Michael Torke

[ScotOp69]

Is anyone here into Torke? He's one of the few Composers alive today who's music I actually enjoy. "PostMinimalist" stuff. Unfortunately much of his output is mired in Christianity but I just ignore it. His Book of Proverbs for Chorus & Orchestra is gorgeous. Also his Four Proverbs for Soprano & Ensemble. His latest releases "Being" & "Time" for Large Ensemble are insanely catchy. I think his star has waned though in the past couple of decades since he had a big contract with Boosey & Argo Records in the 90s.

[Pulcinella]

Is anyone here into Torke? He's one of the few Composers alive today who's music I actually enjoy. "PostMinimalist" stuff. Unfortunately much of his output is mired in Christianity but I just ignore it. His Book of Proverbs for Chorus & Orchestra is gorgeous. Also his Four Proverbs for Soprano & Ensemble. His latest releases "Being" & "Time" for Large Ensemble are insanely catchy. I think his star has waned though in the past couple of decades since he had a big contract with Boosey & Argo Records in the 90s.

Sub Reich and Adams for me, ScotOp, though you've possibly aroused interest in searching out the pieces you mention.
I have an Argo sampler (Javelin: the music of Michael Torke) but that's it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Javelin-Michael-Torke/dp/B000004CWK/ref=sr_1_5?crid=394TJPKOOSHLE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Sqtsix8Wt86snEjmmtSZVdHvK2sdOwUpRsMgxj5XVYSeiBEtoSuiVa8XtGX9BIj9HLErS96EGLe8KhoRV4vRnMZ6m1whOba9cMTA0ZT8fIxRGBIhy-9YIVjHHN2QVyRc1ZkhAdAagrlI-lQrelbR-OcHvSLrMfSRM7i-DOKVWMuGDqco6kdnLXGksJejGf2g-h3ayXjg6vOoZkLNRxVtiVUlcihYDil6Fytle6oZ4Uc.nTeNJ2qM3Xz049KyinnkLZ_vQZAnh9zYVP1dQPGMJRI&dib_tag=se&keywords=Javelin&qid=1712082848&s=music&sprefix=javelin%2Cpopular%2C149&sr=1-5

[teamsaint]

I have a CD of 5 works leading with The Yellow Pages , London Sinfonietta/ Nagano, which was sent to me gratis by a very nice forumite. It may have been Gordon.
Will give it a bit of a spin later.

[ScotOp69]

Hello Pulcinella & Teamsaint. I think what I like about Torke is that in a desert of never ending Premieres of the same old plethora of Atonal shite I've been hearing for the past 35 years, his music is still Tonal (& highly rhythmic). He might not be everyone's cup of tea though. Try his "An American Abroad" (written for the RSNO) or his Saxophone Concerto. At the end of the day he's harmless & entertaining. For me anyway.

[french frank]

It looks as if he turns up every 4-6 months on R3, in short bursts, mainly one of the Colors, though Being turned up twice (first Part 3, second Part 6 - this is R3 after all) in 2022.

[ScotOp69]

Cheers French Frank. I must confess I don't listen to any Radio at all. Incl Radio 3. I just came on here because loving Classical Music in Glasgow is a lonely passion. I wish there were still recorded music societies around but I think they've all died out. I would have been in my element!

[Serial_Apologist]

Hello Pulcinella & Teamsaint. I think what I like about Torke is that in a desert of never ending Premieres of the same old plethora of Atonal shite I've been hearing for the past 35 years, his music is still Tonal (& highly rhythmic). He might not be everyone's cup of tea though. Try his "An American Abroad" (written for the RSNO) or his Saxophone Concerto. At the end of the day he's harmless & entertaining. For me anyway.

One wonders what "atonal shite" that might have been. Was it "shite" because it was "atonal"?

[crb11]

Fiji was played as the interval music for the evening concert on 12 March, and I thought it was fun enough to listen to a second time. Characterful and rhythmic. I'll try following up some of the suggestions above.

[smittims]

I've heard some of Torke's music once or twice, not enought to be able to give an opinion of his whole output or his quality as a composer. My impression was that he is a skilful and knowledgable composer who knows what he wants and gets it effectively, but whose range of expression may be more limited than I would look for ; in other words he's closer to Judith Weir than to Huw Watkins. .

[Serial_Apologist]

I've heard some of Torke's music once or twice, not enought to be able to give an opinion of his whole output or his quality as a composer. My impression was that he is a skilful and knowledgable composer who knows what he wants and gets it effectively, but whose range of expression may be more limited than I would look for ; in other words he's closer to Judith Weir than to Huw Watkins. .

I wonder what the stylistically rather demure Judith Weir would make of that!!!

[Pulcinella]

I wonder what the stylistically rather demure Judith Weir would make of that!!!

I can't imagine Torke writing Illuminare, Jerusalem, but maybe I do him a disservice.

[smittims]

Yes, I think so. From what I've heard of both composers, I consider them roughly on the same level of inventiveness.

[edashtav]

Hello Pulcinella & Teamsaint. I think what I like about Torke is that in a desert of never ending Premieres of the same old plethora of Atonal shite I've been hearing for the past 35 years, his music is still Tonal (& highly rhythmic). He might not be everyone's cup of tea though. Try his "An American Abroad" (written for the RSNO) or his Saxophone Concerto. At the end of the day he's harmless & entertaining. For me anyway.

I have quite a collection of Torke"s CDs including almost all of the works you have named. I enjoy his rhythmic vitality, his positive energy, and the structures that evolve organically and shape the direction of his works. However unlike you, I feel a sense of shame when admitting my Torke appetite. As you note, his music is still Tonal - that limits his scope. 'At the end of the day his music is harmless and entertaining' you write. True, Torke has a limited emotional palette; his music palls on repetition. In the end , I play Torke when I'm tired: too tired to really listen or engage.

[ScotOp69]

Fair enough Edashtav. You don't have to apologise or explain to me or anyone else why you enjoy this or that Composer. We are all adults here.

[pastoralguy]

I’m listening to Torke’s piece ‘Charcoal’ just now. (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin). IIRC, the RSNO had a relationship with Torke and would regularly perform his music.