THE SECRET OF THE SEA - Jake Runestad

"The Secret of the Sea" by Jake Runestad. World premiere at the Sydney Opera House on July 17, 2018. Festival Chorus & Orchestra. Craig Hella Johnson, conductor. Commissioned by Craig Hella Johnson and KI Concerts.

More info: http://jakerunestad.com/store/the-sec...

FACEBOOK:   / jakerunestadmusic  
INSTAGRAM:   / jakerunestad  

Instrumentation: SATB chorus, string quintet, piano, percussion

Full Text:

I. The Unbounded Sea

Lo, the unbounded sea!
On its breast a ship starting, spreading all sails,
the pennant is flying aloft as it speeds,
        below emulous waves press forward,
they surround the ship with shining curving motions and foam.
        - Walt Whitman

My soul is full of longing
for the secret of the sea.
        - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


II. Crash On Crash

Crash on crash of the sea,
raging against the world,
furious, the deep roar hailing you,
the very gods,
rearing their mighty length
on the unharvested sea.
        - H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)

III. The Light that Fills the World

The great sea
moves me, sets me free.
The winds of the earth
carry me away,
and my soul is filled with joy.

When I drifted out
and thought myself in danger,
my fears captured me —
all of the things I had to get and to reach.

but there is only one great thing, 
the only thing:
to live to see the light that fills the world.

        - Uvavnuk (Iglulik Eskimo)