Elegy - Jake Runestad

[@TAO_Music]

It's one thing to portray the sounds of grief. It's another to make the listener utterly empathize with the mourning. Wonderful piece Mr. Runestad. Thank you for sharing it.

[@JakeRunestad]

Thank you so much.

[@alyssamccristall7189]

Please Stay wasn’t enough huh? Had to make me ball my eyes out again! Btw, this feels like a new and modern way of doing choral music. Jake Runestad is onto something. He’s outdone himself!

[@JakeRunestad]

I appreciate your kind words! Music is about our collective human experience - pain and joy and everything in between.

[@edwardtheoktist3831]

And dare I say, he is doing it right!

[@ditrower8104]

@@JakeRunestad You strike the right note perfectly every time. Thank you for your music.

[@earldaniels9115]

I couldn’t agree more

[@ChanDaMan794]

I am a current graduate student in Choral Conducting and had the pleasure of performing Jake Runestad's "A Silence Haunts Me" this fall semester. The craftsmanship that he uses in his compositions leads me to make the follow statement. Jake Runestad will be a leading composer of his generation. Thank you so much for sharing your music with the world. It is bringing beauty and light into an otherwise dark world.

[@JakeRunestad]

Thank you so much for your kind words.

[@robertwilhelm2298]

Tonight I opened up my youtube and saw this video as the first one on my page. So I had to comment. I traveled a long distance to attend the ACDA Western Division Conference in SLC. I sat in the room where this song was performed and was completely enveloped in a most marvelous and breath taking sound of eloquence, as the choir was immersed in the emotional connection of their dear and loved director. I do not know him, but I remember him attending the ACDA Western Division in Tucson. I burst my ear drum on that trip and had to leave early because I couldnt hear anything. What I do know is how much he is loved because of the expression by the choral world when he walked on stage. He offered a most personal view into his private life. The connection he has with his choir made for a most memorable experience that was capped with a crowning moment capturing the essence of the emotion at the loss of their beautiful babies. This is the epitome of expression. Emotions tangeable. This wonderful creation left me in awe and thankful to have attended that evening. I am thankful that I can share my profession with others who leave such a permanent mark on us all. Well done.

[@jamesallengraziano6563]

Hauntingly stunning. Hits you right in the soul.

[@Lexi-pp5fm]

Oh my goodness this song gave me chills... Instead of a standard beautiful sound, the cry done by the female soloist is so intense and strong. And her use of posture, hands, and facial expressions is so intentional and amazing. If her name wasn't listed in the description, I would have thought she was the woman mentioned in the opening text. I am currently president of my high school choir as a junior, and I just sent this to my peers to show them an example of acting during a choir piece. The dynamics are absolutely incredible! I have never heard a piece so vulnerable and raw. Stunning.

[@sabrinadominguez4044]

Lexi hey! So the soloist is named Sabrina Ontiveros. She’s an amazing soprano. The tenor is Dominic Salvati. Singing this piece all together was all such an emotional struggle. We’re all so blessed to have this experience before COVID-19 cancelled performances

[@ditrower8104]

She is stunning! Her performance, and that of the male soloist, is perfect. It must have been very challenging emotionally to sing this piece.

[@pablogabrielzeladacabrera1560]

My uncle died today. I will be showing my mother, who is devastated. Thank you for this. It was beautiful. I hadn't yet cried, and I couldn't cry physically... But my heart has cried. Thank you for the beautiful piece. As a Musical Theatre actor I very much appreciate how you made me feel through song. ❤

[@JakeRunestad]

Natsu Dragneel Zoro Roronoa Gohan I’m so sorry for your loss. ❤️

[@jacobvenhuizen3840]

Beautiful as always Jake. A very vulnerable piece that I feel really portrays the individual and communal aspects of mourning. This piece also confirms my love for repeated recitations in your pieces. They (as with all your music) is wonderfully crafted. And kudos to the soloists! Well done to all. Another Knock-out piece, Jake!

[@JakeRunestad]

Thank you, Jake.

[@mattallred389]

I had the absolute privilege to be in the audience for that performance. Listening to it again, just over a year later, I still get the same chills and same emotion. During the conference, I listened to dozens of choirs and more songs than I can remember. After listening to so much music, my brain could hardly listen or comprehend anymore. However, this piece stood out as an absolute highlight. I have rarely been so moved by a piece of music. This is truly a masterpiece! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@brianbowman9127]

Wow! Mourning is both individual and collective, and you have both elements here. Superb solos and stagecraft. Well done everyone. Amazing!

[@akhonankumanda5165]

As a musician and conductor I could not analyse any music elements as I was absorbed with the actual portrayal of the message behind the music, notes and voices. Congratulations Mr Runestadt

[@emiliawright4559]

This is such a stunning piece. I think a lot of modern composers are afraid to have that silence and minimalism in their works, if only because they might lose their audience’s captive attention. But in both this piece and A Silence Haunts Me, those moments of soft silence make the climaxes that much more. Thank you for this beautiful piece, it’s absolutely stunning!

[@kurtsiecolferites2160]

Oh, man. I wept. Absolutely stunning. Heartbreaking. Jake, your music reaches into the soul and squeezes it hard. A choir I was in performed your song “And So I Go On” at my mother’s celebration of life. It was a moment I will never, ever forget. Thank you for writing such beautiful, emotional pieces.

[@jacobpapazian7320]

And when there are no more words there is music. Thank you for this.

[@earldaniels9115]

Goosebumps… ❤

[@JeanGenie92]

Wow... goosebumps and tears. Incredible music and performed with so much heart.

[@avalynjames1924]

Approaching a year since my grandma's passing. This performance was beautiful and well-communicated. It is striving through suffering that brings redemption. Thank you for sharing.

[@DAmaterasa]

So wonderful and so chilling, I think my favorite part of this is the climax of the song because it's not completely cathartic, the resolution is still on going because that kind of loss does not fade so quickly. And the empathy and pain the community is feeling too with the parents is beautifully conveyed too. A lovely piece as usual

[@rodrigoherreramunoz9248]

I like the sense of simplicity of this music. It reminds me some music by Arvo Part and Henrik Gorecky. Well done!

[@noahroberts162]

This is stunning. The portrayal of grief is so poignant and honest. I look forward to your future compositions, because you have not missed the mark yet. This 'act-sing' style is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Outstanding!

[@emiolian]

I was there, I cried a lot... Jake, your ELEGY is a piece that goes directly to our souls: congrats from the core of my heart What to say about the choir and the conductor? It's simply amazing the quality and the emotion that they are putting in the performance. True artistry, no doubt :-)

[@JakeRunestad]

Ivo Antognini Thank you, Ivo. ❤️

[@elizabethmaines430]

i love the visual representation of greif being a shared experience. well well done

[@sarahgrace13s]

What a beautiful and moving piece of music. When we rest of the choir came in on text I got chills. Your ability to capture deep and complex emotions through composition is awe-inspiring!

[@JakeRunestad]

sarahgrace13s Thank you so much. ❤️

[@saucyprocess3285]

Hauntingly beautiful. You really incapsulated the mournful atmosphere. Thank you for this writing this.

[@JakeRunestad]

Thank you so much.

[@dallasmcaples]

I just watched this very performance during the (virtual) National ACDA conference. This is such a fitting COVID-19 anniversary and memorial song. Thank you Jake for your impactful music!

[@tyshaunknight7933]

I love how you can feel EVERY aspect of this song, it allows you to say goodbye while experiencing grief. Thank you for creating this, it’s elegant and wistful.

[@mjspour]

This was such a chilling experience. Grateful to have witnessed it live.

[@1234j]

Deeply moving and with its own touching and healing beauty. Transformational. I've only just discovered your works. Thank you. Thank you so much. You have a precious gift in your music.

[@emmagriffiths7798]

This is an absolutely piercing piece. You have captured the sorrow and grief of human loss, and I'm speechless. I had the honor of singing "Please Stay" at the 2019 Indiana All-State Honor Choir under the direction of Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, and your pieces continue to pull at my heartstrings.

[@ajishsam9220]

This was absolutely beautiful and touching. Just like Let My Love Be Heard, very creative and amazing arrangement. I'd love to see the bass part as I sang Bass 2 for Let My Love Be Heard and I loved it very much. Overall, outstanding job Mr Runestead.

[@samuelarnett8585]

What a powerful work of art. Thank you for sharing your incredible talent with the world.

[@JakeRunestad]

[@emcomeaux7372]

Your ability to translate emotion into sound and art inspires me. I’m going to college for Vocal Music Ed and I hope one day I’m good enough to either perform or conduct one of your pieces.

[@JakeRunestad]

Em C Thank you. I hope so too!

[@jiayuansun9951]

A song of humanity... Only in the sorrow reached the climax the soul shows it's weight to the souls who have link to it.

[@rivaldosiburian3981]

Wow. Extraordinary....

[@SamB-fv6su]

Incredibly moving and relevant Thank you

[@hannahlomara6517]

Man, you don't know what I would give to perform for you.

[@hannahburney8576]

Tears. So many tears.

[@brki]

beautiful

[@naomigamez4687]

Absolutely stunning piece Mr. Runestad and an amazing performance by Riverside City College. Just Wow.

[@Hshennags]

This just shows you how powerful music for the voice can really be. It has the ability to bring joy and tears especially now with everything going on in the world but just like the piece states, we mourn for all the world. Bravo Jake Bravo

[@JakeRunestad]

Thank you, Hunter. We mourn.

[@rayrhoads4024]

I can only affirm what so many have so well said - thanks Jake!! Amen and Amen!

[@JakeRunestad]

Thanks, Ray!

[@nicholastalamo4502]

This is just absolutely stunning. Your work never ceases to amaze me.

[@macierogers8940]

Absolutely stunning ❤️

[@jadesantiago9628]

I love your music so much, so powerful.

[@germanpinzonjimenezmusic]

Your music is so honest and pure. Gracias Jake!

[@JakeRunestad]

I appreciate that.

[@nairitasloft]

so beautiful, so powerful, so vulnerable. thank you. ❤️

[@JakeRunestad]

[@jaretnorton4452]

Great as always love the bass line in the final section at 8:20 or so!!

[@israelmomoh1796]

My Goodness...

[@daniflores6531]

Stunning

[@ShelviieMusic]

Wow. That is all I can say. Wow.

[@ddenisehhoy8369]

Wow, that was beautiful. Visually and aurally.

[@JakeRunestad]

Thank you!

[@shinongsong8692]

So many coughs in the audience, god bless the world to come over the Covid-19.