Skye Boat Song is one of my favoryte folk songs from the British Isles. "Skye" refers to the Island of Skye, a large island off the northwest coast os Scotland. There are several texts to this song; all refer, more or less, to an uprising of Scottish dissidents against the English is 1745-46. After their defeat, they fled to the Island of Skye. The text used here by the poet Robert Louis Stevenson. Scholars attribute the first half of the melody to an old se chantey and suspect thea the second half may have benn written by Annie MacLeod.

This arrangement, featuring a solo Soprano and SSA choir with Piano accompaniment, reharmonizes the traditional folk song with a contemporary twist. This arrangement would work well for any a cappella high school, college, or community choir looking for modern arrangements of traditional folk songs.

An acclamation for Palm Sunday: Jesus is entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey and the people acclaim him as the long-awaited Messiah (the "Son of David".) We, in hindsight, know that they will turn on him within a few days and will have him crucified. It is a moment of excitement and celebration, as the people see all their hopes fulfilled. The Christian liturgy reflects this, often with a congregational procession into the church accompanied by the words below.

The music is simple and joyful, and is scored for just three different voices (SABar/SAMen), typical of those available in parish churches. After an initial syncopated section, there follows a middle section of dotted rhythms, before returning to the syncopated theme, and ending in a glorious rising Tierce de Picardie. The work is short, breathless and exciting, matching the mood of that early moment in the Palm Sunday celebration.

A piano reduction is included for practice purposes.