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Composer Page for John Muehleisen

john-muehleisen

John Muehleisen’s more than 150 vocal and choral works have been described as “masterful writing…imaginatively harmonized…beautifully realized…and brilliantly crafted.” In addition to 25+ sacred works, his compositions have focused on topics ranging from humor — “Eat Your Vegetables!” (two sets), “Three Limericks” for TTBB choir, and “Cantata Caffeinata” (commissioned by the American Guild of Organists/AGO for the 2022 National Convention) — to the healing power of love & music — “Sing to Me,” “Love is…,” “Hope,” “The Stars Still Shine,” and “Singing Together” — to serious social and cultural issues, including various dimensions of suffering and healing (“Pietá”); gun violence (“Consolation: Requiem for Newtown”); immigration (“Borders”); hate crime (“When All is Done”), homelessness and compassion (“Pilgrim Beatitudes”), and the personal cost of war (the WWI Centennial oratorio “But Who Shall Return Us Our Children? - A Kipling Passion,” winner of the 2020 American Prize for Professional Choral Composers, Major Works division.)

Muehleisen has been Composer-in-Residence for Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble since 1996, as well as the Dale Warland Singers (2003–2004), and Choral Arts Northwest (2011-2012 and 2016–2017). Other commissioners include Conspirare, DCINY (Distinguished Concerts in New York), the Donald Brinegar Singers, Ember Vocal Ensemble, Harvard Glee Club, Seattle Pro Musica, South Bend Chamber Singers, and Volti. His works have been performed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia by the Louisville Orchestra and by choral groups including the Ansan City Choir, the St. Olaf Choir, and Yale Schola Cantorum and by esteemed conductors including John Alexander, Anton Armstrong, Robert Geary, Craig Hella Johnson, Erick Lichte, Ben Spalding, and Ethan Sperry. His compositions have been featured at the Sixth World Choral Symposium; the 2007 NEA American Masterpieces Choral Festival in Austin, TX; at multiple ACDA conferences; the 2013 Chorus America Conference; and the 2018 and 2022 AGO National Conventions.

Membership in professional organizations includes American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), American Composers Forum, American Guild of Organists (AGO), Chorus America, and the National Collegiate Choral Organization. Muehleisen served as the NW ACDA Region Repertoire & Resources Chair for Composers & Composition from 2017–2022 and is excited to begin serving his first term as a member of the National ACDA Composition Initiatives Committee in Fall 2024. He has presented interest sessions on composition and participated on panels for regional and national Chorus America, ACDA, and AGO conferences.

Awards include the 1988 Louisville Orchestra Composition Award, the 2014 Chorus America/Dale Warland Singers Commission Award, multiple American Prize awards (2013, 2019, 2020, and 2021), and most recently co-winner of the 2022 American Prize, Social Justice Division (“Consolation Requiem for Parkland”) and an Honored Artist: Composer Award in 2022 as well.

His works have been supported with grants from New Music USA, the Jerome Foundation, and several National Endowment for the Arts grants. He also maintains a thriving private composition teaching studio of nearly twenty talented students.

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Non si levava (after Monteverdi) – Voicing: SATB divisi  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 7:15  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Torquato Tasso  Language: Italian  Descriptive Terms: Love, Light, Dawn, Madrigals, Monteverdi  First Performance: May 11, 2024 : Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontén, University Congregational Church, Seattle, WA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/1920~2024-Q3)
A solis ortus cardine – Voicing: SATB divisi  Solo(s): Soprano, Tenor  Instrumentation: Optional Optional Tambourine and/or Hand Drum  Performance Length: 9:30  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Sedulius (d. circa 450)  Language: Latin  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Advent, Christmas, Nativity  Descriptive Terms: Advent, Christmas, Nativity, Mary  First Performance: December 18, 2011 : South Bend Chamber Singers, Nancy Menk, Church of our Lady of Lorreto, St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/1892~2024-Q2)
Dawn – Voicing: SSAATTBB  Solo(s): Optional Tenor or Baritone  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 7:30  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Brian Newhouse  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Memorial Services  Descriptive Terms: Loss, Death, Requiem, in Memoriam, Remembrance  First Performance: March 23, 2024 : The Singers - Minnesota Choral Artists, Matthew Culloton, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Minneapolis, MN    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/1862~2024-Q1)
The Soul’s Expression – Voicing: SATB DIV  Solo(s): Soprano Solo (short: 5 Measures Only)  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 2:30  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Elizabeth Barrett Browning  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Intensely Spiritual, Mystical, Apocalyptic, Surreal  First Performance: May 06, 2006 : The Esoterics, Eric Banks, Christ Episcopal Church, Tacoma, WA    Text SettingSource for Scores(P:E 302/1642~2022-Q2)
Veni Sancte Spiritus – Voicing: SATB (WITH DIVISI)  Solo(s): Soprano (brief: 3 Measures)  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 13:30  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Stephen Langton: Archbishop of Canterbury, Liturgical Latin, St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi  Language: Latin  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Pentecost, Feasts And Services of the Holy Spirit  Descriptive Terms: Holy Spirit, Light, Healing, Comfort  First Performance: May 13, 2005 : Seattle Pro Musica, Karen P. Thomas, St. James Cathedral, Seattle, WA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/1626~2022-Q1)
Three Limericks – Voicing: TTBB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 11:45  Notation: Special presentation of frog sounds  Text Source: Edward Lear  Language: English, Frog Sounds In Multi-languages  Descriptive Terms: Humor, Fun, Memorial, the Elderly  First Performance: March 14, 2014 : #1: Illumni Men’s Chorale, #2 + #3: Univ. of Wyoming Singing Statesmen, #1. Scott Kovacs, #2 + #3: Nicole Lamartine, #1: Seattle, WA, #2 + #3: Laramie, WY    Text SettingSource for Scores(P:E 302/1608~2021-Q4)
Consolation (Requiem for Parkland) – Voicing: SSAA  Instrumentation: Piano, Chimes (Tubular Bells)  Performance Length: 12:00  Notation: There is some brief aleatoric notation in places.  Text Source: Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Requiem Mass  Language: English, Latin  Descriptive Terms: Remembrance, Loss, Memorials, School Shootings, Hope  First Performance: January 23, 2020 : Arvada West High School - Company West Treble Choir, Chris Maunu, The Broadmoor Conference Center, Colorado Springs, CO    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/1587~2021-Q3)
Kyrie in Angustiis (Kyrie for Troubled Times) – Voicing: SSAATTBB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 6:15  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Liber Usualis, Sarum chant  Language: Latin  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Lent  Descriptive Terms: Mercy, Peace, Hope, Counterpoint, Emotional Contrast  First Performance: May 20, 2017 : Bellingham Chamber Chorale, Ryan Smit, First Congregational Church, Bellingham, WA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/1527~2021-Q2)
Tides of Peace – Voicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 7:00  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Henry Van Dyke  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Music Festival, Festival Choir, Honor Choir  Descriptive Terms: Music, Nature, Water, Peace, Beauty  First Performance: December 14, 2013 : Bainbridge Chorale, Michael Austin Miller, Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church, Bainbridge Island, WA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/1558~2021-Q2)
Love is – Voicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Trumpet  Performance Length: 6:45  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Rabi’a of Basra  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Love, Meditation, Sufi, Persian, Music Festival  First Performance: October 25, 2019 : Nicholls State University Concert Choir, John St. Marie, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/1514~2021-Q1)
Ascendit – Voicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 4:17  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Acts 1, Feast of the Ascension  Language: Latin  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Ascension  Descriptive Terms: Celebratory, Uplifiting, Singing, Praise, Transcendance  First Performance: May 07, 2005 : Opus 7, Dale Warland, St. James Cathedral, Seattle, WA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/1509~2020-Q4)
Eternity Passing Over - An Arctic Requiem – Voicing: SA-SATB  Solo(s): Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass  Instrumentation: Inupiat Drum  Performance Length: 14:45  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Gerard Manley Hopkins, Robert Service, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, John Henry, Cardinal Newman, Henry Vaughan, Richard Crashaw  Language: English, Latin  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Memorial Services, Remembrance, Requiem Mass  Descriptive Terms: Alaska, Arctic, Death, Hope, Nature  First Performance: May 08, 2015: Seattle Pro Musica, Karen P. Thomas, St. James Cathedral; Seattle, WA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/1181~2020-Q3)
Eat Your Vegetables! - Set One – Voicing: SATB  Solo(s): Soprano  Instrumentation: Clarinet In B-flat  Performance Length: 8:00  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Joanne Gunnerson  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Spring, Summer  Descriptive Terms: Food, Funny, Humor, Vegetables  First Performance: Oct 28, 2010: Central Washington University, CWU) Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, cond), Dr. Wayne S. Hertz Concert Hall, CWU, Ellensburg, WA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/1119~2020-Q2)
Glory! – Voicing: SSAA-SSAA  Instrumentation: Piano, Snare Drum  Performance Length: 8:15  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Emily Dickinson  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Valentine’s Day  Descriptive Terms: American Poets, History, Literature  First Performance: May 31, 2008: Northwest Girlchoir, Sara Boos, Meany Hall, University of Washington, Seattle, WA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/1018~2019-Q4)
Making Peace – Voicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Piano, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone  Performance Length: 8:50  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Denise Levertov  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Darkness, Light, Peace, Politics, War  First Performance: May 16, 2015: Choral Arts Northwest, Robert Bode, St. Joseph Catholic Church. Seattle    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/986~2019-Q3)
Invocation – Voicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 4:30  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Carmina Gadelica  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Advent, Christmas  Descriptive Terms: Celtic  First Performance: Dec 06, 2003: Dale Warland Singers, Dale Warland, St. Olaf Catholic Church, Minneapolis, MN    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/946~2019-Q2)
River Moons – Voicing: SSAATTBB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 6:30  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Carl Sandburg, Smoke and Steel (1920)  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Spring  Descriptive Terms: Alzheimers, Memory, Moon, Nature, Water  First Performance: Mar 06, 2006: Choral Arts Ensemble, Michael Culloton, Rochester, MN    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/919~2019-Q1)
Singing Together – Voicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 4:15  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Jill Clymer  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Festival  Descriptive Terms: Community, Healing, Hope, Music, Singing  First Performance: Oct 07, 2017: Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontén, University Congregational United Church of Christ, Seattle, WA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/880~2018-Q4)
The Stars Still Shine – Voicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 7:30  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Charles Anthony Silvestri  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Spring  Descriptive Terms: Hope, Korea, Love, Nature, Stars, Trees  First Performance: Mar 19, 2015: Dolce Canto, Peter Park, Missoula, MT    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/859~2018-Q3)
Hope – Voicing: SSA  Solo(s): Soprano, Alto  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 5:00  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Emily Dickinson  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Confidence, Courage, Faith, Inspiration, Optimism, Poetry  First Performance: Jun 15, 2013: Seattle Girls’ Choir, Prime Voci, Jacob Winkler, Venue Town Hall, Seattle    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/726~2017-Q4)
Prairie Waters by Night – Voicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 5:15  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Carl Sandburg, Cornhuskers (1918)  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Spring  Descriptive Terms: Birds, Moon, Nature, Night, Water  First Performance: Apr 24, 2004: Dale Warland Singers, Dale Warland, Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, St. Paul, MN    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/670~2017-Q3)
Perplexed Music – Voicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 3:45  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Elizabeth Barrett Browning  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Memorial Services, Funerals, Remembrance, Afterlife, Music Theme  Descriptive Terms: Comfort, Hope, Mourning, Music, Women Poets  First Performance: May 06, 2006: The Esoterics, Eric Banks, Christ Episcopal Church, Tacoma WA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/562~2016-Q4)
Sing to Me! – Voicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 4:00  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Ella Wheeler Wilcox  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Spring  Descriptive Terms: Celebration, Festival, Hope, Love, Music  First Performance: Jun 10, 2013: Edmonds Community College Symphonic Choir, Kirk Marcy, Trinity Lutheran Church, Lynnwood, WA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/501~2016-Q3)
Da pacem – Voicing: SSAA  Solo(s): Soprano  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 7:25  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Liturgical Latin  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Lent, Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day  Descriptive Terms: Bach, Gregorian Chant, Peace, War  First Performance: Mar 15, 2008: Seattle Pro Musica Women’s Schola, Karen P. Thomas, St. James Cathedral, Seattle, WA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/325~2016-Q2)
When All Is Done – Voicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Trumpet In C  Performance Length: 9:25  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Paul Laurence Dunbar  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Memorial Services, Funerals, Remembrance  Descriptive Terms: African American, Matthew Shepard, Oppression, Remembrance, Social Justice  First Performance: Apr 02, 2009: University of Wyoming Choir, Nicole Lamartine, University of Wyoming    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/306~2015-Q4)
The Field – Voicing: TTBB  Instrumentation: Field Drum  Performance Length: 13:15  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Stephen Crane, Herman Melville, Sara Teasdale  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Memorial Services, Veteran’s Day  Descriptive Terms: Civil War, Military, Peace, Remembrance, Veterans, War  First Performance: Mar 14, 2015: Harvard Glee Club, Andrew Clark, Christ Church, Johnson Square, Savanah, GA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 302/303~2015-Q3)
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