Nyon, Nyon

Austin's Grammy-award winning choral ensemble Conspirare will be performing two world premieres this weekend: Eric Banks’ This Delicate Universe and Jake Runestad’s Come To The Woods with a performance in Houston, May 8th and performances in Austin, May 9th and 10th.

Dianne chatted with the both composers and with Conspirare’s Artistic Director, Craig Hella Johnson, about the works. Learn about the composer’s inspiration and how they approach the “blank canvas”. Craig also talks about this banner year for Conspirare.

Two World Premieres with Conspirare

Nyon Nyon - BSHS A Cappella Choir - Spring 2015

Run through recordings from class, 10/14/15. 

Nyon

University Singers - Runestad's "Nyon, Nyon"

The Northeast Festival Chorus performs at the Saturday afternoon concert on April 2, 2016.

Nyon Nyon

Let My Love Be Heard

Runestad | And So I Go On (Live)

Mariri (2016)

"Into the Light" by Jake Runestad. Valparaiso University Chorale, Bach Chorale, & Orchestra. Christopher Cock, conductor. More info: http://jakerunestad.com/store/into-the-light

Text:

I. THE UNIVERSE OF LIGHT
Come out into the universe of light.
Everything in the universe is yours,
stretch out your arms and embrace it with love.
(Swami Vivekananda)

You are a product of your thoughts. What you think, you become.
(Gandhi)


II. THE LIGHTLESS DARK
The only lightless dark is the night of ignorance.
We differ from one another, not in our senses,
but in the use we make of them.
(Helen Keller)


III. THE WARM FOGS OF FEAR
The ice under us is very thin, and is made weak by the warm fogs of fear.
(Frederick Douglass)

We are driven by love or by fear.
I fear you, for I do not know you.
(After Martin Luther King Jr.)

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear.
(John the Evangelist)


IV. FLOWER INTO KINDNESS
The soul is made of love and must ever return to love.
There is nothing so wise,
nor so beautiful,
nor so strong as love.
(Mechthild von Magdeburg)

Above all, love.
(Peter the Apostle)

I shed my words on the earth
as the tree sheds its leaves.
Let my thoughts unspoken
flower into kindness.
(Rabindranath Tagore, adapt. Runestad)


V. INTO THE LIGHT
We are not yet what we shall be,
but we are growing toward it.
(Martin Luther)

Come out into the universe of light.
Everything in the universe is yours,
stretch out your arms and embrace it with love.
(Swami Vivekananda)

Into the Light

Into The Light - Jake Runestad (Chorus & Orchestra)

Official Website:

http://jakerunestad.com


About Jake:

Award-winning composer Jake Runestad (b. 1986) is noted for his versatility and wide range of expressive capabilities with music driven by soaring melodies, driving rhythms, and lush textures. Considered “highly imaginative…with big ideas” (Baltimore Sun) and “stirring and uplifting” (Miami Herald), Jake has received commissions and performances from leading ensembles such as Seraphic Fire, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, VocalEssence, the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble, Cantus (Minnesota), and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra.

Jake Runestad holds a Master’s degree in composition from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University where he studied with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts. He has also studied extensively with acclaimed composer Libby Larsen. Mr. Runestad currently lives in Minneapolis, MN and his music is published by Boosey & Hawkes and JR Music. Find out more at jakerunestad.com

Into The Light - Jake Runestad (Chorus & Orchestra)

Jake Runestad

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