Mountain Song

Mountain Song (2025) 3' For two-part chorus and piano Mountain Song (2025) musically honors the magnificent and essential natural world that surrounds us. Through a sonic dialogue between the two choral parts, body percussion, and piano, the piece evokes humans' interaction with nature, highlighting and personifying the wisdom of different plants, animals, and elements. By lyrically exploring the past, present, and future, Mountain Song envisions a world where humans and their environment coexist in literal and figurative harmony. Thank you to Amanda Galster, Milford School District, the Mountain Song consortium members, and Choral Arts New England for commissioning this work. Mountain Song is meant to be an adaptable piece, flexible for choirs with developing voices and singers with widely varying vocal ranges. Conductors and educators are encouraged to adjust the two choral parts as needed (e.g., octave doubling/displacement, use of ossias) to best support their choir's needs. Text One day the mountains will call to me Asking for strength through eternity, Wondering why we're moving so fast When courage and kindness were meant to last. Last evening the lilacs whispered aloud, "Beauty and joy can always be found. Whether we're blooming or deep under snow, Colorful petals will always grow." As I was walking, the birch trees awoke. Through all the eyes in their bark, they spoke: "Treasure this day and treasure yourself; Your presence and care are the greatest wealth." And now the mountains call to me As do the lakes, the fields, and the streams, The deer and the hawk, the finch in the tree, Saying, "Always remember to love and be free."