Frederick Hemke

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Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist

Frederick L. Hemke (né Fred LeRoy Hemke Jr.; July 11, 1935 – April 17, 2019) was an American virtuoso classical saxophonist and influential professor of saxophone at Northwestern University. Hemke helped increase the popularity of classical saxophone, particularly among leading American composers, and raised recognition of the classical saxophone in solo, chamber, and major orchestral repertoire throughout the world. Throughout his career, Hemke built American saxophone repertoire through many composers including Muczynski, Creston, Stein, Heiden, and Karlins.<ref name="Ingham 1998" /><ref name="Cottrell" />

For half a century (1962 - 2012), Hemke was a full-time faculty member at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music. In 2002, he was named Associate Dean Emeritus of the school.<ref name="Hemke Papers" /><ref name="New Grove 1986" /><ref name="Intl WW in Music 1990" /><ref name="WW in Classical Mus 1983" /><ref name="WW in Ent 1997" /><ref name="Baker's Bio Dict Musicians 1988" /><ref name="Baker's Bio Dict Musicians 2001" /><ref name="Baker's Bio Dict 20th C 1997" /> He retired in 2012.

Journalist and author Michael Segell, in his 2005 book, The Devil's Horn, called Hemke "The Dean of Saxophone Education in America."<ref name="Segell 2006" /><ref name="Etheridge 2008" />

Hemke died April 17, 2019.<ref name="Northwestern News 2019 Apr 24" />

Formal education

File:Conservatoire de Paris.JPG
Paris Conservatory (2007)

From 1955 to 1956, Hemke studied saxophone with Marcel Mule at the Paris Conservatoire National de Musique et de Declamation, earning in 1956 the Premier Prix diploma.<ref name="First Prize defined" group=lower-alpha /> Hemke holds the distinction of being the first American saxophonist to earn a Premier Prix diploma from the Paris Conservatory. In 1958, Hemke earned a Bachelor of Science degree in music education from University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. In 1962, he earned a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music. In 1975, Hemke earned a D.M.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.<ref name="Hemke Papers" />

In primary and secondary school, until the start of college, Hemke studied saxophone with Eddie Schmidt, a band director in Milwaukee, and a close friend of Ralph Joseph Hermann (1914–1994) — musician, composer, songwriter, and music publisher. Hemke was highly influenced by Schmidt's recording of Marcel Mule — and also of his recordings of Al Gallodoro, and Freddy Gardner. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Hemke studied with Jay Morton, teacher of woodwinds. Hemke did not have a formal saxophone teacher at Eastman, but while there, studied reeds with clarinetist Stanley Hasty (1920–2011), flute repertoire with Joseph Mariano (1911–2007), and oboe repertoire with Robert Sprenkle (1914–1988).<ref name="Nolan 2012">Fostering Artistry and Pedagogy: Conversations With Artist-Teachers Frederick Hemke, Eugene Rousseau, and Donald Sinta Template:Webarchive, (PhD dissertation), by Julia Nolan, University of British Columbia (2012)</ref><ref name="helton">"An Interview with Frederick Hemke," by Jonathan Helton, The Saxophone Journal, Vol. 31, No. 1, pps. 26–31 (2006)</ref>

Teaching career

Hemke taught saxophone at Northwestern's School of Music for fifty years. He began in 1962 as a teaching associate. In 1964 he became an assistant professor and was appointed chairman of the newly formed Winds and Percussion Instruments Department. In 1967 Hemke was elevated to associate professor; on September 1, 1975, Full Professor; and on September 1, 1991, chairman of the Department of Music Performance Studies at the School of Music. Hemke served as senior associate dean for administration in the School of Music from 1995 to 2001. In 2002, Hemke was named the Louis and Elsie Snydacker Eckstein Professor of Music and also named Associate Dean Emeritus of the School of Music. He retired from full-time teaching in 2012.

As a music educator in higher education, Hemke taught hundreds of saxophonists, many of whom have flourished as performing artists and music educators of international rank.<ref name="Hemke Papers" /> From 2013 until his death, Hemke served as artistic director and taught during summers at the Frederick L. Hemke Saxophone Institute, located at Snow Pond Center for the Arts in Sidney, ME.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Other positions

File:Saxophone reeds-alto, tenor.jpeg
Frederick L. Hemke Reeds

Hemke was well known as the designer of a line of reeds which bear the trademark "Frederick L. Hemke Reeds." D'Addario began making the brand in 1982. Hemke was an artist-clinician for The Selmer Company,<ref name="H. & A. Selmer" group=lower-alpha /> the North American distributor of saxophones made in France by the Paris firm, Henri Selmer Paris. In 1979 Hemke was host for the Sixth World Saxophone Congress held at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.

Performing career

Hemke was known worldwide as one of the great classical saxophonists. He performed extensively as a solo artist, conducted master classes and delivered lectures in the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, and the Far East. He also performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and many other orchestras.

Hemke premiered several works for saxophone including Allan Pettersson's Symphony No. 16 (February 24, 1983)<ref name="Caron 2007" /> and James Di Pasquale's Sonata for tenor saxophone. Di Pasquale, a prolific composer, had studied saxophone with Hemke and Sigurd Rascher.

Selected performances
  • Hemke made his New York debut on April 16, 1962 at the Town Hall, a storied concert venue that had its first-ever classical saxophone performance on February 5, 1937 — by Cecil Leeson. Hemke performed compositions by Pascal, Lantier, Rueff, Hartley, and Stein and arrangements by Mule of Bach and Leclair.<ref name="NYTs 1962 Apr 17" />
  • Premier, February 27, 2014, Augusta Read Thomas, Hemke Concerto, Prisms of Light, for solo alto saxophone and orchestra
  1. "Illuminations" (Template:YouTube)
  2. "Sunrise Ballad"
  3. "Chasing Radiance"
  4. "Solar Rings"
Hemke, saxophone, with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, William Boughton conducting
Recorded at Woolsey Hall, New Haven, Connecticut, February 27, 2014<ref name="Hartford Courant 2014 Feb 27" />
Commissioned as a retirement gift to Fred Hemke by current and former students; the composer, Thomas, had been Hemke's colleague at Northwestern
From the album, A Portrait of Augusta Read Thomas, Nimbus Records (CD) (2014); Template:OCLC

Advocacy for BTemplate:Music tenor saxophone

Among the instruments in a traditional modern saxophone quartet — [[Soprano saxophone|BTemplate:Music soprano]], [[Alto saxophone|ETemplate:Music alto]], [[Tenor saxophone|BTemplate:Music tenor]], and [[Baritone saxophone|ETemplate:Music baritone saxophone]] — classical solos were, and still are, mostly written for the soprano and the alto. Hemke decided to focus on the tenor as a classical solo instrument, as evidenced by the release of his 1971 solo album Music for Tenor Saxophone.

In orchestral music, the tenor saxophone is one of three saxophones heard in Ravel's Boléro — they were originally scored for two players, one on [[Sopranino saxophone|ETemplate:Music sopranino]] and the other alternating between the tenor and the soprano as required. Recordings by tenor saxophone virtuoso James Houlik and others notwithstanding, classical tenor saxophone music is still a very small portion of classical saxophone repertoire and discography.

Selected discography

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Solo recordings
  • Contest Music for Saxophone, Lapider Records M 249-04, distributed by H. & A. Selmer, Elkhart (LP) (1962)<ref name="MEJ 1963 Apr-May" group=lower-alpha />
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James Jacobs Edmonds (1931–2002), piano
Hemke performed on a Selmer Mark VI
Side 1
Matrix N° XCTV-87627<ref name="Columbia Custom note" group=lower-alpha /> (mono)
Matrix N° RG 576A (stereo)
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Side 2
Matrix N° XCTV-87628<ref name="Columbia Custom note" group=lower-alpha /> (mono)
Matrix N° RG 576A (stereo)
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  • Music for Tenor Saxophone, Brewster Records<ref name="Brewster Records" group=lower-alpha /> BR 1204 (LP) (1971); Template:OCLC
Milton Lewis Granger (born 1947), piano
Album cover art: Fred Hemke
Notes by Charles (Chuck) Brewster Hawes, PhD (born 1945)
  1. Sonata, for tenor saxophone and piano, by James Di Pasquale
  2. A Ballad in Time and Space, by William Duckworth
  3. Poem, for tenor saxophone and piano, by Walter Hartley
  4. Music for Tenor Saxophone and Piano, by Martin William Karlins
  • The American Saxophone, Brewster Records<ref name="Brewster Records" group=lower-alpha /> BR 1203 (LP) (1971); Template:OCLC
Milton Lewis Granger (born 1947), piano
Album cover art: Fred Hemke
Notes by Alan Burrage Stout (born 1932)
  1. Concerto, for alto saxophone, by Ingolf Dahl
  2. Farewell, by Warren Benson
  3. Concerto, for alto saxophone, Karel Husa
  4. Aeolian Song, by Warren Benson
  • Music for Tenor Saxophone (1971) and The American Saxophone (1971) was
Re-issued as a compilation under the title:
The American Saxophone, EnF Records<ref name="EnF Records" group=lower-alpha /> 1203-2 (CD) (2006); Template:OCLC
  • Simple Gifts, EnF Records<ref name="EnF Records" group=lower-alpha /> (CD) (2006); Template:OCLC
Douglas Cleveland, organ
Recorded at Alice Miller Chapel, Northwestern University on the Æolian-Skinner Organ and at Trinity United Methodist Church, Wilmette, Illinois, on the 2001 Reuter Organ
  • Fascinating Rhythm, Sins Of My Old Age, EnF Records<ref name="EnF Records" group=lower-alpha /> (CD) (2010); Template:OCLC
The Music of George Gershwin
Hemke, Alto Saxophone
Figard String Quintet: Tracy Figard, violin; Catherine Price, violin; Kristin Figard, viola; Sam Norlund, cello; Douglas Nestler, double bass
Notes by Jonah L. Blum (born 1976) (in English) and Hemke
Cover art by Hemke
  • Premier, February 27, 2014, Augusta Read Thomas, Hemke Concerto, Prisms of Light, for solo alto saxophone and orchestra
  1. "Illuminations" (Template:YouTube)
  2. "Sunrise Ballad"
  3. "Chasing Radiance"
  4. "Solar Rings"
Hemke, saxophone, with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, William Boughton, conducting
Recorded at Woolsey Hall, New Haven, Connecticut, February 27, 2014<ref name="Hartford Courant 2014 Feb 27" />
Commissioned as a retirement gift to Fred Hemke by current and former students; the composer, Thomas, had been Hemke's colleague at Northwestern
From the album, A Portrait of Augusta Read Thomas, Nimbus Records (CD) (2014); Template:OCLC
Ensemble recordings
Hemke has recorded with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, and The University of Chicago Contemporary Chamber Players.
Recorded at the Stockholm Concert Hall, October 17 & 18, 1984<ref name="Stockholm recording date" group=lower-alpha />
Northwestern University Wind Ensemble, John Philip Paynter (1928–1996) (nl) conducting
Recorded November 1976
4th work: Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra of Wind Instruments, by Ross Lee Finney, Hemke, alto saxophone
Hemke, ETemplate:Music alto saxophone
With the Kronos Quartet: David Harrington, violin; John Sherba, violin; Hank Dutt, viola; Joan Jeanrenaud, cello
Recorded November 27, 1978, Kresge Recording Studios, Eastman School of Music
First work: The Dream Net, quintet for saxophone and string quartet, commissioned by Hemke
  1. "Slow" (audio)
  2. "Quick" (audio)
  3. "Flexing" (audio)<ref name="Warren Benson site" />
Notes by Carter Harman
For soprano, violoncello, trumpet, [[Alto saxophone|ETemplate:Music alto saxophone]], French horn, piano, tympani, cymbals, tomtoms, irons, and gongs
Bethany Beardslee, soprano, Contemporary Chamber Players of the University of Chicago
Ralph Shapey conducting
Re-released CRI Records (CD) (1995); Template:OCLC
Re-released CRI Records (CD) (2007); Template:OCLC
Interlochen Arts Academy Wind Ensemble, Dennis L. Johnson (born 1946) conducting
33rd Annual Midwestern Conference on School Vocal and Instrumental Music
Performed live, January 21, 1978, Hill Auditorium, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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  • Concerto for Saxophone and Wind Orchestra by Ingolf Dahl, University of Wisconsin–Madison Records (1972); Template:OCLC
University of Wisconsin–Madison Wind Ensemble, (H. Robert Reynolds) conducting

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

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Jean Martinon conducting
Re-released RCA Camden Classics Victrola CCV 5011 (LP) (1971)
Re-released RCA VICS 1593 (LP) (1971); Template:OCLC
Re-released RCA (LP) (1977); Template:OCLC
Re-released RCA LPS 9845 (LP)
Stokowski conducting
Recorded February 20–21, 1968, Medinah Temple, Chicago
Re-released RCA Red Seal LSC 3133 (LP) (1970); Template:OCLC
Re-released RCA Red Seal (LP) (1975); Template:OCLC
Re-released RCA Red Seal (LP) (1979); Template:OCLC
Re-released RCA Red Seal (CD) (1997); Template:OCLC
Also re-released with several various compilations
Martinon conducting
Solti conducting
Recorded May 1976, Medinah Temple, Chicago
Original release Decca (1977)
Original release London Records (LP) (1977); Template:OCLC
Re-released Decca (CD) (1996); Template:OCLC
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Re-released Universal Classics (2003); Template:OCLC
Re-released Deutsche Grammophon (2003); Template:OCLC
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Barbara Hendricks, soprano; Fred Hemke, Robert Black, soprano saxophones; Fred Spector, mandolin; Frederic Chrislip, tenor banjo; Herman Troppe, accordion; Solti conducting
Recorded twice. Once in 1976 after World Premier and again 1978, after second live performance series before Solti and his exacting standards would allow release. Medinah Temple, Chicago
Re-released on Decca Eloquence 442 995, Australia (CD) (2008); Template:OCLC

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Selected publications

Educational publications

The dissertation explores in depth the saxophone's history and gradual acceptance in the realm of symphonic music
  • On Reading Music: An Information Processing Analysis, by Gilbert Koreb Krulee (born 1924) & Hemke (1980); Template:OCLC
The Selmer Series, Elkhart, Indiana

Commissions and dedications

2000; Template:OCLC
Revised 2006; Template:OCLC, Template:OCLC, Template:OCLC
Commissioned by Jean-François Guay
Homage to Marcel Mule, Jean-Marie Londeix, Eugene Rousseau, Fred Hemke, Daniel Deffayet
Funded in part by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
  • Episode, for saxophone quartet, by Jared Tozier Spears (born 1936), commissioned by Hemke (1969); Template:OCLC
  • Symphony for Saxophone and Wind Band, by Gerald Eugene Kemner (1932–2006) (composed around 1962 for Hemke)

Music editions

  • Hemke has edited works for saxophone solos and saxophone ensembles, twenty-five of which are part of the Frederick Hemke Saxophone Series published by the Southern Music Company.<ref name="Southern Music Co. 2012" group=lower-alpha />

Awards and honors

1956 Premiere Prix<ref name="First Prize defined" group=lower-alpha /><ref name="Conrey" /> du Saxophone, Paris Conservatory; Hemke was the first American to win a First Prize from the Conservatory; his achievement inspired other American saxophonist to work towards First Prize diplomas at the Paris Conservatory, and other well-known European conservatories known for classical saxophone, including the Royal Conservatory of Brussels
1976–1978 Founding coordinator of the North American Saxophone Alliance; later awarded Honorary Life Membership
1999–2001 Distinguished Service to Music Medal, Kappa Kappa Psi, for Instrumental Music Education<ref name="KKP Award" />
2004 Appointed the Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence at Northwestern University
2013 Centerstage Lifetime Achievement Award, Conn-Selmer<ref name="Lifetime Achievement 2013" />
2013 Honorary Alumni Award, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois<ref name="Augustana 2013">"Alumni recognition awards for 2013," Template:Webarchive Augustana College, June 5, 2013</ref>

Influence on saxophone design

Hemke was a primary design consultant for the S-80 mouthpiece manufactured by Henri Selmer Paris, and he used a custom version of it on alto saxophone. The mouthpiece is metal with a square chamber.

He was also a design consultant for the Selmer Mark VII ETemplate:Music alto and BTemplate:Music tenor saxophones, introduced in 1974.

Audio samples and videography

Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Yuri Ahronovitch conducting, Swedish Society Discofil (1994); Template:OCLC
For 12 saxophones
North American premier
Northwestern University Saxophone Ensemble, Hemke conducting
For 9 saxophones
World premiere, 2008, Pick-Steiger Concert Hall, Evanston, Illinois
Northwestern University Saxophone Ensemble, Hemke conducting

Hemke Legacy Tribute: May 29 – June 3, 2012, Northwestern University

7:30 Template:Smallcaps, May 31, 2012, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University
Songs by Gershwin, arranged by Jonah L. Blum (born 1976)
Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra, Robert Hasty conducting
Scenes from Porgy and Bess
  1. "Summertime" (Template:YouTube)
  2. "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" (Template:YouTube)
  3. "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' " (Template:YouTube)
  4. "Gone, Gone, Gone" (Template:YouTube)
  5. "I Loves You, Porgy" (Template:YouTube)
  6. "Summertime" (Template:YouTube)
(Brahms's Variations on the St. Anthony Chorale by Haydn)
Arranged by Gary S. Bricault (born 1952) at the request of Fred Hemke
Northwestern University Alumni Saxo Orchestra, Stephen Alltop conducting
Performed June 3, 2012, at Northwestern University
105 saxophones: 3 ETemplate:Music sopraninos, 23 BTemplate:Music sopranos, 35 ETemplate:Music altos, 25 BTemplate:Music tenors, 12 ETemplate:Music baritones, 6 BTemplate:Music basses, and 1 [[Tubax|ETemplate:Music contra bass tubax]]<ref name="Eb contrabass Tubax" group=lower-alpha />

Further reading

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Notes

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References

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