Torke, Michael

Torke, Michael, American composer and pianist; b. Milwaukee, Sept. 21, 1961. He began piano lessons at 5 and commenced composing while still a youth. After studying composition with Rouse and Schwantner and piano with Bürge at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. (graduated, 1984), he pursued graduate studies with Druckman and Bresnick at Yale Univ. (1984-85). He won the Prix de Rome and held a residency at the American Academy in Rome in 1986. His output reveals an effective blend of serious and pop music genres.

Works

dramatic: Estatic Orange, ballet (N.Y, May 10, 1985; includes Verdant, later renamed Green, for Orch., Milwaukee, Nov. 20, 1986, and the ballet Purple, N.Y, June 11, 1987); The Directions, chamber opera (Iraklion, Crete, Aug. 6, 1986); Black and White, ballet (N.Y., May 7, 1988); Slate, ballet (N.Y, June 15, 1989); King of Hearts, television opera (1993; Channel 4, England, Jan. 1995); Central Park, opera (Glimmer-glass, NY., July 24, 1999; in collaboration with R. Beaser and D. Drattell). ORCH.: Vanada for Chamber Ensemble (1984; Amsterdam, Oct. 11, 1985); Bright Blue Music (N.Y, Nov. 23, 1985; also as The Harlequins Are Looking at You for Piano Trio) Adjustable Wrench for Chamber Ensemble (Huddersfield, Nov. 24, 1987); Copper for Brass Quintet and Orch. (Midland, Mich., June 3, 1988); Ash for Chamber Orch. (St. Paul, Minn., Feb. 3, 1989; also for Orch.); Rust for Piano and Wind Ensemble (Huddersfield, Nov. 21, 1989); Bronze for Piano and Orch. (1990; N.Y, Jan. 6, 1991, composer soloist); Red (1991); Music on the Floor for Chamber Ensemble (Milwaukee, April 10, 1992); Monday and Tuesday for Chamber Ensemble (London, Dec. 8, 1992); Run (1992; NY., April 29, 1993); Piano Concerto (1993; Troy, N.Y, Jan. 14, 1994, composer soloist); Saxophone Concerto (1993; Troy, N.Y, Jan. 14, 1994); Bone for Chamber Ensemble and Wordless Woman’s Voice (Rensselaer, N.Y, April 15, 1994); Javelin (Atlanta, Sept. 8, 1994); Nylon for Guitar and Chamber Orch. (Derby, England, Nov. 9, 1994); December for Strings (Des Moines, April 1, 1995); Flint for Chamber Ensemble (Palermo, Oct. 27, 1995); Overnight Mail for Chamber Ensemble (Amsterdam, Sept. 29, 1997); Brick Symphony (1997; San Francisco, Jan. 16, 1998); Four Seasons, sym. for Soloists, Chorus, Boys’ Chorus, and Orch. (N.Y, Oct. 8, 1999). CHAMBER: Ceremony of Innocence for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (Tanglewood, July 30, 1983); The Yellow Pages for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (New Haven, Conn., April 8, 1985); The Harlequins Are Looking at You for Piano Trio (N.Y, Nov. 22, 1985; also for Orch.); Chalk for String Quartet (Manchester, England, Oct. 1, 1992); Chrome for Flute and Piano (1993); July for Saxophone Quartet (Cardiff, Aug. 16, 1995); The Blue Pages for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (Milwaukee, Sept. 9, 1995); The White Pages for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (Milwaukee, Sept. 9, 1995); Sprite for Flute and Piano (N.Y, Feb. 14, 1996); July 19 for String Quartet (Utrecht, May 12, 1996). Piano: Laetus (1981). VOCAL: Mass for Baritone, Chorus, and Chamber Orch. (N.Y, June 27, 1990); 4 Proverbs for Woman’s Voice and Chamber Ensemble (Milwaukee, May 28, 1993); Book of Proverbs for Soprano, Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (Utrecht, Sept. 15, 1996); Pentecost for Soprano, Organ, and String Orch. (1997; Elm Grove, Wise, Oct. 18, 1998).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire