Come to the Woods - Jake Runestad
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- "Come to the Woods" by Jake Runestad. Performed by the Georgia State University Singers -- Deanna Joseph, conductor.
Commissioned by Conspirare -- Craig Hella Johnson, conductor.
Purchase scores: jakerunestad.co...
FACEBOOK: / jakerunestadmusic
INSTAGRAM: / jakerunestad
About:
Famed Scottish-American naturalist and conservationist John Muir had a giddy, child-like excitement for the natural world. After a youth spent in Scotland and Wisconsin, he found himself transformed by his first visit, around age 30, to California’s Yosemite Valley. With the vast mountainous landscape and the surreal size of the sequoia and redwood trees, these woods captured him and became his playground, his classroom, and his sanctuary.
Muir was an avid “saunterer” and a profound thinker who would venture into the woods for days with a bit of food and a book of Emerson poetry in hand. Inspired by the beauty of the wilderness and a lifelong love for words, Muir penned a vast collection of eloquent and vivid writings. In one quintessentially Muirian account, he is so fascinated by a storm that he climbs up a tall Douglas Fir to experience it more intensely.
“Come to the Woods” explores Muir’s inspirations and the transporting peace found in the natural world. Using a collage of fragments from Muir’s writings, the work ventures from the boisterous joy of a “glorious day,” to the quiet whispering of wind, to the rejuvenating power of a storm, to the calming “amber light” when the clouds begin to clear. I hope it captures the self-discovery and sustenance one encounters while exploring the outdoors and its vital importance in our lives. As Muir writes, “I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”
All photos © 2016 Jake Runestad. All rights reserved.
I am a 72-year- young woman in the north woods of Wisconsin. I can no longer sing but want these words, and this recording, at my celebration of life!
Try Not to Cry: Jake Runestad edition
;)
holy shit I didn't know you'd uploaded our recording of this piece. that I am one of the voices in here is unreal to me.
It's one of my favorites!
5:34 this part makes me cry, what with the joy of the voices, the leaps and bounds and murmurs, and then the endless, magnificent backdrop of the picture. Such helpful tears of joy to break up my studying. Such a beautiful song. I miss the mountains and this song reminds me of how I felt every day while there.
Thank you for your kind words! I'm thrilled you enjoy the music!
8:29 this is so calming for me. how lucky i am that I have ever sung this beuatiful masterpiece
The choir im in has been selected to sing at TMEA, this is on our setlist. I listen to this song so much, its my favorite one we are going to perform.
I wish I could be the one listening to this song live instead of singing it!
This is one of the best songs composed in the modern era. Thank you for giving us this gift of a song.
was supposed to be preforming this for state competitions with my hs choir. i’m a senior and this opportunity got taken away due to the pandemic :( sad to say i never got to really preform this fantastic piece
Dont worry , it happened for a reason you , me and nobody knows . It will come back again in a very mighty way for a big blessing to you by the grace of God .
Handel Choir of Baltimore is performing this on April 29, 2017. Such a beautiful piece, can't wait to perform it!
How exciting! Please give everyone my best!
Can't wait to perform this tonight with the Des Moines Choral Society. Absolutely my favorite piece we're singing tonight!
5:00 is definitely my favorite moment
Such an absolute pleasure singing this piece...especially during this tumultuous year. Thank you for writing.
John Muir has such beautiful messages for us. Thanks for giving voice to his words!
I just performed this piece with Jonathan Talberg at the Oregon All State choir and wanted to thank you for providing us with such an amazing experience. He told us of how much you love the woods, and you showed us even more with your composing. This is now my favorite piece of choral music. Thank you
Thank you so much! I'm so glad you were able to sing it with him!
This is quickly becoming a favorite choral piece of mine, it's so beautiful and inspiring and so much fun to sing! My college choir is working on it right now and I'm going to be so sad when we finish it! Thank you for such a moving piece of music.
I'm so glad you enjoy it! What college do you attend?
Eastman School of Music! Our Chorale is preparing it and we love it!!
Fantatic. Have a blast!
Just saw this performed live at UVA - it was the most breath-taking, moving choral performance I had ever seen. Incredible composition.
Thank you so much!
Wonderful recording, I give lots of credit To Dr. Joseph and the GSU choir for really digging into the text and emotions of the piece. More so than Conspirare in their recording in my opinion.
It is great to see and hear longer pieces like this one! More time to express complex emotions and get the audience attached. Love it!
I'm so glad you enjoy it!
I recently learned about Jake Runestad and was invited to a concert at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio on March 25. What a talented man and wonderful group of performers. So many pieces moved me to tears. Thank you, Jake Runestad. You definitely found your calling.
Thanks, Sandi! So glad you came to the concert!
I'm listening to this piece more and more and it's quickly becoming one of my favorite pieces of yours. "This wild sea of pine's" is my favorite part! Wonderful work!
Thanks!
As a first soprano, I can confidently tell you that was my favorite part to sing. :) My favorite part of the piece, however, is where the men have their first a capella, "Come to the woods, for here is rest."
S1 also.
T&B acapella is seriously the best part. That's why I looked up the video.
Beautiful. There are few things more glorious and grand than to sit and listen to the pure brilliance of many voices that produce such sound as this. Each voice a glorious portion in a dance of sound and color. Every individual coming together personifying harmony in its greatest measure. Love it.
Unreal that I am one of those voices! Such an honor.
You sound AMAZING!
We were just given this piece for our chamber choir at Hofstra University. It is such a glorious piece. I was blown away hearing it today. It will be an honor to perform this
Glorious! :) Have a blast!
Our University Chorale is doing this piece and I am ecstatic! It's just the kind of song I love to sing, beautiful and powerful! It makes me so emotional! Our Chamber is doing Alleluia as well, which is such a fun and challenging piece.
Thank you so much for writing such amazing music!
Awesome! I'm so glad you're performing this! What school?
Jake Runestad Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
I am conducting this for my final recital in March. I cannot wait.
Wahoo! Have a blast! :)
Jake Runestad We will! Winnipeg is hearing lots of your music these days!
Georgia state is amazing!!!
Hey jake. I was part of the YCA choir at capitol this past weekend and was very moved by please stay and was wondering if you possibly had a video of any choirs doing it that you could post. I have personally been through a bit of depression myself and my girlfriend is currently dealing with it and I truly feel that your song could help get a good message out there. If you don't have a video then no worries at all. Mainly just wanted to let you know how moved I was and how amazing that piece was.
Thank you so much for sharing that. I do not have a video yet, but there should be one posted sometime soon. Stay tuned!
Awesome. Can't wait!!
+Jake Runestad My friend and I were a part of the UT High school honors choir and we're anxiously awaiting a recording of that piece as well. Breathtaking 😍
This will be one of the songs that I will be performing as apart of the MSVMA High School All-State Honors Choir, and I'm honestly glad I get to close my high school career with this piece.
Well I'll see you at kalamazoo!
Brendan Stopczynski seeing this breaks my heart for you guys i’m so sorry :(
@@chelsea292 I know, it's so unfortunate :*
:(*
Brendan Stopczynski from one msvma contestant to another, i wish you guys the best on the rest of your vocal journey! don’t give up !
Performed this with Choral Arts Initiative of Southern California earlier this year. Love this piece so much! Makes me want to go for a hike. :)
I heard the LSU A Cappella Choir sing this in February and I found myself crying just thinking of being in the woods, away from everything. I have since read several essays by John Muir. Thank you for the inspiration and the beautiful music!
So glad you enjoyed it! Muir has some really beautiful writings -- there are archives on the Sierra Club website including his journals!
Katie! I was in this ensemble at the time of recording, and I want to let you know that I cried EVERY TIME the men sang, "Come to the woods, for here is rest" because I missed Fort Collins!
@@blaircarpenter9947 Wow! Thanks for the recording. I have so enjoyed it. I'm glad to know it also connects to to CO!
Wow! The energy of this piece is incredible!
Thank you so much! The choir really brought it to life!
@@JakeRunestad I didn't even realize you responded to me five years ago. That would have made my day! Made it now, though!
The ending is a fantastic wrap up of the song. Akin to angles beckoning the soul on through to its next life. Peace eternal. Maybe some day I will sing this song myself.
The first time I sang this I cried when we got to the aleatoric section, so beautiful to be surrounded by all that sound
This is quickly becoming a favorite choral piece of mine, it's so beautiful and inspiring and so much fun to sing! My college choir is working on it right now and I'm going to be so sad when we finish it! Thank you for such a moving piece of music.
This is one of the most beautiful chorus pieces I have ever heard! What a joy to sing it!
Loved working with you on this song when you came to Oklahoma! Thanks for writing this masterpiece (:
The ending of this piece is magical. I can't stop the tears starting at like 8:16
I heard the University of Washington Chamber Singers perform this piece yesterday and multiple times I had goosebumps all over my body... such a brilliant and breathtaking composition. Quickly becoming one of my favorite choir pieces!
Thank you! I love that ensemble!
Just thought I'd say that this piece feeds my soul. Thank you.
Thank you!
@@JakeRunestad I actually think I met you at ACDA 2015 in Salt Lake...so awesome to see your stuff all over the place! You are a blessing to the world!
Soul nurturing music