I Love the Mountains

Blake's arrangement honors the camp song tradition while creating genuine musical growth. The "boom-dee-ah-dah" ostinato gives every singer a satisfying vocal line, and the back-and-forth melody exchange builds confidence in singers transitioning to two-part singing without overwhelming them.

Sing this and you're around a campfire under open sky. The ostinato creates a gentle, steady pulse that lets the melody soar above it, while the text paints vivid outdoor imagery. There's joy and simplicity here, with just enough harmonic texture to feel like real singing.

This arrangement serves singers new to part-singing, whether in middle school choirs, youth community ensembles, or camps. The accessible two-part writing and the comfort of a familiar melody make it ideal for building confidence and demonstrating that harmonizing can be engaging rather than intimidating.

• Establish the ostinato pattern securely before layering in the melody. Have singers who aren't carrying the melody part vocalize their rhythm on neutral syllables first, then add the text once the pattern is locked in.
• Balance the melodic line so the main tune remains audible even when both parts are singing. The ostinato should support, not overshadow.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to anchor tempo and harmonic placement during early rehearsals, then gradually move toward singing without it as independence builds.
• Emphasize the outdoor imagery in the text to bring energy and character to the performance. The camp song spirit works best when singers feel the joy of trails, sails, and starlight.

Program this early in a concert when energy and audience connection matter most, or use it as a bridge piece between more complex choral works to remind singers and listeners why singing together feels good. It works equally well in spring concerts celebrating the season or in any setting where accessible, joyful singing builds ensemble spirit.

• singing independent melodic and ostinato lines simultaneously
• maintaining a steady harmonic part while a melody moves above it
• text clarity and musical expression in a secular, contemporary arrangement
• ensemble blend and balance between two vocal lines