Fall Reverie for Bb Clarinet and String Orchestra was commissioned by conductor, Antoine T. Clark, and the McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra and was premiered on 02/21/16 by that ensemble with clarinet soloist, Nancy Gamso in Worthington, Ohio. My wife and I have lived in many of the neighborhoods of Columbus, Ohio: Dublin, Galloway, German Village, Hilliard, North Linden, Upper Arlington, and Westerville. Each of these communities has a unique cultural imprint on the greater Columbus area and our favorite season to enjoy the rich and diverse offerings of Columbus is Autumn. Fall Reverie depicts not only the beauty of Columbus’ Autumn, but also the introspective and contemplative power the season has on our minds. Autumn brings a sense tranquility and sentimentality while simultaneously offering a stark reminder of our own mortality. I composed this piece in the fall of 2015 as I would stare out my office window daydreaming while watching the burnt orange, golden, and burgundy leaves.

Fall Reverie For Bb Clarinet And Strings By Torres

Elegy for Eurydice: Six Short Episodes for Solo Alto Saxophone is a reference to the Greek mythological characters Orpheus and his wife Eurydice. In the myth, Eurydice dies from a fatal snake wound. Orpheus, tormented by his loss, travels to Hades and persuades Pluto, god of the underworld, to rescue Eurydice from death. The single condition of her return was that Orpheus did not turn around and look at her as she followed him out of the Underworld. In a brief moment of weakness and doubt, Orpheus glanced back to see his love only to watch her vanish forever. Each movement of Elegy for Eurydice is a glimpse into Orpheus' emotional state while he experiences the five stages of grief as he copes with the second and final loss of his wife. The pitch material of Elegy for Eurydice was generated by using a form of soggetto cavato (the conversion of text or vowels into pitches), so that the rows formed from the title of each movement are used in conjunction with rows created by the names "Orpheus" and "Eurydice," establishing a unique sound for each stage of grief. Multiphonics, a central reoccurring theme between movements, are used to convey moments of great anguish and tension.

I. Eurydice
II. Denial
III. Anger
IV. Bargaining
V. Depression
VI. Acceptance

Elegy for Eurydice for Alto Saxophone by Torres

Free improvisation by saxophonists, Dr. Rogério Luiz Moraes Costa and Dr. Michael Rene Torres on March 2, 2023 at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Costa & Torres Improvisation

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(41) Unrolling Masking Tape. Recorded in June, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio.

41) Unrolling Masking Tape (06/2022)

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(42) Listening to the crickets while walking the Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard. Recorded in July, 2022 in Tirana, Albania.

42) Crickets in Albania (07/2022)

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(43) Michigan Thunderstorm. Recorded in July, 2022 in Twin Lake, Michigan.

43) Michigan Thunderstorm (07/2022)

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(44) One of the aluminum art works that patrons are encouraged to touch from the Grid exhibition by Ascânio MMM at the Museo Oscar Niemeyer. Recorded in October, 2022 in Curitiba, Brazil.

44) Touchable Aluminum Art in the Museo Oscar Niemeyer (10/2023)

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(45) The cathedral bells to announce the 4pm Vespers on Pentecost Monday at the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre. Recorded in May, 2023 in Paris, France.

45) The Bells of Sacré-Cœur (05/2023)

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(46) Playing with sparklers on the 4th of July. Recorded in July, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio.

46) Sparklers on 4th of July (07/2023)

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(47) The sound of a broken electric dryer. Recorded in September, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio.

47) Broken Dryer (09/2023)

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(48) The bells of the Las Palmas Cathedral heard from the Plaza de Santa Ana. Recorded in December, 2023 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.

48) Cathedral Bells in Spain  (12/2023)

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(49) The waves of the North Atlantic Ocean crashing on the rocks at the Playa de Guanarteme. Recorded in December, 2023 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.

49) Waves at the Playa de Guanarteme (12/2023)

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(50) The organ of the Cathedral of Santa Ana. Recorded in December, 2023 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.

50) Cathedral Organ in Spain (12/2023)

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(51) A woodpecker in Dexter Falls Park. Recorded in February, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.

51) Woodpecker in Dexter Falls (02/2024)

Ancient Waters Warmed with Life by Ralph M. Johnson for SATB Choir with piano and soprano saxophone. Performed in November 2014 by the Muskingum University Concert Choir conducted by Dr. Zebulon Highben with Dr. Michael Rene Torres on saxophone.

Ancient Waters Warmed With Life By Johnson

Carnival of Venice by Jules Demersseman arr. Hemke
Live recording -09 - 12 - 16

Michael Rene Torres, saxophone
Thomas Wells, piano

September 12, 2016 recital 

Carnival Of Venice by Demersseman

Two Short Episodes for Baritone Saxophone by Michael Rene Torres was premiered by saxophonist, Casey Grev in Columbus, OH in 2011.

Two Short Episodes for Baritone Saxophone by Torres

The joy of the quiet in the transcendence of time for alto saxophone and piano by Michael Rene Torres was premiered by the composer at the 2018 North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference held at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music with pianist, Maria Staeblein.

"The work is dedicated to my teacher, Dr. Frederick L. Hemke. The title refers to a line from an introspective poem written by Hemke (titled “ An Apology ”) which he shared with his audience at his performance during the 2012 Biennial Conference of the North American Saxophone Alliance held at Arizona State University. The poem, written the same year that he retired from 50 years of teaching at Northwestern University, explores his journey as a champion of the concert saxophone as a contemporary force, yet ends with his understanding that, “ There’s joy in the beauty of even the simplest tunes .” He writes, “ There exists yet the bliss and beauty of tones …,” later referencing his teacher, Marcel Mule’s thought that, “ Our instrument was created for the singing of lines .” My piece is directly inspired by these wise words in Hemke’s poem but is also influenced by his profound impact on my personal musicianship and life."

Rehearsal recording with Michael Rene Torres, saxophone and Maria Staeblein, piano from March 2018 at Weigel Hall in Columbus, Ohio.

The joy of the quiet in the transcendence of time by Torres

This is my personal cadenza for the Glazunov Saxophone Concerto.

Glazunov's Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra - "New" Cadenza (Excerpt)

The inspiration for Anxiety Disorder for Alto Saxophone Trio developed from my own personal fear of flying. The work represents the building unease as I experienced my first flight at the age of 18 and ultimately expresses the terrifying process of conquering our phobias. It is also an exploration of the timbral possibilities of the saxophone and relies on clashing quarter-tones and dissonant intervals to create a sense of ever-increasing instability which climaxes when the plane "takes-off."

Anxiety Disorder for Alto Saxophone Trio by Torres

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(17) The Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra tuning before the concert. Recorded in February, 2019 in Evansville, Indiana

17) Evansville Philharmonic Tuning (02/2019)

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(19) Brown mourning dove coo. Recorded in February, 2019 in Evansville, Indiana.

19) Brown Mourning Dove Coo (02/2019)

Found Sound (Field Recording Project)
by Michael Rene Torres

(30) The Hammond B-3 organ playing during the Columbus Blue Jacket's game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Recorded on November 27, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio.

30) CBJ Hammond B-3 Organ (11/2019)

Our Lady of Paris for Solo Flute was written in 2012 and is dedicated to flutist Erin Helgeson Torres. The work represents the composer's visit to Notre Dame de Paris in March of 2012. The faster, more aggressive moments resemble the imposing architectural features of the cathedral, both geometric and ornamental, while the more lyrical moments feature the beauty found within the cathedral.

Our Lady of Paris for Flute by Torres

Saxophonist, composer, educator, and curator, Michael Rene Torres, currently serves as Lecturer of Saxophone at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and Lecturer of Saxophone and Composition at Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio. He is also the founder and Artistic Director of the Columbus Ohio Discovery Ensemble (CODE); a contemporary music ensemble that is dedicated to the promotion, performance, and perception of new music in Central Ohio. Additionally, Michael is an Advisory Board member of the Johnstone Fund for New Music which advances the performance of new music for the benefit of the Central Ohio community. Michael has presented recitals, clinics, and masterclasses at conferences and universities throughout the USA. As an advocate of contemporary music, Michael has commissioned and premiered several works for the concert saxophone and is an active chamber musician as a member of the Tower Duo with flutist, Erin Helgeson Torres. Tower Duo specializes in creating engaging musical experiences and commissioning new concert works by emerging composers to advance the growing repertoire of the flute and saxophone duet. Michael’s compositional interests are in chamber music that explores the juxtaposition of consonance and dissonance and is often inspired by psychology. A winner of the Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award and the Greater Columbus Arts Council Composition Fellowship, Torres’ recent performances include premieres by the McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra, the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus, the Columbus Ohio Discovery Ensemble, the Muskingum University Faculty Brass Quintet, Tower Duo, and the xYz Quintet. He served as Assistant Dean of Students at the Brevard Music Center Festival and Institute (2010-2015), Executive Committee member of the Society of Composers, Inc. as the Editor for the bimonthly national SCI Newsletter (2012-2016), Artist in Residence with the Wexner Center for the Arts Pages Program (2017-2018), Assistant Event Coordinator for The Ohio State University Contemporary Music Festival (2010-2012), and as the General Manager of the 2013 National Conference of the Society of Composers, Inc. He holds degrees from The Ohio State University (DMA-saxophone, MM-composition), Northwestern University (MM-saxophone), and Stetson University (BME-education). He has studied saxophone with James Bishop, Frederick L. Hemke, James Hill, and Joseph Lulloff and studied composition with Thomas Wells and Kari Juusela. Michael is a Conn-Selmer Endorsing Artist and performs exclusively on Selmer Paris saxophones.

Michael Rene Torres

Popular tracks