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Duration
8 min
Short description
My Heart’s in the Highlands was composed for the 50th birthday of the countertenor David James, a member of The Hilliard Ensemble, and is also dedicated to him. A poem by Scottish poet Robert Burns has been conveyed in the contertenor part in syllabic singing on a single note. The static vocal part has been compensated for with a fairly dynamic organ part, which shows each note of the vocal part in a new harmonious colouration.
During the premiere in Avignon in May 2000, David James sang with Christopher Bowers-Broadbent, one of the most renowned interpreters of Pärt’s organ compositions. A revision for alto voice and instrumental ensemble was completed at the beginning of 2014, on the initiative of Harry Traksmann, who commissioned it for a concert in the Phillips C…
World premiere
Composer's recital: Leading European composers – Arvo Pärt
Iris Oja (alto), Harry Traksmann (violin), Marrit Gerretz-Traksmann (piano), Leho Karin (cello), Laur Eensalu (viola)
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Original version
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Vocal text
My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart’s in the Highlands a-chasing the deer –
A-chasing the wild deer, and following the roe;
My heart’s in the Highlands, wherever I go.
Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North –
The birth place of Valour, the country of Worth;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.
Farewell to the mountains high cover’d with snow;
Farewell to the straths and green valleys below;
Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods;
Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.
My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart’s in the Highlands a-chasing the deer –
Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe;
My heart’s in the Highlands, wherever I go.