Fred Hemke, DMA ''(né'' Frederick Leroy Hemke Jr.; July 11, 1935 – April 17, 2019) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

virtuoso classical

saxophonist The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pr ...

and influential professor of saxophone at

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

. Hemke helped raise the popularity of classical saxophone, particularly among leading American composers and helped raise the recognition of classical saxophone in solo, chamber, and major orchestral repertoire. For a half century, from 1962 to 2012, Hemke was a full-time faculty music educator at

Bienen School of Music The Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music is the music and performance arts school of Northwestern University. It is located on Northwestern University's campus in Evanston, Illinois, United States. The school was previously known as the North ...

. In 2002, Hemke was named Associate Dean Emeritus of the

School of Music A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department (of a larger ins ...

. Hemke retired from Northwestern University in 2012. From the start of his career in the early 1960s, building on the achievements of earlier influential American teachers of classical saxophone — including those of

Larry Teal Larry Teal (26 March 1905 - 11 July 1984) is considered by many to be the father of American orchestral saxophone. Career Laurence Lyon Teal earned a bachelor's degree in pre-dentistry from the University of Michigan. Although he came to the Uni ...

Joseph Allard Joseph Allard (December 31, 1910 – May 3, 1991) was a professor of saxophone and clarinet at the Juilliard School, the New England Conservatory, and the Manhattan School of Music. He also held adjunct positions at many other schools. He succeed ...

Cecil Leeson Cecil B. Leeson (December 16, 1902 – April 17, 1989), a musician and teacher, was widely credited with establishing the saxophone as a legitimate concert instrument in the U.S. Early life While living in the southwest, he received a degree fro ...

Sigurd Raschèr Sigurd Manfred Raschèr (pronounced 'Rah-sher') (15 May 190725 February 2001) was an American saxophonist born in Germany. He became an important figure in the development of the 20th century repertoire for the Classical music, classical saxopho ...

, and Vincent Abato — Hemke, and a handful of peer

saxophonists — including Eugene Rousseau and

Donald Sinta Donald J. Sinta (born June 16, 1937 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American classical saxophonist, educator, and administrator. Mr. Sinta earned a Master of Music degree in saxophone performance from the University of Michigan in 1962. In 1969, he ...

— helped build American saxophone repertoire through composers that included Muczynski, Creston,

Stein Stein is a German, Yiddish and Norwegian word meaning "stone" and "pip" or "kernel". It stems from the same Germanic root as the English word stone. It may refer to: Places In Austria * Stein, a neighbourhood of Krems an der Donau, Lower Austr ...

, Heiden, and Karlins. Journalist and author Michael Segell, in his 2005 book, ''The Devil's Horn,'' called Hemke "The Dean of Saxophone Education in America." Hemke died on April 17, 2019.

Formal education

From 1955 to 1956, Hemke studied saxophone with

Marcel Mule Marcel Mule (24 June 1901 – 18 December 2001) was a French classical saxophonist. He was known worldwide as one of the great classical saxophonists, and many pieces were written for him, premiered by him, and arranged by him. Many of these piec ...

at the

Paris Conservatoire National de Musique et de Declamation The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...

, earning in 1956 the Premier Prix diploma. Hemke holds the distinction of being the first American saxophonist to earn a Premier Prix diploma from the

Paris Conservatory The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...

. In 1958, Hemke earned a Bachelor of Science degree in music education from

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UW–Milwaukee, UWM, or Milwaukee) is a public urban research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is the largest university in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and a member of the University of Wiscons ...

. In 1962, he earned a Master of Music degree from the

Eastman School of Music The Eastman School of Music is the music school of the University of Rochester, a private research university in Rochester, New York. It was established in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman. It offers Bachelor of Music (B.M ...

. In 1975, Hemke earned an A.Mus.D. degree from the

University of Wisconsin–Madison A university () is an educational institution, institution of higher education, higher (or Tertiary education, tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. Universities ty ...

. In primary and secondary school, until the start of college, Hemke studied saxophone with Eddie Schmidt, a jobbing teacher, 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

— and also of his recordings of

Al Gallodoro Alfred J. Gallodoro, (June 20, 1913 – October 4, 2008) was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist, who performed from the 1920s up until his death. He is notable for having played lead alto sax with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and ba ...

, and

Freddy Gardner Frederick James Gardner (23 December 1910 – 26 July 1950) was a British jazz and dance band saxophonist during the 1930s and 1940s. Early life His father sold artist's materials, while his mother was a dressmaker. He took up the saxophone at 1 ...

. At the

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...

, 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 Donald Stanley Hasty(February 21, 1920 - June 22, 2011) was professor emeritus of clarinet at the Eastman School of Music. Hasty joined the Eastman faculty and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in 1955. Before coming to Rochester, he served as ...

(1920–2011), flute repertoire with Joseph Mariano (1911–2007), and oboe repertoire with Robert Sprenkle (1914–1988).
Fostering Artistry and Pedagogy: Conversations With Artist-Teachers Frederick Hemke, Eugene Rousseau, and Donald Sinta
'' (PhD dissertation), by Julia Nolan,

University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...

(2012)"An Interview with Frederick Hemke," by Jonathan Helton, ''The Saxophone Journal'', Vol. 31, No. 1, pps. 26–31 (2006)

Teaching career

Hemke taught saxophone at Northwestern's

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

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 has taught hundreds of saxophonists, many of whom have flourished as performing artists and music educators of international rank. 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. Selected former students: * Jan Berry Baker
Associate Professor of Saxophone

University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...

* Roger Birkeland
Professor of Saxophone

Elmhurst College Elmhurst University is a private university in Elmhurst, Illinois. It has a tradition of service-oriented learning and an affiliation with the United Church of Christ. The university changed its name from Elmhurst College on July 1, 2020. Hist ...

* James Bishop
Director of Instrumental Music

Eastern Florida State College Eastern Florida State College, formerly Brevard Community College, is a public college in Brevard County, Florida. It is a member of the Florida College System and has campuses in Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Titusville, as well as a Virt ...

, Cocoa, FL * Robert Black
1985 "Grammy" award for "FACADE" recording as member of Chicago Pro Musica. Saxophonist on call with Chicago Symphony Orchestra 1973 to 2009. Former of instructor of Saxophone DePaul and Roosevelt University. 2nd Soprano saxophone on George Solti's Chicago Symphony recording of David DelTredici's "The Final Alice" with Dr. Hemke as 1st Soprano Saxophone. Owner of "The Saxophone Shop", Evanston, Il 1974 to 2004. * Ron Blake
Professor of Jazz Saxophone

Juilliard The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...

Jazz performer and
recording artist * Dave Bomberg * Paul Bro
Professor of Saxophone

Indiana State University Indiana State University (ISU) is a public university in Terre Haute, Indiana. It was founded in 1865 and offers over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 75 graduate and professional programs. Indiana State is classified among "D/PU: Doctor ...

Steve Cole Steve Cole (born August 17, 1970) is an American smooth jazz saxophonist. He is also a professor/adviser of music business at the University of St. Thomas. Early career and education Cole was born in Chicago, Illinois and began to play musi ...

International jazz performer and
recording artist * David Dees
Professor of Saxophone

Texas Tech University Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas. Established on , and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the main institution of the five-institution Texas Tech University Sys ...

* Geoffrey Deibel, DMA
Assistant Professor of Saxophone and
Director of Jazz Studies

Florida State University Florida State University (FSU) is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the st ...

Mark Engebretson Mark Engebretson, Doctor of Musical Arts, DMA, Northwestern University (born 1964, California) is a saxophonist and composer. His music combines computer music and live performance, the latter usually performed on saxophone. Biography Engebretso ...

Professor of Composition and
Electronic Music

University of North Carolina at Greensboro The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG or UNC Greensboro) is a public research university in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina system. UNCG, like all members of the UNC system, is a stand-al ...

* Susan Fancher
Saxophone Instructor

Duke University Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco and electric power industrialist James ...

* Dan Ferri
Teacher & owner
DRF Studios

Maitland, Florida Maitland is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States, part of the Greater Orlando area. The population was 19,543 at the 2020 census. The area's history is exhibited at the Maitland Historical Museum; the city also hosts the Mai ...

Saxophone Instructor

Stetson University Stetson University is a private university with four colleges and schools located across the I–4 corridor in Central Florida with the primary undergraduate campus in DeLand. The university was founded in 1883 and was later established in 1887 ...

Deland, Florida DeLand is a city in central Florida. It is the county seat of Volusia County. The city sits approximately north of the central business district of Orlando, and approximately west of the central business district of Daytona Beach. As of the 2020 ...

Chico Freeman Chico Freeman (born Earl Lavon Freeman Jr.; July 17, 1949) is a modern jazz tenor saxophonist and trumpeter and son of jazz saxophonist Von Freeman. He began recording as lead musician in 1976 with ''Morning Prayer'', won the New York Jazz Award ...

Jazz saxophonist * Jason Fritts
Teacher and Performer *

Bunky Green Vernice "Bunky" Green (born April 23, 1935) is an American jazz alto saxophonist and educator. Biography Green was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he played the alto saxophone, mainly at a local club called "The Brass Rail". Green's fir ...

Director of Jazz Studies

University of North Florida The University of North Florida (UNF) is a public research university in Jacksonville, Florida. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Sch ...

* Jeffrey Loeffert, DMA
Director and Professor

Oklahoma State University Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New ...

* Jonathan Helton
Professor of Saxophone

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida, traces its origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its ...

* Frederic J.B. Hemke
Professor of Saxophone

Northern State University Northern State University (NSU) is a public university in Aberdeen, South Dakota. NSU is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents and offers 45 bachelor's degrees, 53 minors, six associate degrees, 16 pre-professional programs, 23 certifi ...

* James S. Hill
Professor of Saxophone

Ohio State University The Ohio State University, commonly called Ohio State or OSU, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. A member of the University System of Ohio, it has been ranked by major institutional rankings among the best publ ...

* William Hochkeppel
Professor of Saxophone

University of Louisiana at Lafayette The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette, University of Louisiana, ULL, or UL) is a public research university in Lafayette, Louisiana. It has the largest enrollment within the nine-campus University of Louisiana System and the s ...

* James Kasprzyk
Founder of Chicago Saxophone Quartet as Baritone Saxophone. State Department tour with Northwestern University Quartet 1966. * Eric Honour
Professor of Music
Director of Music Technology

University of Central Missouri The University of Central Missouri (UCM) is a public university in Warrensburg, Missouri. In 2019, enrollment was 11,229 students from 49 states and 59 countries on its 1,561-acre campus. UCM offers 150 programs of study, including 10 pre-profes ...

* Jeremy Justeson
Professor of Saxophone

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (Kutztown University or KU) is a public university in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher ...

* Gail B. Levinsky
Professor of Saxophone

Susquehanna University Susquehanna University is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Its name is derived from the original Susquehannock settlers of the region. Founded in 1858 as a m ...

* Anders Lundegard
International performer * Joseph Murphy
Professor of Saxophone

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is a campus of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania and it is located it in Mansfield, Pennsylvania. Part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), the campus' total enrollment is 1,6 ...

* Nathan Nabb
Professor of Saxophone
Stephen F. Austin State University *

Ryo Noda Ryo may refer to: * Ryō, a gold currency unit in pre-Meiji Japan Shakkanhō system * Ryō (actress) (born 1973), Japanese model, actress, and singer * Ryō (given name), a unisex Japanese given name * Ryo, Georgia, an unincorporated community in G ...

* Stephen J. Parker
Teacher, Performer
Naples philharmonic *

Harvey Pittel Harvey Pittel (born June 22, 1943) is an American saxophonist who performs principally in North America, and was the Professor of Saxophone at the University of Texas at Austin Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music in the College of Fine Arts. ...

Professor of Saxophone

University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1883 and is the oldest institution in the University of Texas System. With 40,916 undergraduate students, 11,075 ...

* Scott Plugge
Director of the School of Music
Professor of Saxophone

Sam Houston State University Sam Houston State University (SHSU or Sam) is a public university in Huntsville, Texas. It was founded in 1879 and is the third-oldest public college or university in Texas. It is one of the first normal schools west of the Mississippi River and ...

Debra Richtmeyer Debra Richtmeyer is an American classical saxophonist born June 19, 1957, in Lansing, Michigan. Richtmeyer earned her B.M.E. and M.M. at Northwestern University, where she studied with Frederick L. Hemke. She is Professor of Saxophone at the Un ...

Professor of Saxophone

University of Illinois The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the University ...

* Timothy Roberts
Associate Professor of Saxophone

Shenandoah University Shenandoah University is a private university in Winchester, Virginia. It has an enrollment of approximately 4,000 students across more than 200 areas of study in six schools: College of Arts & Sciences (including the Division of Education and Le ...

* Johnny Salinas
Visiting Assistant Professor of Saxophone

John Sampen John Sampen (born 1949) is an American classical saxophonist. Sampen's degrees are from Northwestern University (B.M., 1971; M.M., 1972; and Doctor of Music, 1984). His teachers included Frederick Hemke, Larry Teal, and Donald Sinta. He has served ...

Professor of Saxophone

Bowling Green State University Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is a public research university in Bowling Green, Ohio. The main academic and residential campus is south of Toledo, Ohio. The university has nationally recognized programs and research facilities in the ...

David Sanborn David William Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album ''Taking Off'' in 1 ...

International jazz performer
and recording artist * Andy Snitzer
International jazz performer and
recording artist * William H. Street
Professor of Saxophone

University of Alberta The University of Alberta, also known as U of A or UAlberta, is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford,"A Gentleman of Strathcona – Alexander Cameron Rutherfor ...

* Masahito Sugihara
Professor of Saxophone

* Matthew Younglove
Assistant Professor of Saxophone

Tennessee Tech University Tennessee Technological University, commonly referred to as Tennessee Tech, is a Public university, public research university in Cookeville, Tennessee, United States. It was formerly known as Tennessee Polytechnic Institute, and before that as ...

* Naomi Sullivan
Professor of Saxophone

Birmingham Conservatoire The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire is a music school, drama school and concert venue in Birmingham, England. It provides professional education in music, acting, and related disciplines up to postgraduate level. It is a centre for scholarly res ...

* Michael Rene Torres
Assistant Professor of Practice, Saxophone and Composition

* Shawn Tracy
Professor of Jazz Saxophone
Merit School of Music * Jeremy Williamson
Teacher
Seminole State College and

Seminole County Public Schools Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) is a public school district that covers Seminole County, Florida. , the total district wide enrollment was 66,351 students. History During the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, as of August 2021 Seminole County a ...

* Kathleen Mitchell
Professor of Saxophone

The College of New Jersey The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) is a public university in Ewing Township, New Jersey. It is part of New Jersey's public system of higher education. Established in 1855 as the New Jersey State Normal School, TCNJ was the first normal school, or ...

* Steven Jordheim
Professor of Saxophone

Lawrence University Lawrence University is a private liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Appleton, Wisconsin. Founded in 1847, its first classes were held on November 12, 1849. Lawrence was the second college in the U.S. to be founded as a coeducation ...

Other positions

Hemke was well known as the designer of a line of reeds which bear the trademark "Frederick L. Hemke Reeds." Rico Reeds began making the brand in 1982. Hemke was an artist-clinician for

The Selmer Company Conn-Selmer, Inc. is an American manufacturer of musical instruments for concert bands, marching bands and orchestras. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments and was formed in 2003 by combining the Steinway properties, T ...

, the North American distributor of saxophones made in France by the

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

firm,

Henri Selmer Paris Henri Selmer Paris is a French enterprise, manufacturer of musical instruments based at Mantes-la-Ville near Paris. Founded in 1885, it is known as a producer of professional-grade woodwind and brass instruments, especially saxophones, clarinet ...

. In 1979 Hemke was host for the Sixth

World Saxophone Congress The World Saxophone Congress is a festival gathering approximately 1000 saxophone, saxophonists and other musicians from all over the world. It is held every three years at a different congress centre in a different country and focuses primaril ...

held at

Evanston, Illinois Evanston ( ) is a city, suburb of Chicago. Located in Cook County, Illinois, United States, it is situated on the North Shore along Lake Michigan. Evanston is north of Downtown Chicago, bordered by Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, Wil ...

Performing career

Hemke was an internationally acclaimed saxophone artist. Hemke has appeared extensively as a solo artist and has given

master classes A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also science, painting, drama, games, or on any other occasion where skills are being developed. "Masterclass" is also ...

and lectures in the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, and the Far East. He performed with the

Chicago Symphony Orchestra The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891. The ensemble makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival. The music director is Riccardo Muti, who began his tenure ...

and many other orchestras. He premiered several works for saxophone, including

Allan Pettersson Gustaf Allan Pettersson (19 September 1911 – 20 June 1980) was a Swedish composer and violist. He is considered one of the 20th century's most important Swedish composers, he was described as one of the last great symphonists, ...

's ''Symphony No. 16'' (February 24, 1983) and

James Di Pasquale James Di Pasquale (born April 7, 1941) is an American musician and composer of contemporary classical music and music for television and films. Biography Pasquale was born on April 7, 1941 in Chicago to Hugo and Lucille (née Ciccone) Di Pasqua ...

's ''Sonata'' for tenor saxophone. Di Pasquale, a prolific composer, had studied saxophone with Hemke and

Sigurd Rascher Sigurd ( non, Sigurðr ) or Siegfried (Middle High German: ''Sîvrit'') is a legendary hero of Germanic heroic legend, who killed a dragon and was later murdered. It is possible he was inspired by one or more figures from the Frankish Meroving ...

. ;;Selected performances * Hemke made his New York debut on April 16, 1962, at the

Town Hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...

, a storied concert venue that had its first-ever classical saxophone performance on February 5, 1937 — by

. Hemke performed compositions by

Pascal Pascal, Pascal's or PASCAL may refer to: People and fictional characters * Pascal (given name), including a list of people with the name * Pascal (surname), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name ** Blaise Pascal, Fren ...

, Lantier, Rueff,

Hartley Hartley may refer to: Places Australia *Hartley, New South Wales *Hartley, South Australia **Electoral district of Hartley, a state electoral district Canada *Hartley Bay, British Columbia United Kingdom *Hartley, Cumbria *Hartley, Plymou ...

, and

and arrangements by

Mule The mule is a domestic equine hybrid between a donkey and a horse. It is the offspring of a male donkey (a jack) and a female horse (a mare). The horse and the donkey are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes; of the two pos ...

Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...

and

Leclair Le Claire, LeClair, LeClaire or Leclair is a French or Francophone surname which can refer to: * Antoine Le Claire (1797–1861), U.S. Army interpreter, founded Davenport, Iowa * Corinne Leclair (born 1970), Mauritian swimmer * Day Leclaire, Amer ...

. * Premier, February 27, 2014, Augusta Read Thomas, Hemke Concerto, ''Prisms of Light,'' for solo alto saxophone and orchestra # "Illuminations" () # "Sunrise Ballad" # "Chasing Radiance" # "Solar Rings" : Hemke, saxophone, with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, William Boughton conducting : Recorded at Woolsey Hall, New Haven, Connecticut, February 27, 2014 : Commissioned as a retirement gift to Fred Hemke by current and former students; the composer, Augusta Read Thomas, Thomas, had been Hemke's colleague at Northwestern University, Northwestern : From the album, ''A Portrait of Augusta Read Thomas'', Nimbus Records (CD) (2014);

Advocacy for B tenor saxophone

In a traditional modern saxophone quartet — Soprano saxophone, B soprano, Alto saxophone, E alto, Tenor saxophone, B tenor, and Baritone saxophone, E baritone saxophone — repertoire and popularity for solo classical was, and still is, dominated by B soprano and E alto saxophone. Bucking the trend, Hemke spent time focusing on the B 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, tenor is known as one of the three saxophone voices in Maurice Ravel, Ravel's ''Boléro'' — originally performed by two saxophonists, one on Sopranino saxophone, E sopranino and one on Tenor saxophone, tenor doubling on Soprano saxophone, B soprano. Recordings by tenor saxophone virtuoso James Houlik and others notwithstanding, classical tenor saxophone recordings make up a small portion of the classical saxophone repertoire and discography universe.

Selected discography

;;Solo recordings * ''Contest Music for Saxophone'', Lapider Records M 249-04, distributed by H. & A. Selmer, Elkhart, Indiana, Elkhart (LP record, LP) (1962) :: (stereo) (LP record, LP) :: (mono) (Compact Cassette, cassette) :: (mono) (LP record, LP) :: (mono) (LP record, LP) :: (LP record, LP) :: (LP record, LP) :: James Jacobs Edmonds (1931–2002), piano :: Hemke performed on a Selmer Mark VI : Side 1 :: Matrix number, Matrix N° XCTV-87627 (mono) :: Matrix number, Matrix N° RG 576A (stereo) : : Side 2 :: Matrix number, Matrix N° XCTV-87628 (mono) :: Matrix number, Matrix N° RG 576A (stereo) : * ''Music for Tenor Saxophone'', Brewster Records BR 1204 (LP record, LP) (1971); :: Milton Lewis Granger (born 1947), piano :: Album cover art: Fred Hemke :: Notes by Charles (Chuck) Brewster Hawes, PhD (born 1945) # ''Sonata'', for tenor saxophone and piano, by

# ''A Ballad in Time and Space'', by William Duckworth (composer), William Duckworth # ''Poem'', for tenor saxophone and piano, by Walter Hartley # ''Music for Tenor Saxophone and Piano,'' by Martin William Karlins * ''The American Saxophone'', Brewster Records BR 1203 (LP record, LP) (1971); :: Milton Lewis Granger (born 1947), piano :: Album cover art: Fred Hemke :: Notes by Alan Stout (composer), Alan Burrage Stout (born 1932) # ''Concerto'', for alto saxophone, by Ingolf Dahl # ''Farewell,'' by Warren Benson # ''Concerto'', for alto saxophone, Karel Husa # ''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 1203-2 (CD) (2006); * ''Simple Gifts'', EnF Records (CD) (2006); :: Douglas Cleveland, organ :: Recorded at List of Northwestern University buildings#Religious, Alice Miller Chapel,

on the Aeolian-Skinner, Æolian-Skinner Organ and at Trinity United Methodist Church, Wilmette, Illinois, on the 2001 Reuter Organ Company, Reuter Organ * ''Fascinating Rhythm, Sins Of My Old Age'', EnF Records (CD) (2010); :: 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 # "Illuminations" () # "Sunrise Ballad" # "Chasing Radiance" # "Solar Rings" : Hemke, saxophone, with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, William Boughton, conducting : Recorded at Woolsey Hall, New Haven, Connecticut, February 27, 2014 : Commissioned as a retirement gift to Fred Hemke by current and former students; the composer, Augusta Read Thomas, Thomas, had been Hemke's colleague at Northwestern University, Northwestern : From the album, ''A Portrait of Augusta Read Thomas'', Nimbus Records (CD) (2014); ;;Ensemble recordings : Hemke has recorded with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, and The University of Chicago Contemporary Chamber Players. * ''Symphony No. 16'', by

, Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Yuri Ahronovitch conducting, Swedish Society Discofil (LP record, LP) (1985); and (CD) (1994) :: Recorded at the Stockholm Concert Hall, October 17 & 18, 1984 * ''Winds of Change – American Music for Wind Ensemble From the 1950s to the 1970s'', New World Records NW-211 (LP record, LP) (1977); , ::

Wind Ensemble, John Philip Paynter (1928–1996) :nl:John P. Paynter, (nl) conducting :: Recorded November 1976 :: 4th work: ''Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra of Wind Instruments,'' by Ross Lee Finney, Hemke, alto saxophone * ''Music by Warren Benson'', Composers Recordings, Inc., CRI Records SD-433 & SD 418 (LP record, LP) (1981); :: Hemke, E alto saxophone :: With the Kronos Quartet: David Harrington (musician), David Harrington, violin; John Sherba, violin; Hank Dutt, viola; Joan Jeanrenaud, cello :: Recorded November 27, 1978, Kresge Recording Studios,

:: First work: ''The Dream Net,'' quintet for saxophone and string quartet, commissioned by Hemke :# "Slow"
audio
:# "Quick"
audio
:# "Flexing"
audio
* ''Incantations'' (in four movements), by Ralph Shapey, Composers Recordings, Inc., CRI Records 232 (LP record, LP) (1969); , :: Notes by Carter Harman :: For soprano, violoncello, trumpet, Alto saxophone, E alto saxophone, French horn, piano, tympani, cymbals, tomtoms, irons, and gongs :: Bethany Beardslee, soprano, University of Chicago Contemporary Chamber Players, Contemporary Chamber Players of the University of Chicago :: Ralph Shapey conducting :: Re-released Composers Recordings, Inc., CRI Records (CD) (1995); :: Re-released Composers Recordings, Inc., CRI Records (CD) (2007); * ''Concerto for Saxophone and Winds'' by Paul Creston, Interlochen Center for the Arts#Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen Arts Academy Records (1978) :: 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 : * ''Concerto for Saxophone and Wind Orchestra'' by Ingolf Dahl, University of Wisconsin–Madison Records (1972); ::

Wind Ensemble, (H. Robert Reynolds) conducting Chicago Symphony Orchestra * ''Pictures at an Exhibition'', by Mussorgsky, orchestrated by Ravel, Seiji Ozawa, Ozawa conducting (1968); :: * ''L'Arlésienne (Bizet), L'Arlésienne Suites Nos. 1 and 2'', by Georges Bizet, Bizet, RCA Red Seal Records, RCA Red Seal LSC-2939 (LP record, LP) (1967); :: Jean Martinon conducting :: Re-released RCA Records, RCA Camden Classics Victrola CCV 5011 (LP record, LP) (1971) :: Re-released RCA Records, RCA VICS 1593 (LP record, LP) (1971); :: Re-released RCA Records, RCA (LP record, LP) (1977); :: Re-released RCA Records, RCA LPS 9845 (LP record, LP) * ''The Golden Age (Shostakovich), Age of Gold'' (ballet suite), by Dmitri Shostakovich, Shostakovich, RCA Red Seal Records, RCA Red Seal GL 42916 (LP record, LP) (1968); :: Leopold Stokowski, Stokowski conducting :: Recorded February 20–21, 1968, Medinah Temple, Chicago :: Re-released RCA Red Seal Records, RCA Red Seal LSC 3133 (LP record, LP) (1970); :: Re-released RCA Red Seal Records, RCA Red Seal (LP record, LP) (1975); :: Re-released RCA Red Seal Records, RCA Red Seal (LP record, LP) (1979); :: Re-released RCA Red Seal Records, RCA Red Seal (CD) (1997); :: Also re-released with several various compilations * ''Boléro'', by Maurice Ravel, Ravel, Quintessence Records, Quintessence PMC 1017 (1977); :: Jean Martinon, Martinon conducting * ''Boléro'', by Maurice Ravel, Ravel, Decca Matrix number, Matrix N° ZAL 14720 (LP record, LP) :: Georg Solti, Solti conducting :: Recorded May 1976, Medinah Temple, Chicago :: Original release Decca Records, Decca (1977) :: Original release London Records (LP record, LP) (1977); :: Re-released Decca Records, Decca (CD) (1996); :: :: Re-released Universal Classics Group, Universal Classics (2003); :: Re-released Deutsche Grammophon (2003); :: and * ''Final Alice'', by Del Tredici, Decca Records, Decca, London (LP record, LP) (1981); :: Barbara Hendricks, soprano; Fred Hemke, Robert Black, soprano saxophones; Fred Spector, mandolin; Frederic Chrislip, tenor banjo; Herman Troppe, accordion; Georg Solti, 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 Records, Decca Eloquence 442 995, Australia (CD) (2008);

Selected publications

Educational publications * ''The Early History of the Saxophone'' ( DMA dissertation), by Hemke, University of Wisconsin (1975); , : The dissertation explores in depth the saxophone's history and gradual acceptance in the realm of orchestral, symphonic music * ''On Reading Music: An Information Processing Analysis'', by Gilbert Koreb Krulee (born 1924) & Hemke (1980); ;;The Selmer Series, Elkhart, Indiana: :
"Teacher's Guide to the Saxophone,"
by Hemke, Elkhart, Indiana: Selmer (1977); :* ''The Orchestral Saxophone'', by Hemke & Walker L Smith, Elkhart, Indiana: Selmer (1975); :* ''A Comprehensive Listing of Saxophone Literature,'' by Hemke, Elkhart, Indiana: Selmer (1975); Commissions and dedications * "Music for Tenor Saxophone and Piano," by M. William Karlins (1969, ©1972); * ''Symphony No. 16'', for orchestra with bravura alto saxophone, by

, commissioned by Hemke (1979, ©1989); * ''The Dream Net'', 1974, revised 1978, by Warren Benson, commissioned by Hemke, dedicated to Alec Wilder, premiered by Hemke May 23, 1975, with the Eckstein Quartet, Lutken Hall,

; * "Wind Rose", by Warren Benson (1966), commissioned by Hemke and the Northwestern University Saxophone, dedicated to Hemke and the Northwestern University Saxophone Quartet on their tour of Asia, Spring, 1966; * ''Little Suite,'' by Walter Hartley, for Hemke, for baritone saxophone and piano (1974); * ''5 Etudes for Alto Saxophone'', by Robert Lemay (composer), Robert Lemay :fr:Robert Lemay, (fr), Courlay: Éditions Fuzeau :: 2000; :: Revised 2006; , , :: Commissioned by Jean-François Guay :: Homage to

, 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 Spears, Jared Tozier Spears (born 1936), commissioned by Hemke (1969); * ''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.

Awards and honors

Hemke's saxophone and accessories

Hemke had been a primary design consultant for the S-80 mouthpiece manufactured by

. For alto saxophone, Hemke uses a custom version of the S-80. The mouthpiece is metal with a square chamber. The Henri Selmer Paris, Selmer Mark VII E alto and B tenor saxophones, introduced in 1974, were designed in consultation with Hemke.

Miscellaneous

* For research, while in grad school at Eastman, Hemke had borrowed from Conn-Selmer, H. & A. Selmer one of the world's original saxophones made by Adolphe Sax around 1860. On September 17, 1960, a custodian unwittingly stuffed a cardboard box containing the instrument into an incinerator and completely destroyed it. The only other one in existence was in a Paris museum. * Hemke has been a lifelong visual artist. His works are in the Regenstein Hall of Music at

and on the covers of his albums.

Audio samples and videography

* , by

:: Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Yuri Ahronovitch conducting, Swedish Society Discofil (1994); * , b
Claudio Gabriele
(composed 2005) :: For 12 saxophones :: North American premier :: Northwestern University Saxophone Ensemble, Hemke conducting * , b
Claudio Gabriele
(composed 2011) :: For 9 saxophones :: World premiere, 2008, Pick-Steiger Concert Hall,

:: Northwestern University Saxophone Ensemble, Hemke conducting Hemke Legacy Tribute: May 29 – June 3, 1912, Northwestern University * :: 7:30 , May 31, 2012, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall,

:: Songs by Gershwin, arranged by Jonah L. Blum (born 1976) ::

Chamber Orchestra, Robert Hasty conducting :: Scenes from ''Porgy and Bess'' :# "Summertime (George Gershwin song), Summertime" () :# "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" () :# "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' " () :# "Gone, Gone, Gone" () :# "I Loves You, Porgy" () :# "Summertime (George Gershwin song), Summertime" () * :: (Johannes Brahms, Brahms's ''Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Variations on the St. Anthony Chorale'' by Francis Joseph Haydn, Haydn) :: Arranged by Gary S. Bricault (born 1952) at the request of Fred Hemke ::

Alumni Saxo Orchestra, Stephen Alltop conducting :: Performed June 3, 2012, at

:: 105 saxophones: 3 E Sopranino saxophone, sopraninos, 23 B Soprano saxophone, sopranos, 35 E Alto saxophone, altos, 25 B Tenor saxophone, tenors, 12 E Baritone saxophone, baritones, 6 B Bass saxophone, basses, and 1 Tubax, E contra bass tubax * , Eric Howell Music (DVD) (2012);

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hemke, Frederick American classical saxophonists American male saxophonists Musicians from Evanston, Illinois Musicians from Milwaukee University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science alumni University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee alumni Northwestern University faculty 1935 births 2019 deaths Classical saxophonists Distinguished Service to Music Medal recipients 21st-century American saxophonists Classical musicians from Illinois Classical musicians from Wisconsin 21st-century American male musicians 20th-century classical musicians 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century American saxophonists

Formal education

Teaching career

Other positions

Performing career

Advocacy for B tenor saxophone

Selected discography

Selected publications

Awards and honors

Hemke's saxophone and accessories

Miscellaneous

Audio samples and videography

Further reading

Notes

References