Driven by a refreshing text of American naturalist John Muir, Bartholomew has created an accessible work that flows easily through both key and meter changes, and features expressive, lyric melodies contrasted by exciting rhythmic drive. Song of the Mountains is almost cantata-like, or through-composed, in that each line of Muir's text receives equal and interesting interpretation. Occasional use of the triplet rhythm creates both a relaxing effect ("grasses cease waving") and driving sense of forward motion ("Vibrating!"). Effective use of dynamics and interweaving of choral parts make for each section having a musical life of its own.      --Cindy Bell, conductor