My valedictory, and most extended, anthem is Robert Burns’ Highlands, Farewell (Aria), whose first (and oft-repeated) line, "My heart’s in the Highlands," suggested to me the overall title for these anthems. This poem indeed touches my heart and, as I see it, offers a passionate and reluctant farewell to childhood itself. The sense of moment is emphasized by augmenting the choral forces with a soprano soloist and pianist, who open the work with an extended aria. The ensuing choral commentary and soprano cadenza lead to a repetition and climactic development of the aria theme, now shared by chorus, soloist and piano equally. Like childhood and all good things, however, this comes to an end, as it must ...eventually. Here, the ending is a triumphant C-major chord, capped by a high C for all the sopranos.

- David Del Tredici, 16 February 2003

For treble voices in four parts (SSAA) a cappella.