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Rene ClausenAmerican composer and conductor
Country:
 USA |
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Biography of René Clausen
René Clausen, an American composer and conductor, is best known as the director of the mixed student choir 'The Concordia Choir' and as an adjunct professor of music at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. Born in California in 1953, Clausen graduated from Wilton Senior High School in Wilton, Iowa, and earned his bachelor's degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He later obtained his master's degree and doctorate in choral conducting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Career
Before joining 'The Concordia Choir,' Clausen led choral activities at West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas, and served as an assistant professor of choral music at Wichita State University. He also held the position of chief editor at Mark Foster Music Company and served as the interim conductor of the National Lutheran Choir in Minneapolis. Clausen's compositions and arrangements have found their place in various musical spheres, including choral and solo performances, orchestras, wind ensembles, films, and other media.
Style and Works
Clausen's composition techniques are diverse and eclectic, often incorporating spiritual and secular texts. His harmonies, based on "close dissonances" such as major and minor seconds, create clusters of sound. While his style is sometimes described as neoromantic, it defies easy categorization, pushing the boundaries of traditional choral sequences. Notable works that showcase Clausen's transformations include 'Tonight, Eternity Alone,' 'I Thank You God,' and 'Magnificat.' Other compositions demonstrate classical or baroque structures, while some choral pieces incorporate elements of romantic rubato or expressiveness.
Discography
René Clausen's discography includes releases such as 'A New Creation,' 'The Choral Music of René Clausen,' and 'Memorial.' 'A New Creation,' recorded by the Dale Warland Singers in 1990, is a sacred cantata that features Latin and English texts. 'Memorial,' a composition for mixed choir, orchestra, and baritone solo, is based on the events of September 11, 2001, in New York City. While the composition is continuous, it is divided into four sections: 'September Morning,' 'The Premonition,' 'The Attack,' and 'Prayers & Petitions,' with baritone soloist Peter Halverson.
