How was music used in Indian Shaker Church worship?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Native American music Native Americans playing drums at a powwow.

In the Indian Shaker Church, music serves as an integral component of their church-centered worship. The sacred music of the movement consists of hymns sung in Indian languages, which are performed with the accompaniment of handbells and rhythmic foot stomping.1

These musical practices are part of a broader tradition that combines indigenous healing rituals with Christian elements, replacing traditional curing methods with spiritual healing through shaking and dancing. While the church utilizes plain buildings furnished with prayer tables and crosses, it does not observe standard Christian sacraments or festivals, instead emphasizing direct revelations.2