Composer Notes:

Due to his broad popularity and cultural importance, Robert Burns (1759 – 1796) is often dubbed the national poet of Scotland. In fact, around January 25th, Burns Night is celebrated annually to honor his many contributions to the Scottish culture. Burns had a clear love and devotion for his country and thatcan be seen in his poem, My Heart’s in The Highlands.

While studying this text, the idea of an anthem immediately came to mind. Because of this, simple chordprogressions, strong ascending melodies, and secondary dominant chords are used to embody the style ofan anthem. The composition starts with a subtle buzz of energy as a soloist delivers the opening chorus. As the piece unfolds, the music builds and becomes more dramatic to reflect the overwhelming emotion found in Burns’ words. At measure 68 the music and words embody a steadfast love for the highlands. To reflect this notion, a snare drum is used to symbolize an unwavering march within one’s heart. This all builds to the climax at measure 84 when the text exclaims, “my heart’s in the highlands!”

Beyond an anthem, the poem is clearly a farewell. Saying “goodbye” to a place one loves can be difficult. When it is time to spread our wings and fly, we have an idea of where life will take us, but the winds of fate often take us in unexpected directions. We go off to school, to new jobs, or search for new adventures. Sometimes those adventures are simply down the road, while others may be thousands of miles away. But no matter how far one is taken from home, that connection is never truly lost. For whether one’s home is a country, a choir, close friends, or family – that home will always exist in one’s heart wherever they go.