Alan Theisen (b. 4 October 1981; Port Huron, Michigan) is a Ph.D. graduate assistant in the Department of Music Theory at the Florida State University.
Composing since the age of sixteen, he has produced a steadily growing body of work distinguished by its musical energy and concentration of expression.
Representative works by Theisen include a Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano, Variations on a Theme of Gretchaninov, Eclogue for flute, and the Concerto for Alto Saxophone and String Orchestra (premiered by soloist Lawrence Gwozdz and the Szczecin Philharmonic in 2004). Recent compositions and commissions include Ritorno for flute and cello and a Triple Concerto. Noted composer Dimitri Terzakis commends Theisen's oeuvre as being "the product of a unique talent."
As a saxophonist, Theisen has toured the United States and Canada with the Sax-Chamber Orchestra, performing at two World Saxophone Congresses (Montreal - 2000, Minneapolis - 2003). He studied the instrument with internationally-recognized performer Lawrence Gwozdz and participated in masterclasses with famed saxophone pioneer Jean-Marie Londeix. No stranger to the podium, Theisen has been a guest conductor with several ensembles.
In an effort to showcase both his own original compositions and pieces by other contemporary composers, he founded the Intégrales New Music Festival in 2005. Now an annual event, Intégrales NMF features world-premiere performances by nationally recognized musicians. Intégrales has expanded to include musical collaborations with artists, authors, and dancers.
Theisen wrote his undergraduate thesis on György Ligeti's Piano Etudes, and has authored several papers on topics including Elliott Carter, film editing, composition as analysis, and Michael Brecker.
Other interests include mathematics, film criticism, and philosophy; in addition, Theisen has performed the role of Oberon in a production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, for which he also wrote the incidental music.
Theisen lives with his wife (and puts up with their two cats) in Tallahassee, Florida.
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Saturday, February 18, 2006
Integrales 2006
 The Integrales 2006 New Music Festival is rapidly approaching. A large thanks goes to the Sequenza community for the extensive submission of pieces to be considered for inclusion on this year's program. Unfortunately, due to budget cutbacks, time constraints, and performer availability, many of these pieces will have to be scheduled for Integrales 2007 (even though I won't be here in Hattiesburg, the festival will continue on into the future).
Here is a sample of the pieces on this year's program:
Gyorgy Ligeti - Lux Aeterna
Elliott Carter - March from Eight Pieces for Four Timpani
Dmitri Shostakovich - Sonata for Violin and Piano
Alan Theisen - Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Jacques Ibert - Flute Concerto
Christian Lauba - Ars
John Zorn - Carny
Marcus Ballard - Maeander
Everette Minchew - Figment 3: “Euterpe”
Gyorgy Ligeti - Six Bagatelles
Phillip Schroeder - Wind Quintet
Integrales 2006 will be held between May 5 and 7, 2006. If you're in the neighborhood, stop on in!
posted by Alan Theisen
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Poem for Wednesday
Zwei Geigen and a
'Cello plus Viola
Oppugn, play, and scream
harsh dissonant spectra.
I fled my quiet office
To discover the occasion
Of the string quartet's
unmusical abrasions
(Little did I know:
It's Brian Ferneyhough!)
posted by Alan Theisen
Sunday, February 12, 2006
If Heaven Existed
 One can dream.....
posted by Alan Theisen
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