Stunningly gorgeous, & intensely moving! Wow!!!

I'm hoping to get this chord tattooed on me somewhere soon! Don't know where yet though. Any suggestions?

I attended an allstate choir concert last night and this was the ending arrangement. Never have I seen so many individuals embrace each other so tightly. Such a moving peice, and widely needed. 

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)

"Please Stay" by Jake Runestad. Performed by the Capital University Chapel Choir. Lynda Hasseler, conductor. More info: jakerunestad.com/store/please-stay

In 2013, suicide took the lives of 41,149 people in the USA alone. Depression affects about 20 million people in the USA, 350 million worldwide. Mental health disorders are serious issues in our culture and it is important that we have open conversation about their existence and that we show support to those who are battling them.

To Write Love On Her Arms is a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Their 2016 campaign for World Suicide Prevention Day was titled “And So I Kept Living.” Using the hashtag #IKeptLiving, thousands of individuals who battle depression shared their stories on Twitter as to why they chose to life over death. I read through and collected hundreds of the tweets and used them to inspire the text for this work.

“Please Stay” is an anthem for hope — an attempt to destigmatize mental illness and challenge all of us to support those who are battling depression and thoughts of suicide. You are not alone. We can make a difference. We can be the support system that saves a life.

Text:

No, don't go! Don't go!

Don't let your worst day be your last.
The storm is strong, but it will pass.
You think you can't go on another day,
but please stay. Just stay.

Hope is real, help is real.
You are breath, you are life,
you are beauty, you are light.

Your story is not over.
You are not a burden to anyone.

Please stay. Just stay.

3.25.17 Concert

Please Stay

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

Please Stay

Jake Runestad

Recent comments

ZombieHatter

Jenna

perryrc

Related tracks