My Heart's in the Highland: SAB Choral Octavo
Music by Carl Strommen
Item: 00-PO-0003786
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This simple, yet elegant melody is reminiscent of a Welsh or Scottish folk song, but it's a new, original choral work from Carl Strommen. Carl's solid choral writing will make your choir sound its very best. And the beautiful text ("My heart's in the highland above the heather blue.") evokes images of lush meadows of the British Isles. Wonderful opportunities to work on choral phrasing.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0003786
More about this title
About the Composer: Carl Strommen
Carl Strommen stands among the most frequently performed composer-arrangers working today, with his music appearing in concert halls, broadcast media, and film across the United States and internationally. His versatility spans band, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and vocal literature, and he maintains an active schedule as both a clinician and commissioned composer. Strommen has earned the ASCAP Standard Writers Award annually throughout his career, a recognition of his sustained creative output and industry standing.
A graduate of City College of New York, Strommen teaches orchestration and composition as an adjunct faculty member at Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus. He resides on Long Island and maintains strong connections to the Rocky Mountain region through regular extended stays in Denver and Boulder, Colorado.
Why we love this
Strommen's gift for writing accessible, singable lines without sacrificing musical substance shines throughout this octavo. The folk-song idiom feels organic rather than imitative, giving singers a genuine connection to the material while his careful voice leading creates natural phrasing opportunities that teach rather than preach. Programming this alongside more complex repertoire balances your concert while building choral confidence.
What to expect
The melody carries the warmth and directness of traditional folk song, evoking misty moorlands and open landscapes without relying on a contrived or pastiche style. Harmonic support from the lower voices creates a gentle richness that feels spacious and contemplative, inviting the ear to rest in each phrase while the text paints a vivid emotional landscape.
Who it's for
This octavo suits intermediate to mature treble and mixed choirs seeking concert repertoire that builds musicianship without technical burden. Ensembles working on tone production, blend, and phrase shaping will find this piece both pedagogically valuable and immediately rewarding to perform.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the phrase contours deliberately; the melody's folk character invites legato connection across phrase breaks rather than punctuation between them.
- Blend the three parts as equal voices rather than treating soprano as the sole line carrier; Strommen's writing supports harmonic unity when all parts receive equal attention.
- Let the text painting emerge naturally from the melodic shape and harmonic movement; the imagery of Scottish highlands benefits from subtle dynamic choice rather than heavy interpretation.
- Balance the overall sound before rehearsing individual part security; singers often lock into their own line and miss the cohesive ensemble color Strommen's writing creates.
How to use it
This works beautifully in a mixed program as a moment of lyrical beauty between more rhythmically driven pieces, or paired with other folk-inspired choral works for a thematic concert segment. Its eight-page length and accessible demands make it ideal for spring concerts or smaller ensemble programming, where a single strong piece can anchor a set.
Skills your students will build
- Legato phrase singing across longer melodic lines
- Three-part harmonic blend and voice balance
- Text-to-music interpretation in a folk idiom
- Sustained tone production in upper and middle registers
- Listening for and adjusting to the overall ensemble sound