Song of the Mountains
A choral setting of text by American naturalist John Muir
For mixed choir (SSAATB) with piano accompaniment
Duration: 6 minutes
Driven by a refreshing text of American naturalist John Muir, Bartholomew has created an accessible work that flows easily through both key and meter changes, and features expressive, lyric melodies contrasted by exciting rhythmic drive. Song of the Mountains is almost cantata-like, or through-composed, in that each line of Muir's text receives equal and interesting interpretation. Occasional use of the triplet rhythm creates both a relaxing effect ("grasses cease waving") and driving sense of forward motion ("Vibrating!"). Effective use of dynamics and interweaving of choral parts make for each section having a musical life of its own. — Cindy Bell, conductor
A setting of text adapted from prose by American naturalist John Muir (1838-1914). Commissioned for the Combined Choirs of St. Joseph's School, Seattle, directed by Rick Boyle, who premiered the piece at Benaroya Hall's Nordstrom Recital Hall on May 6, 2004, in the second annual "New Works New Hope" concert for the benefit of Gilda's Club Seattle. The piece was revised in 2007 and the premiere of the revised score was given on November 16, 2007, by the Queens College Chorus, Cindy Bell conducting, at the Aaron Copland School of Music in New York.
Song of the Mountains is a Project Encore selection.
Song of the Mountains |
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Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Here is calm so deep, grasses cease waving. The trees wave and the flowers bloom |
Purchase Sheet Music
Sheet music for Song of the Mountains is available from J. W. Pepper.
Performance History
Premiered May 6, 2004, by the Combined Choirs of St. Joseph School, Seattle, Rick Boyle conducting, Benaroya Hall, Seattle
Revised Score Premiered November 16, 2007, Queens College Chorus, Cindy Bell conducting, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens, NY
April 6, 2013, Portland Vocal Consort, Ryan Heller conducting, First Christian Church, Portland, Oregon
May 7 & 8, 2016, by the Acadia Choral Society, under Jamie Hagedorn, at St Saviour's Parish, Maine.
June 4, 2016, by the Acadia Choral Society, under Jamie Hagedorn, at St Andrew Lutheran Church, Ellsworth, Maine.
March 23 & 24, 2019, by the Rogue Valley Chorale under Michael Morris at the Collier Center's Craterian Theater, Medford, Oregon.