May 17th Shape Note materials for members to download here!

Calling all members, singers, and non-singers- get your practice materials here!

Shape Note Recording Event May 17, 2026
Time: 11 am practice, 1 pm recording
Place: BIN Cultural Center
N1866 US-151, Chilton, WI 53401

Stipends available (no paperwork required) from the Mark Baldwin Memorial Fund to help offset travel expenses. Please get in touch with Megan at BrothertownCitizen@aol.com

The two songs chosen from Indian Melodies by Thomas Commuck were “Algonquin” and “Brothertown” for the Wisconsin Historical Society archive recordings.

If you’re not sure if you are a soprano, alto, tenor, or bass, you can download all parts easily (small-sized audio files) and will find the right range for you.

“Algonquin hymn” recordings to practice from: To download, (computer or Phone) click the three dots on the right on the page that opens.

• Algonquin – soprano (2x):https://brothertownindians.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Algonquin-soprano-2x.m4a
• Algonquin- alto (2x): https://brothertownindians.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Algonquin-alto-2x.m4a
• Algonquin – tenor (2x): https://brothertownindians.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Algonquin-tenor-2x.m4a
• Algonquin – bass (2x): https://brothertownindians.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Algonquin-bass-2x.m4a
• Algonquin – 4 parts together: https://brothertownindians.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Algonquin-4-parts.m4a

“Brothertown hymn” recordings to practice from: To download, (computer or Phone) click the three dots on the right on the page that opens.

• Brothertown – soprano (2x): https://brothertownindians.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Brothertown-526-soprano.m4a
• Brothertown – alto (2x) Shape Note: https://brothertownindians.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Brothertown-alto-2x.m4a
• Brothertown – tenor (2x) Shape Note: https://brothertownindians.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Brothertown-526-tenor-2x.m4a
• Brothertown – bass (2x) Shape Note: https://brothertownindians.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Brothertown-bass-2x.m4a
• Brothertown – 4 parts together: https://brothertownindians.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Brothertown-526-4-part-2x.m4a

Shape note sheet music download of the two pieces for practice, downloadable in one PDF:

Brothertown Indian Nation documentary, edited and produced by Seth Wenger, 2018. (recorded song begins at 4:02 following the interviews). This hymn is entitled “Old Indian Hymn”. This hymn is not one chosen for this recording, but it shows what a shape-note hymn sounds like in a group.

On February 3rd, 2018, Brothertown Indian Nation Tribal Council members and Brothertown citizens from across the country united in New England, Thomas Commuck’s (Brothertown/Narragansett) ancestral home. These Brothertown citizens were joined by members of their parent tribes, members of various other Native communities, and singers from the New England shape note community.