I am John Sylenius, a composer and arranger with my heart rooted in the classical tradition, specializing in works for choir and orchestra. For me, creating music is about building bridges – between the written score and the living sound, and between the human voice and the rich tonal palette of the orchestra.
I believe that music finds its true purpose when it is performed and shared. To support the global musical community, I have chosen to make my compositions and arrangements freely available for use. Whether you are a conductor seeking new repertoire, a musician, or a curious listener, I invite you to explore, download, and bring these scores to life.
COMPOSER & ARRANGER
2026-01-16
I am thrilled to announce the launch of my newly redesigned website! This update marks a significant step in my creative journey, providing a more professional and artistic home for my musical work.
What’s new?
Music-Centric Layout: The new design is built to put the music first. With dedicated pages for major works like Missa Brevis Cantoribus and my ongoing Requiem, it is now easier than ever to explore scores and listen to samples.
Intuitive Navigation: Whether you are a conductor looking for new repertoire or a curious listener, the streamlined menu ensures you find what you need with ease.
Open Access: My commitment to making music accessible remains. All scores are clearly labeled and available for free download under the Creative Commons license.
This website is more than just an archive—it is a living space for my compositions, from Bach-inspired passions to modern AI-assisted explorations. I invite you to look around, download a score, and join me in this next chapter.
Welcome inside!
2025-12-13
I am delighted to share that my new Lucia hymn, “Tungt ligger mörkret,” had its world premiere this past December. The piece was performed for the first time by Kammarkören Cantate during their traditional Lucia concert.
“Tungt ligger mörkret” is a choral work that seeks to capture the specific atmosphere of the Swedish midwinter—the contrast between the deep, heavy stillness of the Nordic night and the fragile, hopeful light of the Lucia tradition.
Now available for download: To celebrate the premiere, I have made both the materials and the memory of that evening available to you:
Sheet Music: The full score is available as a PDF for free download.
Live Recording: You can now listen to the premiere performance by Kammarkören Cantate directly on the website.
Whether you are looking for new repertoire for future winter seasons or simply wish to experience the atmosphere of the premiere, I invite you to explore the score and recording.
2025-02-04
I am very pleased to announce the completion and official release of Missa Brevis Cantoribus. This four-movement mass for SATB choir, organ, and piano is now fully available for conductors and ensembles to explore.
By blending the timeless simplicity of Gregorian chant with contemporary choral textures, the work offers a unique liturgical experience. A special focus is placed on the interplay between the voices and the two keyboard instruments, creating a dynamic journey from the grand Kyrie to the intimate and crisp piano-led Agnus Dei.
Available now:
Full Scores & Parts: All sheet music is available for free download as high-quality PDFs.
Audio Samples: Listen to recordings of the movements to get a feel for the work’s character and atmosphere.
As with my other compositions, Missa Brevis Cantoribus is released under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) to encourage as many performances as possible. I look forward to hearing how this music resonates in your local cathedrals, churches, and concert halls.
This site includes images generated by AI.
However, the music is not.
