Local composer, 19, premieres his Marilyn Monroe-inspired music on a Toronto stage
Carleton County musician Thomas Hanson is making a name for himself in the world of tango, with one of his original compositions recently premiering before an enthusiastic Toronto audience.
Hanson, 19, a Bachelor of Music student at Mount Allison University, had the first movement of his four-part tribute to Marilyn Monroe premiered Oct. 24 by the Toronto Tango Community Orchestra at York University’s Tango for Today Symposium gala concert.
The work, Suite de Norma Jeane, drew inspiration from Monroe’s life and the hardships described in her biography.
“So I dedicated the piece to the memory of Norma Jeane, the innocent girl who had incredibly bright dreams,” he said.
The four movements are named for years in Monroe’s life, from her birth in 1926 to her death in 1962.
Aparna Halpé, director of Solidaridad Tango and the Toronto Tango Community Orchestra, selected the opening movement for its storytelling.
“The sense of tragic foreshadowing, the brief rays of hope that emerge throughout, the mad chasing fugue of the middle section, all paint a portrait of a life that was, perhaps, consumed by its own brilliance,” Halpé said.
Hanson discovered tango when a friend from Argentina asked him to write a cello part for Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango.
“I had never heard of the composer or the piece before so I took a listen and immediately fell in love with the sound,” he said.
“From then on I basically tried to absorb as much information as physically possible about tango music.”
A trumpet player with a jazz background, Hanson rented an accordion to explore the style. He now owns a full-sized instrument he jokes must have been crafted by the “Accordion Gods themselves!”
Trumpet and accordion are only the beginning of his musical repertoire. He also plays tuba, piano, cuíca, a Brazilian samba drum, kalimba, euphonium, French horn, baritone horn and tubular bells.
His Toronto opportunity came through another composition, Macabrotango, which reached the semifinals of a tango competition. Halpé wanted to perform it, but the ensemble lacked a guitarist. Hanson offered his Monroe-inspired suite instead and was invited to play the bandoneon part with the orchestra.
Halpé said experienced musicians were astonished that someone so young had written such a complex piece. At the premiere, the audience greeted it with cheers and applause.
“Thomas is fearless, and that is the essential trait a composer must have,” she said.
Woodstock Arts Council President Amy Anderson praised Hanson’s willingness to explore an uncommon musical style.
“What stands out for me with Thomas’s music is his openness to styles and formats that are not very common in Carleton County,” Anderson said.
“We don’t typically hear tango music but it’s obvious this music really resonates with Thomas and he is pursuing it at a very high level, working towards excellence and collaborating with people who can help him get there.”
A Woodstock High School graduate, Hanson now performs in Mount Allison ensembles. As for what’s next, Hanson plans to build on the experience.
“I’m gonna keep writing more and more music, finish my education here at MtA, perform a bunch more, and I plan on reentering the International Astor Piazzolla Composition Competition as well,” he said.
But hearing the Toronto orchestra bring his music to life was something special.
“The first time I heard the piece during our rehearsal I nearly cried because of how overjoyed I was,” Hanson said.
