The Hope of Loving

Featuring

Craig Hella Johnson
Michael Jones
Alyssa Ruth Suver
Dann Coakwell
Jason Awbrey
Mela Dailey

Wilson Nichols
Stefanie Moore
Simon Barrad
Kathlene Ritch
Conspirare
Jake Runestad

Did you know?

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Composer Jake Runestad is driven by a desire for beauty, allowing compelling texts to inspire his music, and telling authentic stories to foster compassion for shared human experiences.

Composition History

The work "Why the Caged Bird Sings" was Jake Runestad's first collaboration with Craig Hella Johnson, who commissioned it for the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble.

Performer Biography

Conspirare, led by Craig Hella Johnson, is a professional choral organization that engages singers from around the world to deliver world-class musical experiences and recordings.

Composer Biography

Jake Runestad, born in 1986, is an award-winning and frequently performed composer, considered one of the youngest full-time composers in the world.

Compositional Technique

In "Why the Caged Bird Sings," there is a musical tension between black and white pitches, reflecting the metaphor of a caged bird wishing to be free.

Recording & Production

This album was recorded in January 2019 at St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, with Brad Michel as the recording engineer and editor.

Performer Biography

Conspirare and its conductor, Craig Hella Johnson, were awarded a 2014 Grammy for Best Choral Performance for their album "The Sacred Spirit of Russia" and have been nominated seven other times.