David Clark Isele
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During his time at Notre Dame Univeristy in South Bend, Indiana, David Clark Isele took delight in reporting that the glee club would call him "coach." No small wonder when one considers the remarkable level of jockdom in this citatdel of American Catholicism. His leadership, demonstrated by his choral skills, however, is just one part of this multifaceted musical profile.
He is professor of music and composer-in-residence at the University of Tampa, and organist and minister of music at Sacred Heart Church in Tampa, Florida. Most Catholics know him, however, by his compositions-the alternate Lamb of God from his Holy Cross Mass (G-2578) is sung each Sunday and feast day in hundreds of American churches. His compositions vary from works for orchestra and instrumental ensembles to large choral works, song, anthems and accompanied pieces for solo instruments. Several pieces have had European premiers, including "Prologue and Conjugation" for organ and "Cognitions," also for organ. The latter was record for Swiss National Radio. "Te Deum," a work for chorus and organ, had its London premier two years ago.
His finely crafted lines and disciplined sonorities are characteristic of both his concert works and his liturgical items. His music has an enduring strength that never sacrifices excitement for pedantic correctness. His nearly twenty entries in the GIA catalog and inclusion in many collections provide the church musican a stable and appealing repertory that will appeal ten years from now as it does today. That kind of music just doesn't happen. It is a product of skill, training, and--a word seldom used today--talent. All are characteristics of a world-class composer, David Clarke Isele.