| Fred LeRoy Hemke Jr. | |
| Background: | non_vocal_instrumentalist |
| Birth Name: | Fred LeRoy Hemke Jr. |
| Birth Date: | 11 July 1935 |
| Birth Place: | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Instrument: | Saxophone |
| Genre: | Classical |
| Occupation: | Saxophonist University professor |
| Years Active: | 1962–2019 |
| Associated Acts: | Northwestern University |
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 to increase the popularity of classical saxophone, particularly among leading American composers. He contributed to raising the recognition of the classical saxophone in solo, chamber, and major orchestral repertoire throughout the world. For half a century, from 1962 to 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. He retired in 2012. Throughout his career, Hemke helped build American saxophone repertoire through many composers including Muczynski, Creston, Stein, 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.
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. 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.
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).[1] [2]
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 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.[3]
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, 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.
Hemke was known worldwide as one of the great classical saxophonists. Hemke has appeared extensively as a solo artist and has given master classes and lectures in the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, and the Far East. He performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and many other orchestras. He premiered several works for saxophone, including Allan Pettersson's Symphony No. 16 (February 24, 1983) and James Di Pasquale's Sonata for tenor saxophone. Di Pasquale, a prolific composer, had studied saxophone with Hemke and Sigurd Rascher.
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, Thomas, had been Hemke's colleague at Northwestern
From the album, A Portrait of Augusta Read Thomas, Nimbus Records (CD) (2014);
Among the instruments in a traditional modern saxophone quartet — B soprano, E alto, B tenor, and E baritone saxophone — classical solos were, and still are, mostly written for the soprano and the alto. Hemke decided to spend time focusing on the tenor saxophone 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 E 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.
(stereo) (LP)
(mono) (cassette)
(mono) (LP)
(mono) (LP)
(LP)
(LP)
James Jacobs Edmonds (1931–2002), piano
Hemke performed on a Selmer Mark VI
Side 1
Matrix N° XCTV-87627 (mono)
Matrix N° RG 576A (stereo)
Side 2
Matrix N° XCTV-87628 (mono)
Matrix N° RG 576A (stereo)
Milton Lewis Granger (born 1947), piano
Album cover art: Fred Hemke
Notes by Charles (Chuck) Brewster Hawes, PhD (born 1945)
Milton Lewis Granger (born 1947), piano
Album cover art: Fred Hemke
Notes by Alan Burrage Stout (born 1932)
Re-issued as a compilation under the title:
The American Saxophone, EnF Records 1203-2 (CD) (2006);
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
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
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, Thomas, had been Hemke's colleague at Northwestern
From the album, A Portrait of Augusta Read Thomas, Nimbus Records (CD) (2014);
Recorded at the Stockholm Concert Hall, October 17 & 18, 1984
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, E 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
Notes by Carter Harman
For soprano, violoncello, trumpet, E 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);
Re-released CRI Records (CD) (2007);
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
University of Wisconsin–Madison Wind Ensemble, (H. Robert Reynolds) conducting
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Jean Martinon conducting
Re-released RCA Camden Classics Victrola CCV 5011 (LP) (1971)
Re-released RCA VICS 1593 (LP) (1971);
Re-released RCA (LP) (1977);
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);
Re-released RCA Red Seal (LP) (1975);
Re-released RCA Red Seal (LP) (1979);
Re-released RCA Red Seal (CD) (1997);
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);
Re-released Decca (CD) (1996);
Re-released Universal Classics (2003);
Re-released Deutsche Grammophon (2003);
and
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);
Educational publications
The dissertation explores in depth the saxophone's history and gradual acceptance in the realm of symphonic music
Commissions and dedications
2000;
Revised 2006;,,
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
Music editions
| 1956 | Premiere Prix 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 | |
| 2004 | Appointed the Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence at Northwestern University | |
| 2013 | Centerstage Lifetime Achievement Award, Conn-Selmer | |
| 2013 | Honorary Alumni Award, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois[4] |
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 E alto and B tenor saxophones, introduced in 1974.
Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Yuri Ahronovitch conducting, Swedish Society Discofil (1994);
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, 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
(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 E sopraninos, 23 B sopranos, 35 E altos, 25 B tenors, 12 E baritones, 6 B basses, and 1 E contra bass tubax