Daniel L. Schutte (b. 1947, Neenah, Wisconsin) is a contemporary Christian songwriter best known for composing the hymn Here I Am, Lord (1981). ==Biography== Grew up in Elm Grove, Wisconsin and graduated from Marquette University High School before entering the Jesuits. Was one of the founding members of the St. Louis Jesuits who popularized a contemporary style of church music set to biblical and other religious texts sung in English as a result of the liturgical reforms initiated by Vatican II. He released nine CDs with the St. Louis Jesuits and a 30 year anniversary collection in 2005. Other members of the St. Louis Jesuits were Bob Dufford, Roc O'Connor, John Foley and Tim Manion. He left the Jesuit order in 1986. His compositions are primarily written for liturgical use, particularly in Catholic worship. Some of the more notable include "City of God" (1981), "Only This I Want" (1981), "Blest Be the Lord" (1976), "You Are Near" (1971), "Though the Mountains May Fall" (1975), "Sing a New Song" (1972), "Glory and Praise to Our God" (1976) and "Table of Plenty" (1992). Many Christian artists such as John Michael Talbot and Amy Grant have recorded his compositions. He has also released five solo CDs through his publisher Oregon Catholic Press. In 2006, he wrote the component of a major catechetical program for teachers on the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius and the use of music in prayer. He continues to compose new music, write about spirituality and travels extensively giving concerts and workshops on music and spirituality. In addition to his Jesuit formation, he hold two masters degrees from The Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. He later studied music with the other members of the St. Louis Jesuits under the direction of Kevin Waters at Seattle University. Schutte presently is Composer-in-Residence at the University of San Francisco. ==Recognition== * Honorary Doctoral Degree, University of Scranton 1980. * Honorary Doctoral Degree, Creighton University 2006. * Grammy Nomination with The St. Louis Jesuits. * Song of the Year 2001, United Catholic Music and Video Association, ''Here, I Am, Lord''. * Number One Favorite Hymn poll by readers of The Tablet 2004, ''I, the Lord of sea and sky''/''Here I am, Lord''. == His music in contemporary Catholic culture == Dan Schutte is one of many musicians who compose contemporary Catholic liturgical music. This music has enjoyed widespread success throughout the English speaking world. There have also been a number of controversies surrounding this music. Many of Schutte's compositions, often based closely on scripture, are among the favorite worship songs of a whole generation of Catholics, and have undoubtedly played an important part in the spiritual experience of many. For some years, a number of people have argued that Schutte's music and those of a similar style not to be suitable for use in Catholic liturgies. Some of these people prefer Gregorian chant and the Latin Mass, while others prefer the hymns that were common in the two centuries prior to the 1970s. Still, a recent poll conducted by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians among members found that one of Schutte's hymns came in second among "songs that make a difference". In 2004, a similar survery conducted by The Tablet, an international Catholic magazine, reported Dan Schutte's hymn, "Here I Am, Lord" as reader's favorite. Other polls conducted by major Catholic music publishers and copyright license requests show a similar trend that Schutte's music is among some of the most requested by pastoral musicicans for Catholic Liturgy. == See also == * St. Louis Jesuits * Marty Haugen == External links == * www.DanSchutte.com * www.ocp.org * www.PilgrimMusic.com