Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

1943 in Colfax, WA

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Morten Lauridsen is a renowned American composer of classical music, known for his choral works that have been performed and recorded by choirs around the world. Born on February 27, 1943, in Colfax, Washington, Lauridsen grew up in Portland, Oregon, where he began his musical education at an early age. Lauridsen's parents were both musicians, and his mother was a pianist and organist who taught him to play the piano when he was just six years old. He also sang in his church choir and played the trumpet in his school band. Lauridsen attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, where he studied composition with Vincent Persichetti and earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1964. After completing his undergraduate studies, Lauridsen went on to earn a Master of Music degree in composition from the University of Southern California, where he studied with Ingolf Dahl and Halsey Stevens. He also studied with Luigi Dallapiccola in Florence, Italy, and attended the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado. Lauridsen began his career as a composer in the 1970s, and his early works were influenced by the serialism and atonality of the time. However, he soon began to develop his own style, which was characterized by lush harmonies, lyrical melodies, and a deep reverence for the choral tradition. One of Lauridsen's most famous works is his Lux Aeterna, a five-movement choral cycle that was premiered by the Los Angeles Master Chorale in 1997. The work is based on texts from the Latin Requiem Mass and other sacred sources, and it has been described as a meditation on light, peace, and eternal rest. Lux Aeterna has been performed by choirs around the world and has been recorded by several ensembles, including the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Polyphony Choir. Another of Lauridsen's most popular works is his O Magnum Mysterium, a setting of the Christmas text that has become a staple of the choral repertoire. The work is characterized by its rich harmonies and soaring melodies, and it has been performed by choirs of all levels, from high school ensembles to professional groups. Lauridsen has also composed several other choral works, including Les Chansons des Roses, a cycle of five French poems set to music, and Nocturnes, a cycle of three poems by Rainer Maria Rilke. His music has been performed by some of the world's leading choral ensembles, including the King's Singers, the Dale Warland Singers, and the Westminster Choir. In addition to his work as a composer, Lauridsen has also been a respected teacher and mentor to many young musicians. He has taught at several universities, including the University of Southern California, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He has also served as a guest conductor and clinician for choirs around the world. Lauridsen has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of classical music. In 2007, he was named an American Choral Master by the National Endowment for the Arts, and in 2014, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama. He has also been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. Despite his many accolades, Lauridsen remains humble and dedicated to his craft. He continues to compose new works and to inspire and mentor young musicians around the world.

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