# Frederick Hemke

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.

## Formal education

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).

## 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 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.

## Other positions

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.

## Performing career

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.

   ### 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.
* Premier, February 27, 2014, Augusta Read Thomas, Hemke Concerto, Prisms of Light, for solo alto saxophone and orchestra
* "Illuminations" (sample at 1:14 on YouTube)
* "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, Thomas, had been Hemke's colleague at Northwestern
    From the album, A Portrait of Augusta Read Thomas, Nimbus Records (CD) (2014); OCLC 889352260

## Advocacy for B♭ tenor saxophone

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.

## Selected discography
   ### Solo recordings

* Contest Music for Saxophone, Lapider Records M 249-04, distributed by H. & A. Selmer, Elkhart (LP) (1962)
       OCLC 70304864 (stereo) (LP)
       OCLC 34006752 (mono) (cassette)
       OCLC 9439934 (mono) (LP)
       OCLC 82478166 (mono) (LP)
       OCLC 682038662 (LP)
       OCLC 3249596 (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)
    Chanson et Passepied, Op. 16, by Jeanine Rueff, Leduc (©1951); OCLC 3643353, 70350851Sicilienne, by Pierre Lantier, Leduc (©1944); OCLC 2513787, 220710420, 494480544Chant Corse, by Henri Tomasi, Leduc (©1932); OCLC 1693762, 65054912, 60574040, OCLC 2788030Elegie, by Hermann Reutter, Leduc (©1957); OCLC 4319498, 17711417Villageoise, by Marcel Bitsch, Leduc (©1953); OCLC 2520728, 659257906Suite, by Paul Bonneau, Leduc (©1944); OCLC 1042470 "Plainte""Espieglerie"Variations on a Theme by Claude Le Jeune, by Franz Tournier (1923–2010), Leduc (©1955); OCLC 4245478, 222890465Cantilena et Danse, by Denis Joly (fr), Leduc (©1949); OCLC 4257200, 77295149
    Side 2
       Matrix N° XCTV-87628 (mono)
       Matrix N° RG 576A (stereo)
    An Abstract, by David Ward, Southern Music Co. (©1963); OCLC 271801728, 4026579, 878470044Cantilena, by Warren Benson, Boosey & Hawkes (©1954); OCLC 70345845, 5910326, 743342657Petite Suite, by Walter Hartley, Fema Music Publications (©1962); OCLC 461584790, 3958081Violin Sonata No. 2, Op.1, by Jean-Marie Leclair "Gigue," arr. Marcel Mule Leduc (©1951); OCLC 80882751, 4700064 See: Scores at the International Music Score Library ProjectPrelude to Cantata No. 12, by Bach, arr. by Sigurd Raschèr, Chappell (©1938); OCLC 1881486, 33309682 "Weinen""Klagen""Sorgen""Zagen"Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068, by J.S. Bach "Gavottes I & II", arr. by Marcel Mule Leduc (©1939); OCLC 4451340 See: Scores at the International Music Score Library ProjectAdagio, by Arcangelo Corelli, arr. by Marcel Mule, Leduc (©1939); OCLC 7301376Le Fete du Village, by François-Joseph Gossec, arr. by Marcel Mule, Leduc (©1937); OCLC 317456709
* Music for Tenor Saxophone, Brewster Records BR 1204 (LP) (1971); OCLC 5111369
       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 James Di Pasquale
* A Ballad in Time and Space, by 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) (1971); OCLC 4256573
       Milton Lewis Granger (born 1947), piano
       Album cover art: Fred Hemke
       Notes by 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); OCLC 111103801
* Simple Gifts, EnF Records (CD) (2006); OCLC 64770800
       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 (CD) (2010); OCLC 696220898
       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" (sample at 1:14 on YouTube)
* "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, Thomas, had been Hemke's colleague at Northwestern
    From the album, A Portrait of Augusta Read Thomas, Nimbus Records (CD) (2014); OCLC 889352260

   ### Ensemble recordings

    Hemke has recorded with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, and The University of Chicago Contemporary Chamber Players.
* Symphony No. 16, by Allan Pettersson, Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Yuri Ahronovitch conducting, Swedish Society Discofil (LP) (1985); OCLC 13762831 and (CD) (1994) OCLC 45586363
       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) (1977); OCLC 276861490, 3213973, 179723476, OCLC 221635446, 855950059
       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
* Music by Warren Benson, CRI Records SD-433 & SD 418 (LP) (1981); OCLC 7584165, 604060123, 317743723
       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
   * "Slow" (audio)
   * "Quick" (audio)
   * "Flexing" (audio)
* Incantations (in four movements), by Ralph Shapey, CRI Records 232 (LP) (1969); OCLC 830762, 80385473, 19685002, OCLC 221615298
       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); OCLC 33428323
       Re-released CRI Records (CD) (2007); OCLC 793773808, 842067254
* Concerto for Saxophone and Winds by Paul Creston, 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
    "Meditative""Rhythmic"
* Concerto for Saxophone and Wind Orchestra by Ingolf Dahl, University of Wisconsin–Madison Records (1972); OCLC 49941229
       University of Wisconsin–Madison Wind Ensemble, (H. Robert Reynolds) conducting
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
* Pictures at an Exhibition, by Mussorgsky, orchestrated by Ravel, Ozawa conducting (1968); OCLC 10201160
       "The Old Castle" on YouTube
* L'Arlésienne Suites Nos. 1 and 2, by Bizet, RCA Red Seal LSC-2939 (LP) (1967); OCLC 8454572, 226408757, 833224471
       Jean Martinon conducting
       Re-released RCA Camden Classics Victrola CCV 5011 (LP) (1971)
       Re-released RCA VICS 1593 (LP) (1971); OCLC 6033704, 221592686
       Re-released RCA (LP) (1977); OCLC 4310870
       Re-released RCA LPS 9845 (LP)
* Age of Gold (ballet suite), by Shostakovich, RCA Red Seal GL 42916 (LP) (1968); OCLC 16697745
       Stokowski conducting
       Recorded February 20–21, 1968, Medinah Temple, Chicago
       Re-released RCA Red Seal LSC 3133 (LP) (1970); OCLC 79804294, 4663689
       Re-released RCA Red Seal (LP) (1975); OCLC 11646599
       Re-released RCA Red Seal (LP) (1979); OCLC 16697745
       Re-released RCA Red Seal (CD) (1997); OCLC 39096777
       Also re-released with several various compilations
* Boléro, by Ravel, Quintessence PMC 1017 (1977); OCLC 4624235, 77650271
       Martinon conducting
* Boléro, by Ravel, Decca Matrix N° ZAL 14720 (LP)
       Solti conducting
       Recorded May 1976, Medinah Temple, Chicago
       Original release Decca (1977)
       Original release London Records (LP) (1977); OCLC 869375711
       Re-released Decca (CD) (1996); OCLC 23366204
       Boléro on YouTube
       Re-released Universal Classics (2003); OCLC 52087462
       Re-released Deutsche Grammophon (2003); OCLC 178786394
       Boléro on YouTube and orchestral scores of Boléro at: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
* Final Alice, by Del Tredici, Decca, London (LP) (1981); OCLC 7840194, 638614581
       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); OCLC 226380109

## Selected publications

Educational publications
* The Early History of the Saxophone (DMA dissertation), by Hemke, University of Wisconsin (1975); OCLC 19033726 (all editions), OCLC 65652818 (all editions)
    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); OCLC 30499976

   ### The Selmer Series, Elkhart, Indiana

   * "Teacher's Guide to the Saxophone," by Hemke, Elkhart, Indiana: Selmer (1977); OCLC 6549827
   * The Orchestral Saxophone, by Hemke & Walker L Smith, Elkhart, Indiana: Selmer (1975); OCLC 9051582
   * A Comprehensive Listing of Saxophone Literature, by Hemke, Elkhart, Indiana: Selmer (1975); OCLC 2987346
Commissions and dedications
* "Music for Tenor Saxophone and Piano," by M. William Karlins (1969, ©1972); OCLC 1951589, 70345764
* Symphony No. 16, for orchestra with bravura alto saxophone, by Allan Pettersson, commissioned by Hemke (1979, ©1989); OCLC 36855336
* 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, Northwestern University; OCLC 9579996
* "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; OCLC 2992504, 157036679, 435949517
* Little Suite, by Walter Hartley, for Hemke, for baritone saxophone and piano (1974); OCLC 51963415, 5377209
* 5 Etudes for Alto Saxophone, by Robert Lemay (fr), Courlay: Éditions Fuzeau
       2000; OCLC 63046841
       Revised 2006; OCLC 76879383, 76879383, 658778115, OCLC 878432573, 658778115, 658778164, OCLC 76879388
       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); OCLC 28207501
* 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

| 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 |

## 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 E♭ alto and B♭ tenor saxophones, introduced in 1974.

## Audio samples and videography

* Symphony No. 16 on YouTube, by Allan Pettersson
       Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Yuri Ahronovitch conducting, Swedish Society Discofil (1994); OCLC 45586363
* Coefficient on YouTube, by Claudio Gabriele (composed 2005)
       For 12 saxophones
       North American premier
       Northwestern University Saxophone Ensemble, Hemke conducting
* Illustration Analytique Supergelatineuse on YouTube, by Claudio Gabriele (composed 2011)
       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
* Hemke's final performance at Northwestern University on YouTube
       7:30 pm, 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
   * "Summertime" (prologue on YouTube)
   * "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" (at 2:30 on YouTube)
   * "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' " (at 4:42 on YouTube)
   * "Gone, Gone, Gone" (at 6:40 on YouTube)
   * "I Loves You, Porgy" (at 9:00 on YouTube)
   * "Summertime" (epilogue at 11:49 on YouTube)
* Northwestern University Hymn (alma mater), "Hail to Thee Northwestern" on 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 E♭ sopraninos, 23 B♭ sopranos, 35 E♭ altos, 25 B♭ tenors, 12 E♭ baritones, 6 B♭ basses, and 1 E♭ contra bass tubax
* My Teacher, the Fred Hemke Legacy on YouTube, Eric Howell Music (DVD) (2012); OCLC 853456426