The Bruce Larsen Collection

Organist, choir director, arranger, composer, producer, choral teacher, historian

Bruce A. Larsen, a leader in the area’s sacred music scene for 50 years, died August 3, 1996. He leaves behind an impressive musical heritage, the legacy of a half century in various roles as organist, music and choir director, arranger, composer, producer, choral teacher, and historian.

Larsen, born June 8, 1922, in Iron Mountain, Michigan, began his college studies at St. Norbert Seminary, Wisconsin. He was drafted into the army in 1941 and served as a chaplain’s assistant in the European countries of France, Belgium and Germany. While in these countries, Larsen experienced, first hand, the classical music, art and architecture which influenced his life. Discharged in 1945, he moved to the Twin Cities, attracted to the area’s rich culture of sacred music.

After receiving his degree in organ studies from the MacPhail School of Music, his career threaded its way through several area institutions: choral director at the University of Minnesota Newman Club 1946 to 1958; organist and founding music director at the Church of the Holy Childhood in St. Paul 1946 to 1949; organist and choral/music director at St. Olaf’s Catholic Church, Minneapolis, 1949 to 1964; and choral/music director at the Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis, 1964 to 1968. Larsen then returned to Holy Childhood where he continued as music director until 1987. After his retirement from teaching, he continued to guide the music program there until his death.

Larsen founded the Holy Childhood Schola Cantorum (school of singing) to develop and maintain a choir capable of performing the great works of the sacred choral repertoire. The school and schola continue today, and almost half of the present men’s schola began singing at Holy Childhood as boy sopranos, some as long as 40 years ago. Although the Schola began as a men’s and boys’ choir, it now includes women and girls.

Larsen was no ordinary “director”. Totally immersed in the quality of music he produced, Larsen was involved simultaneously with the vocal training of many of his singers; arranging orchestral scores for masses and hymns, researching historical, classical and modern musical literature, and performing as an organist specializing in French and Romantic music.

His love of music was a magnet that drew musicians into his service. Constantly in pursuit of great music to introduce to his audiences, his concerts and religious services included compositions from all eras: plainchant and polyphony, masses, oratorios, motets, and anthems of the baroque, classical, romantic and modem periods. Priests and musicians associated with Larsen admired his ability to masterfully coordinate music into the liturgy of each Sunday and special occasion.

Through constant and diligent research Larsen discovered many pieces of music unfamiliar to American audiences and, in the process, he created a vast personal music library. His career was marked by Twin City Area premier performances of many significant works. Among them were Giacomo Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Anton Diabelli’s Hesse Pastorale in F, the Franz Liszt Requiem, Louis Vierne’s Messe Solennelle, Franz Schubert’s Stabat Mater, Samuel Rousseau’s Messe Solennelle de Paques and Messe Pastorale, Emile Paladihle’s Stabat Mater and Messe Solenelle de la Pentecote, Cesar Frank’s Mass in A, Henri Busser’s Messe de Domremy, and Camille Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio.

His own compositions include songs, choral settings, orchestral arrangements for numerous masses, classical and modem, and original descants for many hymns such as Silent Night; Jerusalem, My Happy Home; and Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise. Many of his arrangements are included on the compact disk Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise, recorded by the Holy Childhood Schola Cantorum.

Although music was nearly all-consuming for Larsen, his artistic output reached into other areas as well. Those that knew him well describe him as a true Renaissace personality, citing his skills at original architectural designs (a church he designed is located in Delton, Michigan), sculpture, and drawing. His passionate pursuit of knowledge in architecture, philosophy, psychology, metaphysics, classical literature, and mythology inspired enthusiastic discussions with friends. Many friends will remember Larsen by his “Frank Lloyd Wright” excursions seeking out and exploring Wright’s architecture.

As a true memorial, Larsen’s love of music and the arts will continue to nourish all of those who were associated with him. His legacy is a deeper understanding and appreciation of music and life.

For more information on Bruce Larsen:

My Dream by Bruce Larsen

Paula, Peter N. “Choir Director Works to Glorify God.” The Catholic Bulletin 24 Dec. 1976, Profiles in Faith sec.: 2. Print. http://cdm.csbsju.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/SJUArchives/id/41906

My fondest hopes and dreams and plans are for the day when I shall fill the post as organist and choirmaster in a church of Cathedral or Basilica fabric and importance and liturgically correct proportions. The last word will be my Choir school where the Cantors, Schola, and Boy choir will be trained in Chant, Polyphony, Liturgy, Latin, and the Classics.

I must have the organ rebuilt to my specifications, divided with great in the gallery, and secondary and choir in the Sanctuary. (The choir must be in the front, where, along with the clergy, they will participate in the glorious Sacrifice and the office. Each office shaft be preceded by a solemn procession and closed in the same manner. Once in their places the choir will go about their job in a devout, efficient and business-like manner performing their sacred duties. The norm and standard will be chant sung antiphonally by men and boys alternating with the faithful who shall be trained, and led by the school children and societies. The musical diet shaft consist of a solid recipe of Gregorian, flavored by Palestrina and the Classic masters, spiced with the better men of present and modern schools. Frequent adjunct will be the orchestra of strings and harps, unseen.

The Congregation will always sing at least the Asperges, etc., Responses, and Credo. Processionals and Recessionals shall frequently be congregational hymns. To aid the congregational chanting, to add variety and effect, the great organ in the gallery shall accompany all the congregation parts alternating with the choir organ in the sanctuary. Such use is toward a definite aid to the congregation while the effect is tremendous. The Organ music used shall be always of the highest character and in general the services, though not lengthy, shall not be hurried so as to have a rushed effect. The aim is to present a finished” service with an air of dignity, devotion, solemnity and ail with finesse.

Vespers or Compline shall be sung congregationally every Sunday; the congregation will have a monthly Sunday night singing practice with beverages. All extra services such as Novena, Rosary, etc., will be congregationally sung. Weddings will use the boy choir, as also funerals.

The above, found in a notebook dated 1944-45, was discovered and transcribed August 6, 1996, and read that day during the Mass of Christian Burial for Bruce Larsen, at the Church of the Holy Childhood, St. Paul, Minnesota. This was one of several entries Larsen recorded while serving as a World War II chaplain’s assistant in the countries of France, Belgium, and Germany.

The Bruce Larsen Collection is housed in Alcuin Library of Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota. The following procedures allow access to the collections while ensuring their preservation as a lasting resource for musicians and scholars.

Both internal members of the SJU and CSB community, as well as visiting scholars, are encouraged to use the Larsen Collection for their research needs. The Archives are not open for browsing; researchers are asked to contact the Librarian for an appointment to consult the collection. The Library reserves the right to restrict the use of records that are not processed, materials containing confidential or sensitive information, or records that are of exceptional value or are fragile.

To safeguard the unique materials housed within the Collection, researchers are requested to observe the following rules:

1. MATERIALS BROUGHT TO THE LIBRARY: Coats, briefcases, purses, book bags, and other personal property not essential to research projects must be left at the designated area.
2. SMOKING, EATING, AND DRINKING: are not permitted under any circumstances.
3. EQUIPMENT: The use of portable personal computers, cameras, and audio/video recorders will be allowed only with permission of the Librarian. The use of hand-held scanners is prohibited. Fountain pens, felt-tipped pens, or similar ink writing instruments cannot be used. Please take notes in PENCIL only.
4. STACK AREAS are closed to patrons. All materials will be retrieved by staff. Materials are to be used only in the research area under the supervision of the Librarian.
5. HANDLING OF MATERIALS: Materials must be handled with care; they must not be leaned on, written on, folded, or otherwise handled in any way likely to damage them. The existing order of documents within each folder and box should be maintained. Sheets must be turned in order and kept neatly in the folders. Please report any error in cataloguing, dating, or filing.
6. PHOTOCOPYING and/or SCANNING of Music is only allowed by permission of the Larsen Estate. Any copies provided are for the individual’s personal use and may not be further reproduced, published, publicly performed, offered for sale, transferred to another individual or deposited in another institution without written permission from the Estate and/or the copyright holder. Photocopies or scans of text material (programs, correspondence, awards) may be provided with permission of the Librarian. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in his/her use of manuscripts and other materials. All copying is done by the Library staff.
7. CITATIONS should follow this format: Identification of item, Bruce Larsen Collection, Alcuin Library, St. John’s University (Collegeville, MN).