Eric Barnum

Dr. Eric William Barnum (born 1979 Crookston, Minnesota) is an American composer of choral, instrumental, and vocal works. He received his doctorate in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington, Seattle.^[1][2]

Background

Eric Barnum studied composition and voice at Bemidji State University, Minnesota, where he studied with Dr. Patrick Riley. He later studied composition and conducting with David Dickau at Minnesota State University. Barnum has been commissioned by ACDA Honor choirs, university ensembles, professional choirs, and school choirs.^[3] His "She Walks in Beauty" was incorporated in Chanticleer's touring repertoire.^[4]

Eric Barnum did not start composing until he was 21 years old, in fact he wanted to be an archaeologist but decided to study graphic design.

Musical style

Barnum’s music is intricately tied to the text, most often chosen from Latin liturgical sources or English poetry. The melodic line in all voices is treated with the utmost importance. Unexpected, but beautiful, harmonic progressions evoke mystical scenes of nature and spirit. Barnum is influenced by the compositions of John Tavener, Arvo Part, Gerald Finzi, and Thomas Newman.

*1 Dr. Eric Barnum on March 21, 2014 at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh gave a presentation entitled, "Telling Stories". During this presentation Eric told students his inspiration for composing music. Eric, very much like a sculptor, finds the inspiration from within the poetry and then by his hand comes to life. For this reason Eric hopes that each piece is unique and tells the story of the poetry or writing, he doesn't wish to have a "style". Eric said, "If there is one thing that all of my pieces have in common is that they tell a story".

Awards

• Chanticleer Student Composer Competition, for "She Walks in Beauty"^[5]
• 2004-2005 Composer-in-Residence for The Rose Ensemble
• 2004 JCCP Composers Grant (funded by the Jerome Foundation)^[6]

Works for Choir

• XXV (Kantorei, 2006)
• Across the Fields (Iowa State Singers 2010)
• Afternoon on a Hill (Minnesota All-State, Walton Music Publishing, 2007)
• Dawn (Choral Arts Northwest, 2008)
• Domine, quis habitabit (Rose Ensemble, 2005)
• Dreams of Thee (Burnsville Middle School, Walton Music Publishing, 2005)
• Fair Ines (All-Virginia SATB Chorus, 2013)
• Healing Heart (Bexley High School Vocal Ensemble, 2012)
• Hic est Martinus (Rose Ensemble, 2004)
• Inferno (Vocal Essence, 2007)
• I sing of a Maiden (Kantorei, 2004)
• Jenny Kiss’d Me (Minnesota State University Chamber Singers, Walton Music Publishing, 2006)
• Lead Me Home (Crookston High School, Walton Music Publishing, 2000)
• Music in the Night (Magnolia Chorale, 2009)
• O Crux Ave (Bemidji Choir, Colla Voce Music, 2002)
• Panis Angelicus (Bemidji Choir, Pavane Publishing, 2007)
• Red, Red Rose (BSU Men’s Ensemble, Walton Music Publishing, 2008)
• Requiescat (Magnum Chorum, G. Schirmer Publishing, 2007)
• She Walks in Beauty (Chanticleer, Hinshaw Music, Inc., 2005)
• Sweeter Still (Bemidji Chamber Choir, Walton Music Publishing, 2007)
• The Lady in the Water (Duluth East High School, Santa Barbara, 2007)
• The Rose of Midnight (Kantorei, 2005)
• The Sounding Sea (Iowa State University, Walton Music Publishing, 2009)
• The Stars Stand up in the Air (Minnesota Honor Choir, 2009)
• the Sweetheart of the Sun (Kantorei, Walton Music Publishing, 2005)
• The True Knowledge: Four Mystical Poems (Magnum Chorum, 2005)
• The Valley of Silence (Kantorei, Santa Barbara Publishing, 2007)
• the wheel that moves the sun and stars (Cathedral High School, Minnesota, 2008)
• The Year’s at the Spring (MSU Concert Choir, Pavane Publishing, 2005)
• There’s Nae Lark (Cal State, Long Beach, Santa Barbara Music Publishing, 2007)
• There was a time (Santa Barbara Music Publishing, 2008)
• Two Dear Hearts (MSU Chamber Singers, 2004)
• Venus’ Lament (The Young NYers Chorus, 2005)

Teaching

Dr. Eric Barnum is currently the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.^[7]

References

1. ↑ http://www.waltonmusic.com/CompBios/ebarnumbio.php
2. ↑ http://www.sbmp.com/WebPagesTwo/BarnumBio.html
3. ↑ http://www.waltonmusic.com/CompBios/ebarnumbio.php
4. ↑ http://chanticleer.org/sing/0809StudentComposerCompetition_PR.htm
5. ↑ http://www.chanticleer.org/sing/ComposerCompetition.htm
6. ↑ http://www.sbmp.com/WebPagesTwo/BarnumBio.html
7. ↑ http://www.uwosh.edu/music/faculty/barnum

*1Barnum, Dr. Eric. "Telling Stories." Convocation. University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Arts and Communication Building, Oshkosh. 21 Mar. 2014. Class lecture.

External links

• Artist's website
• Eric William Barnum: TragicHero, University of Washington
• http://www.uwosh.edu/music/faculty/barnum