René Clausen


René Clausen is an American composer, conductor emeritus of The Concordia Choir, and professor of music at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. His works are widely performed by high school and church choirs while his more technically demanding pieces have been performed and recorded by college and professional choirs. Among his many accolades, his recent recording, "Life & Breath: Choral Works by René Clausen," received three Grammy Awards at the 55th Grammy Awards in 2013.
Clausen is a frequent guest conductor, guest composer and lecturer, both nationally and internationally. He has conducted All-State choirs in more than 15 states. Prior to his appointment as conductor of The Concordia Choir, Clausen was director of choral activities at West Texas State University, Canyon, Texas, and assistant professor of choral music at Wichita State University. He also served as senior editor of Mark Foster Music Company and as interim conductor of the National Lutheran Choir of Minneapolis.
Dr. René Clausen announced that he will retire following the 2019-20 academic year, concluding his service as professor of music and conductor of The Concordia Choir.

Education

Raised in California, Clausen graduated from Wilton Senior High School in Wilton, Iowa, holds an undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, and received the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in choral conducting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Composition style

Clausen's compositional style is varied and eclectic, and put to sacred as well as secular texts. He has created compositions and arrangements that range over many artistic media including choral, orchestral, wind ensemble, film, video, and solo voice. Clausen's most popular harmonies are mostly based on close dissonances such as the major and minor second. These chords based on dissonance are also called "tone clusters". His style is sometimes classified as Neo-Romantic but this term can mean many things. All of his works are unmistakably tonal yet they push the boundaries of chordal language. The traditional functions of choral progression are blurred by his use of tone clusters. These ideas are mostly exhibited in pieces such as "Tonight, Eternity Alone", "Magnificat", and "I Thank You God". Less difficult pieces exhibit the same structure as any classical or baroque choral piece with a hint of romantic rubato and expression but largely, very traditional chord progressions.

Selected compositions and arrangements

Santa Barbara Music Publishing

SONG TITLE VOICING SANTA BARBARA MUSIC PUBLISHING LISTING
Alleluia SATB div. SBMP 557
At the Round Earth's Imagined Corners TTBB SBMP 874
Barter SSA SBMP 527
Canticle of Praise SATB / SATB SBMP 655
Early Bird, The SSAATTBB SBMP 645
In the Bleak Midwinter SATB SBMP 620
Jabberwocky SATB SBMP 528
Make We Joye Now In This Fest SATB SBMP 1049
Plenty Good Room SATB div. SBMP 536
Psalm 108 SATB SBMP 543
Song at Dusk SATB SBMP 505
Stairs Behind the Sky, The SATB SBMP 584
Tant Que Je Vive SATB SBMP 621
There Is a Balm in Gilead SATB div; S &/or T s SBMP 611
There Is No Rose SATB SBMP 579
Turn Around SSA SBMP 542

Additional music is available from other publishers.

Available recordings of compositions

Song Name ArtistRecording TitleFormat
Concordia Choir In The New Moon 1 CD-
I. A Noiseless Patient Spider Concordia Choir The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
I. Hear Me, I Will Live! Concordia Choir The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
II. Quicksand Years Concordia Choir The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
II. War Song Concordia Choir The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
III. How Can You Buy The Sky? Concordia Choir The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
III. The Last Invocation Concordia Choir The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
A Jubilant Song University of Utah Singers A Jubilant Song 1 CD-
A Noiseless Patient Spider Kantorei Pillars Of Light 1 CD-
A Stable Lamp is Lighted Kantorei Little Tree 1 CD-
All That Hath Life & Breath Oasis Chorale Treasures in Heaven 1 CD-
All That Hath Life & Breath Praise Ye the Lord! Rene Clausen A Cappella Compositions Vol. 2 Sheet Music-
All That Hath Life and Breath Seattle Children's Chorus Celebrate! 1 CD-
All That Hath Life And Breath Luther College Norsemen Oh Sing Jubilee 1 CD-
All That Hath Life and Breath, Praise Ye the Lord! University of Utah Singers The Cloths of Heaven 1 CD-
Ave Maria Rene Clausen A Cappella Compositions Vol. 1 Sheet Music-
Barter Manitou Singers of St. Olaf College Repertoire For Women's Voices Vol 5 1 CD-
Calm, on the Listening Ear of Night Concordia Choir Come To The Living Water 1 CD-
Canticle of Praise Rene Clausen A Cappella Compositions Vol. 3 Sheet Music-
Canticle Of Praise Concordia Choir F. Melius Christiansen 135th Anniversary Concert 2 CDs-
Circle Dance Concordia Choir Savior of the Nations 1 CD-
Come to the Living Water Concordia Choir Come To The Living Water 1 CD-
Crying For A Dream Concordia Choir The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
Deep River Concordia Choir The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
Do You Hear What I Hear? Concordia Choir Journey to Bethlehem DVD-
Fantasia O Come, O Come Emmanuel Concordia Choir Journey to Bethlehem 1 CD-
Fantasia on "The King Shall Come" Concordia Choir Savior of the Nations 1 CD-
Fantasia on "Une Jeune Pucelle" Concordia Choir Come To The Living Water 1 CD-
Fantasia On O Come, O Come Emmanuel Concordia Choir O Come All Ye Faithful 1 CD-
Hosanna Rene Clausen A Cappella Compositions Vol. 1 Sheet Music-
Hosanna Luther College Nordic Choir Christmas with the Nordic Choir Vol 1 1 CD-
I Thank You God Rene Clausen A Cappella Compositions Vol. 2 Sheet Music-
In Pace Kantorei Pillars Of Light 1 CD-
La Lumiere Rene Clausen A Cappella Compositions Vol. 2 Sheet Music-
La Lumiere Concordia Choir Echoes 1 CD-
Laudate Luther College Nordic Choir Everlasting God 1 CD-
Lord of All Being Concordia Choir Star Of Wonder 1 CD-
Magnificat Rene Clausen A Cappella Compositions Vol. 2 Sheet Music-
Magnificat Concordia Choir The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
Magnificat National Lutheran Choir While Angels Sing 1 CD-
Make A Joyful Noise Manitou Singers of St. Olaf College Christmas 1 CD-
Make A Joyful Noise Manitou Singers of St. Olaf College Highlights from the St. Olaf Christmas Festival 1 CD-
Make A Joyful Noise St. Olaf Choir What Wondrous Love Vol V1 1 CD-
Memorial Concordia Choir Memorial 1 CD-
Messe Pour Double Choeur Phoenix Bach Choir Eternal Rest SACD-
Nunc Dimittis Various Arrangers Augsburg Choirbook for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Songbook-
Nunc Dimittis St. Olaf Choir Where Peace and Love and Hope Abide 2 CDs-
O Little Town of Bethlehem Concordia Choir Journey to Bethlehem 1 CD-
O My Luve's Like a Red, Red Rose Seattle Children's Chorus A Young Poet Sings 1 CD-
O My Luve's Like a Red, Red Rose St. Olaf Choir Repertoire for Mixed Voices Vol. 1 1 CD-
O My Luves Like a Red, Red Rose St. Louis Children's Choir 30th Anniversary 2 CDs-
O Vos Omnes Kantorei Pillars Of Light 1 CD-
O Vos Omnes Concordia Choir The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
Peace I Leave With You Rene Clausen A Cappella Compositions Vol. 1 Sheet Music-
Peace I Leave with You Millikin University Choirs From The Heart 1 CD-
Peace I Love With You National Lutheran Choir Tree of Glory 1 CD-
Prayer Coro Nacional de Cuba El Canto Quiere ser Luz - Songs Want to Be Light 1 CD-
Psalm 100 St. Louis Children's Choir 30th Anniversary 2 CDs-
Psalm 100 Bella Voce Young Women's Choir Best of Bella 1 CD-
Psalm 100 New Orleans Children's Chorus Music Down In My Soul 2 CDs-
Psalm 100 Manitou Singers of St. Olaf College The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
Psalm 100: Make A Joyful Noise St. Olaf Choir Light of All Creation... Scatter the Darkness 2 CDs-
Psalm 103 Concordia Choir Star Of Wonder 1 CD-
Psalm 23 Concordia Choir The Lord Is My Shepherd 1 CD-
Quicksand Years Iowa State Singers Choral Spectrum 1 1 CD-
Quicksand Years Kantorei Pillars Of Light 1 CD-
Seek The Lord Concordia Choir The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
Seek The Lord Millikin University Choirs Vespers 2010 - Shout The Good News 1 CD-
Set Me As A Seal Rene Clausen A Cappella Compositions Vol. 1 Sheet Music-
Set Me As A Seal Grand Rapids Women's Chorus Celebrating Time Together 1 CD-
Set Me As A Seal Millikin University Choirs From The Heart 1 CD-
Set Me As a Seal St. Olaf Choir Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises 1 CD-
Set Me As A Seal Mirinesse Sing Creation's Music 1 CD-
Set Me As A Seal St. Louis Children's Choir Spring Concerts 2004 1 CD-
Set Me As A Seal The Dale Warland Singers The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
Set Me as a Seal University of Utah Singers The Cloths of Heaven 1 CD-
Sua Gan Concordia Choir Savior of the Nations 1 CD-
The Last Invocation Kantorei Pillars Of Light 1 CD-
There is No Rose Luther College Nordic Choir Christmas at Luther 2009 1 CD-
There Is No Rose Concordia Choir O Come All Ye Faithful 1 CD-
There Is No Rose of Such Virtue Concordia Choir Journey to Bethlehem 1 CD-
There Is No Rose of Such Virtue Concordia Choir Journey to Bethlehem DVD-
Three Whitman Settings Concordia Choir The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
Three Whitman Settings : Kantorei Pillars Of Light 1 CD-
Tonight Eternity Alone Rene Clausen A Cappella Compositions Vol. 1 Sheet Music-
Tonight eternity alone Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge Beyond All Mortal Dreams 1 CD-
Tonight Eternity Alone University of Utah Singers I Thank You God for Most This Amazing Day 1 CD-
Tonight eternity alone The Choral Project Water and Light 1 CD-
Tonight, Eternity Alone Concordia Choir The Choral Music of Rene Clausen 1 CD-
Ubi Caritas Concordia Choir Echoes 1 CD-
Ubi caritas BYU Singers My Redeemer Lives 1 CD-
Ubi Caritas Gloria Chorale - Jungpyo Hong director O Crux 1 CD-
Veni Kantorei Pillars Of Light 1 CD-
Watchman, Tell Us Of The Night Concordia Choir O Come All Ye Faithful 1 CD-
Watchman, Tell Us of the Night Concordia Choir Star Of Wonder 1 CD-

Discography

NOTE: Clausen's compositions and arrangements are published by Shawnee Press in the Mark Foster Catalog, Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Roger Dean Publishing Company and Augsburg Publishing House.
Recorded in 1990 by the Dale Warland Singers, conducted by the composer, this sacred cantata uses both English and Latin texts. "Set Me as a Seal," one of the last movements, has been excerpted and widely performed on its own.

Memorial

Memorial was written for the 2003 Brock Commission from the American Choral Directors Association. It is a composition for mixed chorus, orchestra and baritone solo, based on subject material, which reflects the horrific events of September 11, 2001, in New York City. Though presented as one continuous movement, the composition follows a program that consists of four sub-sections - September Morning, The Premonition, The Attack, and Prayers & Petitions. The baritone soloist is Peter Halverson, the soprano soloist is opera singer . On this CD, there is also an exceptional performance of Samuel Barber's instrumental piece, "Adagio for Strings", performed by the Concordia College Orchestra.