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Richard Proulx

Composer, conductor, musician, educator

Richard Proulx was one of the most important composers of liturgical music in the twentieth century. In addition to sacred music, he also composed commercial tunes, secular instrumental pieces, and two operas. While many of his compositions are richly complex and arranged for professional musicians, Proulx also composed liturgical pieces and hymns familiar to many congregations, such as "I Received the Living God," and a Community Mass.

Originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota, Proulx long resided in Chicago where he directed the music program at Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral from 1980 through 1994. Richard Proulx composed, arranged and edited more than 300 musical works. Alcuin Library at Saint John's University is the home of his collection of compositions, including manuscripts as well as published pieces.

Saint John's University enjoyed a long association with Richard Proulx, awarding him its highest honor, the Pax Christi Award, in 1998. As a young man, Proulx studied Gregorian chant at Saint John's. Later, Proulx taught hymnody and composition in summer sessions at the University. Saint John's commissioned his choral work, "Where Your Glory Abides". The Proulx collection is a significant part of the Library's holdings in sacred music, which Proulx helped establish by facilitating the acquisition of the Bruce Larsen collection.

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