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Composer Page for John Muehleisen

john-muehleisen

Composer John Muehleisen is increasingly in demand for commissions and performances nationally and internationally, particularly from choral ensembles. He has served as Composer-in-Residence for Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble almost continuously since 1996, during which time Opus 7 has commissioned nearly 20 new choral works from him. He also served as composer-in-residence for the Dale Warland Singers (2003–2004) and Seattle-based Choral Arts (2011–2012).

Muehleisen’s work has received critical acclaim from the very first. His music has been described as “imaginatively harmonized and beautifully realized…” and “brilliantly crafted.” Critic Philippa Kiraly wrote of his Da pacem for women’s choir and soprano solo: “Dissonance and consonance come together and dissolve into each other creating an atmosphere of peace and calm conviction.” More recently, Kiraly’s review of the 2012 world premiere of Pietà, commissioned by Seattle’s Choral Arts, said: “Kudos…to Muehleisen for the courage to spend time on such a work and the insight, thoughtfulness, and musicianship [with] which he has created a major religious piece. . . . It was a privilege to be there, and already I want to hear it again.”

His works have been performed and recorded by numerous ensembles in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia, including Choral Arts (Seattle), Choral Arts Ensemble (Rochester, MN), Choral Chameleon, Conspirare, the Dale Warland Singers, The Esoterics, the John Alexander Singers, Kokopelli’s Òran choir, the Louisville Orchestra, Musa Horti (Belgium), Northwest Girlchoir, Opus 7, The Richard Zielinski Singers, Seattle Girls Choir, Seattle Pro Musica, South Bend Chamber Singers, Vocal Arts Ensemble (Cincinnati), and numerous college and university choirs, including the Yale Schola Cantorum.

Muehleisen was a guest composer at the 22nd Festival of Contemporary Music in 1988 (along with principal guest composer Joan Tower) and at the National Endowment for the Arts’ American Masterworks Choral Festival in Austin, TX in 2007 (along with Stephen Paulus). He has been in residence with numerous choral ensembles, including Choral Arts (Seattle), Choral Arts Ensemble (Rochester, MN), Conspirare, the Dale Warland Singers, the John Alexander Singers, Mid-Columbia Mastersingers, the Quincy Symphony Chorus, South Bend Chamber Singers, Volti, and at University of Missouri–Kansas City, Wake Forest University, and public schools, colleges, and universities that have commissioned and performed his works.

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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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