Dr. Rene Clausen conducts The Concordia Choir; Bruce Houglum directs The Concordia Orchestra, Michael Smith The Concordia Chapel Choir, Mannerchor and Cantabile, and Dr. Charlette Moe, Bel Canto in this wonderful Christmas Concert from 2008 at Moorhead, Minnesota's Concordia College. At the nationally renowned Concordia School of Music, students can participate in 17 music organizations. There are 25 cuts here, some all instrumental, like Rene Clausen's Fantasia on 'The King Shall Come,' some accompanied, like 'Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers;' and some a cappella, like 'Celebration Collage, Heleluyan, Glory to God, Glory in the Highest, Alleluia.' There are some traditional carols such as 'Silent Night' and Ding Dong! Merrily on High,' and some lovely, less-familiar tunes like Carolyn Jennings' 'Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain,' Daniel Nelson's 'That Yonge Child,' Eleanor Daly's 'What Sweeter Music,' Eric Whitacre's 'Lux Arumque,' 'Noel' (sung in traditional Kituban dialect), and the German carol, 'Kling, Glockchen, Kling!' 'Savior of the NationsÐCome' is a magnificent collection of well-chosen, beautifully-performed Christmas music that will surprise and delight you!

F. Melius Christiansen founded the 65-strong mixed voice Concordia Choir at Moorhead, MN's Concordia College in 1911, then led the choir until handing it over to his son Paul in 1937. Rene Clausen has been conductor of the Choir for more than 20 years, and is also a well-known composer and arranger, having written over 100 commissioned compositions. This veteran, prolific choir boasts over 22 finely-crafted CDs and DVDs in the Singers.com catalog and has long been one of our favorites and best-sellers. The rich, angelic, soaring sound of the Concordia choir is beautifully evident on each of these 10 cuts. Some of our favorites are the title tune, by William H. Harris, Frank Martin's lovely 'Agnus Dei,' four songs by Eric Whitacre, 'When David Heard,' 'Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine,' 'I Thank You God for most this amazing day,' 'This Marriage' and 'With a Lilly in Your Hand;'and two versions of 'Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming,' Hugo Distler's soaring take on it and Jan Sanderson's haunting, surprising carol. Several of these (all a cappella) pieces are difficult and eclectic, but the Choir handles them all easily. Enjoy this remarkable collection by one of America's greatest choirs!

The re-imagined Christmas story takes viewers and audience members on a musical 'Journey to Bethlehem,' combining the pageantry of opera and the grandeur of choral orchestral masterworks. Composer Dr. Rene Clausen weaves sonorous and celebratory Christmas music throughout the concert.

The re-imagined Christmas story takes viewers and audience members on a musical 'Journey to Bethlehem,' combining the pageantry of opera and the grandeur of choral orchestral masterworks. Composer Dr. Rene Clausen weaves sonorous and celebratory Christmas music throughout the concert.

Conductor Rene Clausen is very well known to us for the work he has done with Moorhead MN's Concordia Choir, as Artistic Director of the Emmy-winning Concordia Christmas Concerts, and for over 100 of his own compositions for choirs at all levels. 'Beauty in the World' features 13 songs, from the powerful Swahili folk tune 'Wana Baraka,' Ysaye M. Barnwell's lovely, haunting 'Wanting Memories' the powerful Folk song 'Dulaman' and the accompanied Irish Folk song 'The Little Beggarman' to the accompanied, Clausen-arranged Civil War camp song 'Tenting on the Old Campground,' the powerful percussion-accompanied Kitana Folk song 'Noel,' Herbert Mahelona's lovely 'No Ka Beauty O Hohokohau,' Juris Karlsons' 'Rotala' and the F. Melius Christiansen-arranged 'Praise to the Lord,' each of these songs is a choral masterwork, a vocal symphony if you will. The Choir has deep, powerful harmonies, soaring leads and tremendous feeling and spirit. Don't miss this collection!

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's 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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'É 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.

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 Father's 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!

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 Father's 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!

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 Father's 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!

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 ChoirÐoutstanding. 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.

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 Morten Lauridsen. Just beautiful!

Continuing the tradition of his father, F. Melius Christiansen, who founded the St. Olaf Choir of Northfield, MN, Paul J. Christiansen took over the direction of the Concordia Choir in 1937, and made choir members used to working hard, work even harder. Still, 400 students would compete for the 60 to 65 places in the Choir, and the annual tours became more extensive and acclaimed. The Choir's participation in the annual Concordia Christmas Concerts, seen, with their huge murals, by over 20,000 people a year in the midwest, added to their reputation of excellence. There are two discs here, a collection of the Choir's finest performances. Of the 19 songs on Disc 1, some favorites: 'Kyrie Eleison,' 'Who With Grieving Soweth,' 'Ascendit Deus,' 'This Is My Father's World,' 'Mexican Christmas Procession,' 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,' the folk song 'Cindy' and the spiritual 'Set Down Servant.' Of the 15 songs on Disc 2, our favorites: 'Pilgrim's Chorus' from Tannhauser, 'Born Today!,' 'My Song In The Night,' 'He's The Lily Of The Valley,' 'Lift Up Your Heads,' 'Ezekiel Saw De Wheel' and finally, F. Melius' own song, that concluded every concert, the lovely 'Beautiful Savior.' A tribute to a remarkable man, who directed and molded an exceptional Choir, one of the best of all time! Some rare piano accompaniment, beautiful, liner notes booklet with the history of Paul J. and the Choir.

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.

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!

Listen to E'en so, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come in RealAudio.

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!

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.

Listen to Hodie Christus Natus Est in RealAudio.

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.

Four cameras were used capture this concert of five Minnesota choirs celebrating the legacy of F. Melius Christiansen. Stunning audio and video make this concert DVD a must-have item for your library. One camera was mounted in the shell allowing you to view the conductors from the singer's point of view. 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!

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.

Listen to E'en So Lord Jesus, Quickly Come in RealAudio.

Pride of Moorhead MN's Concordia College for more than 80 years, the renowned, prolific Concordia Choir has been consistently adding beautiful CDs to the best choral recordings in the PAC catalog, 21 titles to date. Well-known composer/arranger Rene Clausen has been conducting the group for over 20 years. 'Evocations' features 20 sacred selections, favorites are Eric Whitacre's 'Lux Aurumque,' David Childs' unpublished 'Purge Me From My Sin,' Paul Christiansen's 'Vidi Aquam,' Knut Nystedt's 'Be Not Afraid,' Sergei Rachmaninoff's 'Come, Let Us Worship' and 'Bless the Lord, O My Soul,' Felix Mendelssohn's 'Psalm 2,' and 'Psalm 50, Movement 2 and 3,' by former Choir director F. Melius Christiansen. Beautiful, soaring music from one of the great choirs of all time!

Listen to Psalm 50, Movement 3 in RealAudio.

The Concordia Christmas Concert has always sought to illuminate through music, art and the spoken word the rich tapestry of parable, theology, and the story that is the interaction of God and humankind that is found in the Holy Bible. Throughout Biblical history, Christ is referred to as the living water. 'Come to the Living Water' is about the image of Christ and the coming of Christ into this barren and thirsty world. Concordia's world-renowned musical groups and ensembles, The Concordia Choir, The Concordia College Orchestra, The Concordia Chapel Choir, Mannerchor and Cantabile, and Bel Canto, bring us this magnificent annual live narrated Christmas event in 26 parts. The title cut, 'Come to the Living Water,' is a dramatic, powerful depiction of the creation of earth, followed by 'The Heavens Are Telling of the Glory of God' and the hymn 'All Creatures of our God and King.' The story of Christ's birth is told with traditional carols like 'Ave Maria,' 'O Little Town of Bethlehem,' 'Silent Night,' 'What Child,' 'Infant Holy, Infant Lowly,' and 'I Saw Three Ships,' but also included are less familiar pieces like Philipp Nicolai's lovely a cappella piece, 'Wake, Awake,' Rene Clausen's 'Calm On The Listening Ear of Night,' Eleanor Daly's 'Sunny Bank,' the Swedish carol 'When Christmas Morn is Dawning,' and Knut Nystedt's 'Cry Out and Shout.' Mostly orchestrally accompanied, the joyous 'Come to the Living Water' is the next best thing to being at this wonderful event!