Come By The Hills (Buachaill On Eirne): SSA Choral Octavo

John Leavitt's arrangement captures the yearning quality of this beloved Irish tune while keeping the voicing straightforward enough for developing choirs. The writing honors the song's folk roots without sacrificing musicality, and the SSA setting opens this standard to a broader range of ensembles.

Wistful and grounded. The melody carries the warmth of tradition while the harmony provides gentle depth, creating space for singers to inhabit the homesickness at the song's heart.

Any SSA or SSAA choir looking to expand beyond standard concert repertoire without abandoning musical substance. This works equally well for school choirs exploring cultural diversity and community ensembles seeking meaningful folk material.

• Shape phrases around the text's natural breath points rather than the bar lines; Irish music breathes differently than classical phrasing suggests.
• Encourage singers to connect emotionally to the imagery of the hills and home; the emotional landscape matters more than perfect technical execution here.
• Balance the harmony so the melody remains clear; this tune deserves to soar above the supporting voices.

Pair this with other folk arrangements to build a cultural or thematic concert section, or use it as a contrasting lighter moment in a more formal program. The piece also works beautifully as an encore when you want to leave audiences with something memorable and heartfelt.

• Singing with folk authenticity and vocal character beyond classical technique
• Phrasing across longer melodic lines with natural breathing
• Balancing melody and harmony in SSA voicing
• Connecting emotional content to musical expression