title: Paul J. Christiansen
text: # Paul J. Christiansen
  
  Paul Joseph Christiansen (July 31, 1914 – December 5, 1997) was an American choral conductor and composer. As the youngest son of F. Melius Christiansen, he was brought up into the Lutheran Choral Tradition and quickly developed his own style of conducting and composing that furthered the tradition started by his father. He spent the bulk of his career developing The Concordia Choir and conducted the choir from 1937-1986. He is also credited with establishing the Concordia Christmas Concert which is seen yearly by more than 30,000 people.
  
  Paul J. Christiansen died December 5, 1997, at his Moorhead, Minnesota home, of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (AML Lou Gehrig's disease). He was 83 years old at the time of his death.
  
  ## Selected compositions and arrangements
  
  * Gracious Spirit
  * This Little Light
  * Pilgrim's Chorus
  * Wondrous Love
  * Lift Up Your Heads
  * Brothers
  * My Song in the Night
  * The King of Love
  * Prayers of Steel
  * Christmas Procession
  * Vidi Aquam
  * And God Shall
  * Create in Me a Clean Heart O God
  * Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head
  * Now All Poor
  * Tree of Glory
  * While Angels Sing
  * Kyrie Eleison
  * This is My Father's World
  * Easter Carol
  * Winds Through The Olive Trees
  * Cindy
  * Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
  * The Last Spring
  * Mary Sat Spinning
  * "David's Prayer (from Psalm 39)"
  
  ## Legacy
  
  Paul J. Christiansen's development of The Concordia Choir has left a lasting impact, not only on Concordia College, Moorhead, but on modern American choral music. Some of his most distinguished students have been his son Erik Christiansen (Choral conductor at Stillwater Area High School), Gregory Aune (conductor of The Gustavus Choir), Maurice Skones (Director of The Choir of the West and Director of Choral Activities and Professor Emeritus for University of Arizona), Larry L. Fleming (founder of the National Lutheran Choir), Bruce Phelps (founder and conductor of the Two Rivers Chorale & the Northern Lights Chorale), Richard D. Hoffland (Milliken University), Phyllis Bryn-Julson, operatic soprano and pedagogue, Daniel T. Moe (Director of Choral Organizations for the University of Iowa, professor of choral conducting at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music), Phil Mattson (jazz arranger and music director), Phyllis E. Zimmerman (composer and Director of Canticle A Cappella Choir), Kathryn Huselid (Retired Choral Director from Atwater Cosmos Grove City High School and 1995 MMEA Choral Educator of the Year), Arlene Buckneberg Ydstie (choir director and composer), and Bruce Houglum (Conductor of the Concordia Orchestra).
  
  