Brain Double

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

Episode 78 of ADJ•ective New Music's podcast, Lexical Tones. Robert McClure interviews saxophonist, composer, educator, and curator Michael Rene Torres. http://michaelrenetorres.weebly.com/

Visit www.adjectivenewmusic.com for more information about ADJ•ective New Music, the ADJ•ective Composers' Collective, and Lexical Tones.

78 - Michael Rene 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.

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

Michael Rene Torres

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