The Concordia Choir

Since 1920 The Concordia Choir of Moorhead, Minnesota, has continued to affirm its reputation as one of the nation's finest a cappella choirs. Touring nationally and internationally the choir has performed in nearly every major hall in the United States including Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center. Each year the choir's award-winning Concordia Christmas Concert is broadcast nationwide on radio and on public television. In 1992 and 1993 The Concordia Choir performed with Garrison Keillor on his radio program, A Prairie Home Companion. The choir's Recordings are distributed nationwide making it one of the top-selling college choirs in the United States. The choir has toured internationally eight times. In 1995 it performed for the King and Queen of Norway. In April of 1996, the choir sang with The King's Singers during their Musicians-in-Residence on Concordia's campus. The year concluded with a twenty-day tour of Eastern Europe. Director Rene Clausen.

Discography

On Our Way Rejoicing

Director Rene Clausen continues to raise the bar of excellence of this world-class choir and the 2006 Christmas Concert was a special series of concerts indeed. This year’s honored concert honored longtime mural designer and liturgical artist David Hetland ’69 who designed the hand-painted Christmas Concert murals for the past 28 years. David passed away April 16, 2006. Morten Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium” has become a standard for many choirs and the choir here gives this magnificent piece true justice. A true delight this recording will brighten everyone’s holiday spirits.

F. Melius Christiansen 135th Anniversary Concert

Norway-born Frederick Melius Christiansen arrived in the Midwest in 1888 and immediately began establishing his career as a master musician. Accepting an appointment as music director of the fledgling music program at St. Olaf College in Minneapolis, as founder and leader of the St. Olaf Choir from 1911-41, he established a legacy of excellence, which still influences a cappella performances of choirs throughout the country. The Augsburg Choir, Concordia Choir, Concordia U. Christus Chorus, Gustavus Choir, St. Olaf Choir and The Anniversary Festival Choir celebrate the anniversary of F. Melius' birth in 1871 on two beautifully-recorded, powerful choral CDs, 16 pieces on the first and 10 on the second. Our favorites, of course, are "Lost in the Night," "In Dulci Jubilo," "Wake, Awake" and "Praise to the Lord," all arranged by the "Music Master of the Midwest," in addition to "Psalm 50" and "Beautiful Savior," composed by F. Melius. Wonderful!

O Come All Ye Faithful

With almost 20,000 attendees at their annual Christmas series of concerts and the airing on PBS television and radio stations across the nation has certainly made the Concordia Choir a great Christmas tradition for many. The 400 voices celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ with some spectacular arrangements including "Gesu Bambino" and the title track "O Come All Ye Faithful". Two new compositions by director Rene Clausen, who has over the 26 years he has been directing the choir become world-renown, are superb. Always top-notch this choir continues to build upon it's already excellent reputation.

Endless Your Grace

Renowned conductor/arranger (since 1986) of the Concordia Choir Rene Clausen's firm touch is clear on every note of "Endless Your Grace."For more than 80 years The mixed voice Concordia Choir has affirmed its reputation as one of nation's finest a cappella choirs. 16 wonderfully arranged songs are included in this inspirational, feel-good recording. The Moses Hogan-arranged "Ezekiel Saw De Wheel," "What A Wonderful World," "Come and Taste," "Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord," "Gracious Spirit," "This Little Light," the rousing spiritual "Ain't Got Time to Die," "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel," "Give Me Jesus" and "My God, How Wonderful Thou Art" are favorites, but "Endless" is an impressive, spirited treat throughout!

Echoes

For more than 80 years, The CC of Concordia (Lutheran) College, Moorhead, MN has continued to affirm its reputation as one of the nation's finest a cappella choirs. The choir has performed in nearly every major music hall, including Carnegie Hall. Conducted since 1986 by Rene Clausen , who also wrote the lovely "Ubi Caritas," the group perfectly performs 12 songs on the aptly-titled "Echoes," mostly sacred songs like "La Lumiere," Tavener's "Song for Athene" and "Village Wedding." This CD also features "Water Night," "Cloudburst" and "Little Birds" by popular composer Eric Whitacre as well as the gorgeous "O Magnum Mysterium" by Marten Lauridsen. Just beautiful!

My Soul's Delight

Spanning a diverse range of choral literature, this acclaimed Minnesota choir has once again produced a pristine recording. Directed by Rene Clausen, the mixed group performs spirituals ("Ain't Got Time To Die"), and folk songs ("Little Potato"), in addition to the expected arrangements of composers such as F. Melius Christiansen ("Praise To The Lord"), whose Scandinavian heritage is part of an acknowledged hegemony in the choral world. Other highlights include the "Noel Ayisyen (A Haitian Noel)" with it's perfect fifth harmonic background, and the droning "Past Life Melodies," which uses a judicious dissonance to craft an otherworldly deja vu. Blissful.

Prince of Peace, Hope To The World

Since 1920 The Concordia Choir of Moorhead, Minnesota, has continued to affirm its reputation as one of the nation's finest a cappella choirs. Touring nationally and internationally the choir has performed in nearly every major hall in the United States including Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center. "Prince of Peace" is their seventh CD release, and it features the 2002 Concordia College Christmas Concert, conducted by the renowned Rene Clausen. Begun on a small scale in 1927, the event as we know it today began in 1937 under Paul Christiansen, son of St. Olaf College choir director F. Melius Christiansen, when the first giant Christmas mural was added. The recording has 25 parts, some simply orchestra, some a cappella singing, some singing with orchestra, some narrative. For a hint of how wonderful this concert is, listen to "For Unto Us A Child Is Born," from Handel's "Messiah," featuring the orchestra and Choir–outstanding. John Gardner's "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day," Stroope's "There Is No Rose of Such Virtue," Pierce's "How Still He Rests," or sinple carols like "Silent Night," a lilting "Pat-A-Pan," "O Hearken Ye," "Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head," or the powerful Haitian carol "Noel Ayisen"—it's all amazing.

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Included in this live recording from the 78th annual Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) Christmas Concert, "The Lord is My Shepherd," inspired by Psalm 23. Over 500 musicians, including the Concordia Choir, directed by Rene Clausen, Concordia College Orchestra, Bel Canto, Chapel Choir, Kantorei, Tintinnabula and Cantabile, tell the story of Christmas in song, segued by a spoken narrative. 22 songs, from Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze,' and Paul Manz' "E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come" to Mary Caldwell's "A Lute Caroll" and Rene Clausen's beautiful "Psalm 23." Mostly orchestrally-accompanied. Wonderful, inspirational music from a fantastic annual event!

Today Heaven Sings

Directed by the contemporary composer Rene Clausen, the Concordia Choir performs frequently, but not exclusively, modern works. This 1999 seasonal recording features several familiar holiday carols, such as Praetorius' "Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming," but its appeal is also in the opportunity to enjoy newer, refreshing pieces, such as "How Still He Rests," with it's solemn oboe accompaniment. The eerie, yet beautiful tonalities of "Go Pretty Child," with its sibilant countermelody, are an example of how the Choir'øs approach is both delicate and unsettling at once. "Noel Aylsyen (A Haitian Noel)" bounces between the root and fifth, urged along in a springing rhythm, punctuated by handclaps. This refined and energetic modernism is exciting and supremely musical.

O Holy Night

On the cover of "O Holy Night" we see an awesome giant Christmas mural, with the huge Concordia Choir in front of it, and The Concordia Orchestra in the foreground. This massive Christmas celebration has been an annual event for many years, and it just keeps getting bigger and better. 24 songs, with spoken parts, all accompanied, some familiar ("Angels We Have Heard On High," "O Holy Night," "Joy to the World"), some unfamiliar ( "Of the Father¹s Love Begotten," "Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah," "Calm on the Listening Ear of Night"), but together in sequence they magnificently tell the Christmas story. "O Holy Night" is a triumph, one of the best of the year!

6824 CD $15.98

6824 VHS VIDEO $19.98

6824 DVD $24.98

Your Heart Shall Rejoice

The colorfully beautiful liner notes give us a wealth of information about the Evangelical Lutheran Church's Concordia College of Moorhead, Minnesota, their acclaimed Choir, and director/composer/arranger Rene Clausen. "Your Heart" brings us 9 songs of praise, written by Giovanni Gabrieli, William Byrd, Heinrich Schutz and J.S. Bach: "Jubilate Deo," "I Will Not Leave You Comfortless," "Sing Joyfully," Singet dem Herrn ein neves Lied," "Selig sing die Toten," "Ich bin die Auferstehung und das Leben," "Komm, Jesu, Komm," "Der Geist hilt unsrer Schwachheit auf" and "Lobet den Herrn." The classic, soaring, harmonic music takes us to a simpler place and time, a place of contemplation and worship, a place where the heart may truly rejoice!

6709 CD $15.98

Memorial

Memorial is a composition for mixed chorus, orchestra and baritone solo, based on subject material which reflets the horrific events of September 11th, 2001, in New York City. Though presented as one continuous movement, the composition follows a program that comprises of four sub-sections - Semptember Morning, The Attack, Prayers and Petitions. Conducted by its composer and director of the Concordia Choir, Rene Clausen, this beautiful piece of music will touch your heart in a way that only music can. The musical texture presents a poignant cascade of emotion that is amplified by the awesome peformance by the Concordia Choir and their Baritone soloist, Peter Halverson (A Concordia College Music Faculty member). On this CD, there is also an exceptional performance of Samuel Barber's instrumental piece, "Adagio for Strings," performed by the Concordia College Orchestra.

Star Of Wonder

Since 1927, the Concordia College Christmas Concert has grown from an activity of the college's music club into the famed concerts that have become a tradition in the Upper Midwest. Since 1937 the spectacle has featured a giant mural, the huge Concordia Choir and three other choirs, and the Concordia orchestra. There are beautiful photographs of the event in the extensive liner notes. 23 songs, "Venus, the Bringer of Peace," "Watchman, Tell Us Of The Night," "O How Shall I Receive Thee," "Behold A Star From Jacob Shining," "Arise, Shine, for Thy Light Has Come," "Our Father"Š the list goes on and on of beautiful, soaring music, praising Christ and filling the huge hall with love and light. "Star Of Wonder" is a very special CD of a huge, amazing Christmas event.

6823 CD $15.98

Salvation Is Created

This digital recording reatures the warmth and richness of traditional Russian liturgical anthems and the rythmic and harmonic variety of several 20th Century motets.

6675 CD $15.98

Folk Songs, Spirituals & Hymns

This top-selling recording contains all of the favorites! It includes a refreshing combination of accessible choral music for the enthusiast and the church choir member.

6676 CD $15.98

The Choral Music of Rene Clausen

Rene Clausen is one of America's leading choral composers. Discover the variety of his compositions as performed by these quality ensembles. This recording features his latest extended work "Crying For A Dream" which is based on Native American texts.

6677 CD $15.98

In The New Moon

This recording features John Taverner's "Song for Athene," as performed at the funeral of Princess Diana of Wales. Also, Rene Clausen's "In Pace," written in memory of the Holocaust victims. This is the ultimate collection of etheral and daunting 20th Century masterpieces.

6678 CD $15.98

René Clausen, conductor of the Concordia Choir, Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, is a graduate of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota. He holds a Master's degree in conducting performance and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of Illinois. Here we present you with 6 of his most well known A Cappella choral selections, a must have for any large, advanced choir!

9069 SHEETMUSIC $8.49

Rene Clausen: A Cappella Compositions Vol. 2

Thank The Lord
i thank You God (e.e. cummings)
La lumiere
All That Hath Life & Breath Praise Ye the Lord!
Magnificat

'Thank The Lord' is a beautiful 4-part sacred folk tune that begins with a great soprano solo. The unique setting of e.e. cummings’ celebrated poem 'i thank you God' is a challenge, but the overall effect is stunning. Dissonance, tone color, and texture are ever-changing in this a cappella gem where chord cluster follows chord cluster. Cummings’ vividly painted words are well-suited to René Clausen’s inimitable gift of melody. Clausen’s impressionistic 'La Lumiére (The Light)' is a wonderful, sensual experience in tone color and texture. As the poet’s spiritual perception changes, he views his visual landscape in a new light. In much the same way, Clausen transforms the listener’s aural landscape with layer upon layer of changing harmony and musical texture. Written for a cappella choir with divisi in each voice part, this modern impressionistic choral will showcase the talents of the most discerning ensemble. Choirs capable of singing 8-part harmony will love 'All That Hath life & Breath Praise Ye the Lord.' The lush chords and triumphant sound will also move the audience. Another 8-part gem, 'Magnificat' showcases Clausen's uncanny ability to weave beautiful melodies with intricate harmonies that can both sooth and excite the listener.

9263 SHEETMUSIC $8.95

Rene Clausen: A Cappella Compositions Vol. 3

The Early Bird
Song at Dusk
Plenty Good Room
Alleluia
In the Bleak Midwinter
Canticle of Praise

This compilation contains six, delightful compositions by Rene Clausen for the express enjoyment of your mixed-voice group. "The Early Bird" is a tone poem that lets out all the stops, presenting a wonderful adventure for the advanced choir. "Song at Dusk" is much like a vocal tone poem, in how the soaring melodies dramatically illuminate the poem (by Leigh Haynes). "Plenty Good Room" is guaranteed to bring down the house, swinging with classy, jazz element including a scat solo. "Alleluia" is a dramatic piece containging marvelous harmonic build-up and a sensitive ending. "In the Bleak Midwinter" is a composition based on a poem by Christina Rossetti that was originally a Christmas poem expressing her piety and love for the beauty of nature. "Canticle of Praise" was originally written for the King’s Singers (a 6-man ensemble) and the Morman Tabernacle Choir, however, this publication is the version re-scored by the Clausen for performance by his Concordia Choir.

9455 SHEETMUSIC $11.95

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