El Aire Baila (Jake Runestad 2023) - Vocal Accord

Composed by ‪@JakeRunestad‬ (2023) for SATB (div) choir, piano & percussion Text El Aire Baila by Humberto Ak’abal Humberto Ak’abal was one of the most important poetic voices from Latin America. A member of the K’iche’ Mayan community in Guatemala, Ak’abal wrote with honesty, intensity, and passion, and has inspired millions around the world. Reading Humberto’s poetry is like living through the depths of history, like being gut-punched with core-shaking truths, like dancing with water, trees, and birds; he was a true Mayan Mystic. It is a great honor to have spent time with Humberto’s family and to be dear friends with his widow, Mayuli, to whom I dedicate this piece. This jubilant work takes cues from Ak’abal’s playful poem, El Aire Baila (The air Dances), to paint a colorful journey into the poet’s imagination and the swirling air around us. [Program note by Jake Runestad] Performers: ‪@montclair_CALI‬ Vocal Accord (38-voice chamber choir) Yadiel Rivera-Colon, vocal soloist Christine Tanko & Gabrielle Guida, percussion Steven W. Ryan, piano Dr. Heather J. Buchanan, conductor Saturday, April 26, 2025 - Alexander Kasser Theater, Montclair State University, NJ, USA. Video recording by ‪@Paige.E.B.Stewart‬ Archival audio recording by Rob Davidson