where the camp meeting revivals had taken place. Bates was the musician who sang at the first official Shaker meeting in the West at Turtle Creek, Ohio on May 23, 1805.
Before he joined the Shakers in 1801, Bates had served in the American Revolution as a young fifer and had learned many of the tunes of that time. He used one of these tunes in his early Shaker hymn, "Rights of Conscience." This long ballad hymn of fifteen verses pays tribute to both George Washington
and Mother Ann Lee. Bates based his hymn on the popular tune of Washington's time, titled "The President's March."
Later on Bates became a prominent Shaker church leader, serving mainly at Watervliet, Ohio. He wrote many Shaker spirituals, including an anthem, "Mount Zion," and the hymn, "Ode to Contentment," with words by Elder Richard Pelham from the Shaker community at North Union, Ohio.
Bates returned to New Lebanon, New York in 1835 and the following year completed his lively and informative autobiography. He remained at New Lebanon until his death on March 17, 1837. As per his request, "Almighty Savior," a hymn which he had composed, was sung at his funeral.
Shakers
The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers, is a religious sect originally thought to be a development of the Religious Society of Friends...
, best known for "Come Life, Shaker Life", which he wrote in 1835.
Bates was born in Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
on January 29, 1758, he moved to the Shaker community in Watervliet, New York
Watervliet, New York
Watervliet is a city in Albany County in the US state of New York. The population was 10,254 as of the 2010 census. Watervliet is north of Albany, the capital of the state, and is bordered on the north, west, and south by the town of Colonie. The city is also known as "the Arsenal City".- History...
in 1803.
In 1805, he left from New Lebanon, New York for an extended trip with two other Shaker missionaries, John Meacham and Benjamin S. Youngs. Their travels took them to Kentucky and Ohio where the camp meeting revivals had taken place. Bates was the musician who sang at the first official Shaker meeting in the West at Turtle Creek, Ohio on May 23, 1805.
Before he joined the Shakers in 1801, Bates had served in the American Revolution as a young fifer and had learned many of the tunes of that time. He used one of these tunes in his early Shaker hymn, "Rights of Conscience." This long ballad hymn of fifteen verses pays tribute to both George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and Mother Ann Lee. Bates based his hymn on the popular tune of Washington's time, titled "The President's March."
Later on Bates became a prominent Shaker church leader, serving mainly at Watervliet, Ohio. He wrote many Shaker spirituals, including an anthem, "Mount Zion," and the hymn, "Ode to Contentment," with words by Elder Richard Pelham from the Shaker community at North Union, Ohio.
Bates returned to New Lebanon, New York in 1835 and the following year completed his lively and informative autobiography. He remained at New Lebanon until his death on March 17, 1837. As per his request, "Almighty Savior," a hymn which he had composed, was sung at his funeral.