Rex Isenberg

When we tell composers that we are a woodwind quintet, most reply in the same way: “wow, a woodwind quintet? I’ve never written anything for woodwind quintet before; it’s so challenging!”
However, this isn’t the case with Rex Isenberg, our April Composer of the Month. During our recent interview with him, Rex told us that the heterogeneous nature of the wind quintet that often intimidates some composers is exactly what entices him to write for it. While he admits writing for wind quintet is a challenge, he believes the five instruments’ rich colors and unlimited possibilities make it one of his favorite ensembles for which to compose.

We asked Rex to tell us more about the piece we commissioned him to write, The People’s Park, which commemorates Washington Square Park in downtown Manhattan. Rex commented that it is among the most extensive piece he’s ever composed, in terms of length, breadth, and depth. The piece is broken down into 5 movements, each featuring a different instrument and each signifying the passage of time from the creation of WSP to the iconic landmark it is today.

Since the piece is based on Washington Square Park, we wanted to know whether Rex spent a lot of time there. It turns out that previously, Rex did not spend much time in the park, but since starting the piece, WSP has become one of his favorite places to visit. Rex explained that it is not too small or crowded, yet not too big either. And when you are in WSP, it is easy to feel like you are part of a community (hence the title, The People’s Park). Both Rex and WSW might be a bit biased, but we all agreed that WSP is the best park in Manhattan!

Next, we wanted to know Rex’s compositional process. He told us that he always starts composing a piece by improvising on the piano. He notates everything by hand, then transfers it to his computer. The fact that Rex creates a first draft by hand makes him think very hard about each note and its role in the piece.

And a little about Rex’s musical background:
Rex started composing musical theatre songs in High School. He didn’t start his classical studies until college. Rex still feels like he has to catch up to his colleagues who started composing when they were younger, but we think he is so talented, it seems like he has been composing his whole life!

Finally, we asked Rex if there was anything else he wanted our readers to know about his music. We really appreciated his response, which was that his goal is to compose music that cuts through to an audience, while never losing its brilliance and complexity. He stressed the importance of striking a balance between accessibility and sophistication. We praise Rex because we feel he truly accomplishes this goal with every piece he composes, especially our commission, The People’s Park.

Click here for Rex’s website!