THE GLEN ELLYN-WHEATON CHORALE COMMISSIONS NEW CHORAL WORK FROM COMPOSER RENÉ CLAUSEN

The Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale is pleased to announce the world premiere of a newly commissioned work The Cloths of Heaven, by renowned composer René Clausen.

The chorale, under the direction of music director Greg Wheatley, commissioned Clausen to write the piece in honor of the chorale's 30th anniversary.

Clausen is a prolific composer, whose works are published by several major publishers. A collection of his works has been recorded by the Kansas City Chorale on their CD Life and Breath: Choral Works by René Clausen, which received three Grammy awards in 2013. In addition to his work as a composer, Clausen is also conductor of the Concordia Choir (Moorhead, MN), one of the country's premier collegiate ensembles.

The Cloths of Heaven is a setting of a text by William Butler Yeats. In describing his musical setting of this text, Clausen says "The piece is quite sweeping and panoramic, rather neo-Romantic in style. The text kind of brought me to that place." Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale music director Greg Wheatley agrees. "The chorale is really enjoying learning this piece. René has given us a wonderful gift in the shimmering harmonies and singable lines of this work. We're excited about singing The Cloths of Heaven, and consider it a great privilege to present its world premiere this spring."

The piece will be premiered at the Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale's spring concert Of Night and Light on May 6 and 7, 2016. The Friday concert begins at 7:30 pm, and the Saturday concert begins at 3:00. Both concerts are at College Church, 335 Seminary, Wheaton, IL.

For more information about the Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale, visit www.gewchorale.org.