René Clausen (born 1953) is an American composer, conductor emeritus of The Concordia Choir, and former professor of music at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. Some of his works are widely performed by high school and church choirs, and his more technically demanding pieces have been performed and recorded by college and professional choirs. His 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 US 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 Minneapolis-based National Lutheran Choir.

René Clausen retired as professor of music and conductor of The Concordia Choir following the 2019-20 academic year.

Early life and education

René Clausen was born in Faribault, Minnesota, where his father served as organist for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and moved frequently as a child, also living in Iowa and California, where he was primarily raised. In southern California during his late teenage years he first heard the St. Olaf Choir while it was on tour in the area, a significant formative experience for him. He graduated from Wilton Senior High School in Wilton, Iowa. He 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.

Some compositions and arrangements Title NotesAll That Hath Life & Breath Praise the Lord A Noiseless, Patient Spider from Three Whitman SettingsAve Maria Ave Rosa Commissioned by the St. Olaf Choir, premiered on their winter tour, January–February 2012. The premiere recording is 82:47 into the Winter Home Tour Concert (13 February 2012) archived at https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?e=560 Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair Deep River Hear Me, I Will Live from Crying for a DreamHow Can You Buy the Sky? from Crying for a Dream I Thank You God A setting of e.e. cummings' celebrated poem "I Thank You God." Dissonance, tone color and texture are ever-changing, chord cluster follows chord cluster and changing meter and tempo further accentuate the unbridled happiness expressed in the text. It has been portrayed as a thanksgiving hymn. Jabberwocky Jubilant Song La Lumiere Translated as "The Light." 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 division in each voice part. Magnificat Commissioned by the Texas Choral Director's Association, 1988. Scored for SATB double choir.Mesabi: "The Sleeping Giant" Symphony The symphony is performed in 4 movements that takes the audience on a journey through the history of The Mesabi Iron Range:

1) "The Land Awakens" 2) "The Settling Years" 3) "The Mines" 4) "Forging a Way Forward"O My Luve's Like a Red, Red Rose On the Mountain Top Blows the Wind Mild Silesian folk tune, arr. RC. Scored for SATB divisi. O Vos Omnes Texts from the Holy Bible, Sacred Latin Poems, Lutheran Chorale, "O Sacred Head Now Wounded", and the Latin Mass. Peace I Leave With You Written for the 1991 Concordia Centennial Alumni Choir, Moorhead, Minnesota. Scored SATB divisi. Plenty Good Room Spiritual, arr. RC. Contains jazz elements including a scat soloist (the part is written out in the score) Prayer Tribute to Mother Teresa Psalm 100 Originally for SSA chorus, it is now also available for SATB. Scoring includes Orff instruments and small group of woodwinds. Psalm 109 Psalm 148 Psalm 150 Quicksand Years from Three Whitman Settings The Salutation of the Dawn The lyrics of this piece were taken from the Sanskrit poem, "The Salutation of the Dawn." It was first performed by Florida All State Chorus in 1997.Seek the Lord Set Me as a Seal from A New Creation Song at Dusk Much like a vocal tone poem, the colors brought forth in this piece, along with the soaring melodies, dramatically illuminate the poem by Leigh Hanes, once poet laureate of the state of Virginia. Divisi in all parts, it is recommended for the advanced high school or college ensemble. Sweet Was the Song English carol, arr. RC. Written by Clausen on the occasion of his daughter's(Rachel Clausen) birth. Words traditional, except the second verse by his wife, Frankie Clausen. The Last Invocation from Three Whitman Settings The Lord's Prayer A contemporary setting of the classic prayer, scored in multiple meters and keys by Clausen. For SATB chorus. Tonight Eternity Alone Full of dynamic, expressive passages, soaring soprano solos and simple, but mood-evoking text. A good showcase for moderate-to-advanced skills choir. War Song from Crying for a Dream What a Wonderful World Clausen provides a most sensitive arrangement of this timeless pop standard. The Water Is Wide

Santa Barbara Music Publishing

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 (Long As I Live) 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