Residencies
Testimonials
During their residency at Western Michigan University, the PRISM Quartet provided a masterclass for saxophonists, readings/recording session of works by student composers, a feedback session regarding the student works involving insights about writing for saxophones, presentations about recording technology and the music business, a recital, and a performance with the symphonic band. All of the activities were absolutely exceptional. The feedback and information for students was clear, pertinent, and insightful. The performances were virtuosic, expressive, and inspiring. The PRISM Quartet was able to positively impact a huge portion of the students in the School of Music. They were always willing to give more time to students and they were very fun to host. It was a great residency
Testimonials
“I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to work with PRISM twice, first through the Walden School’s student co-commissioning project, and then ten years later, during PRISM’s residency at Brandeis University. Then and now, I so appreciate their professionalism and pure, precise ensemble sound. For residencies like this, it’s important for students to know that their work will be taken seriously, and that risks and challenges are welcome. I am very grateful to PRISM for showing me my ideas out loud, with such a beautiful technique and tone.”
Testimonials
“The PRISM Quartet visit to Princeton University was one of the most successful residencies we’ve had in the 30 years that I have been here. Rarely are all the student composers unanimously thrilled with the treatment and performances they get, but all six of our composers were over the moon. Of course they were: PRISM is made up of four great players, the group was impeccably prepared, they worked hard and thoughtfully with the student composers, played a wonderful concert and then, as a bonus, they ended up taking two of the student pieces into there regular series repertoire!”
Testimonials
“PRISM represents the ideal combination of high professionalism, absurd virtuosity, and personal warmth and energy. In their residency as part of the Princeton Sound Kitchen concert series, they displayed all of these attributes in spades. Their work with our graduate composers was superb, from the first workshop Matt did with them months ahead of time through the rehearsals and of course the performance, and they have since programmed some of these new works on their own concerts elsewhere; it is hard to imagine a better experience and opportunity for our composers!”
Testimonials
“The outstanding PRISM quartet offered a unique residency at the Curtis Institute. To many, the medium of the saxophone quartet is a perfect canvas for a young composer. It’s an ensemble with a homogenous sound and a history of exploring new sonorities and extended techniques, and PRISM proved to be the ideal group to mentor our composers to write for the medium. The composition students each created new pieces for PRISM, who workshopped their music in the fall and performed the new works in Philadelphia and New York in the spring. In addition, the students took an active role as producers in the recording of their pieces. To work with a group of this stature and to actively participate in the recording process was an invaluable experience that many fortunate composers have to wait until much further in their careers to receive.”
Testimonials
“It was a pleasure to have PRISM on campus this week. The two PRISM readings were fantastic! You treated each work with such care. I have never seen a group focus on such detail, have such great suggestions both musically and technically, and to do so with such kindness and care for the students and their creations. You all are clearly gifted teachers and I hope you do more of this.”
Testimonials
“The reaction to PRISM’s outreach program at the library was rave enthusiasm! We actually had children asking for books about music, musical instruments, jazz & famous musicians after one of your performances. What better way to get children aspiring to become performance artists than to have them be audiences to music and then read about it? We are thrilled to partner in bringing the future into perspective for young people.”
Advanced Composition Program
PRISM is deeply committed to working with music schools and conservatories, especially those with outstanding composition departments, to provide opportunities for talented young composers to study the breadth of the saxophone’s capabilities and create new works for the medium of saxophone quartet. Ideally, PRISM’s work with student composers occurs in four stages:
Phase One: Lecture (beginning of residency)
One or more members of PRISM present a 2-hour lecture titled “Writing for the Saxophone Quartet” which starts with a brief overview of the acoustical properties of the saxophone. Scores and recordings of recent saxophone quartets from PRISM’s repertoire are presented and examined to ensure that students are aware of the full measure of the instrument’s sound world, and how composers from a wide range of styles/musical aesthetics have written for the medium. The lecture covers traditional approaches to composition, and extended techniques, including: microtones, subtones, multiphonics, alitissimo range, harmonics, articulation (double/slap/flutter tongue), use of growl, glissandi, key clicks, mouthpiece alone, and best practices in music notation. Students are asked to study scores and recordings from the lecture over several weeks and develop questions that relate to the pieces they intend to compose for PRISM.
Phase Two: Interactive Demonstration (1 month after Phase One lecture)
The entire PRISM Quartet gives a live interactive demonstration of material covered above, showing how each of the four saxophones sounds in traditional compositional settings, and when employing extended techniques. PRISM answers questions that students developed from the lecture, and plays drafts of student ideas (e.g., a student might compose a few phrases in which he/she employs techniques introduced in the lecture).
Phase Three: Readings and Feedback (2 months before end of residency)
Student pieces are composed. PRISM rehearses pieces, and presents an open reading in which feedback is provided to student composers. Students then have an opportunity to edit their works before submitting final versions to PRISM.
Phase Four: Concert (end of residency)
PRISM presents student pieces in a public concert. The program may also include works by faculty composers, or works from PRISM’s core repertoire.