Tillis, Frederick C.

1930 - 2020
Tillis, Frederick C.

As an educator and cultural ambassador, Tillis visited the University of Fort Hare in South Africa to advise in the establishment of their jazz studies program, served as a Master Artist in residence at the Akiyoshidai International Art Village in Yamaguchi, Japan and conducted a three-week residency on behalf of the United States Information Agency at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand in 1991 to help the school establish a major in jazz.
 
Dr. Tillis has published a text book entitled Jazz Theory and Improvisation and fifteen books of poetry: In the Spirit and the Flesh; Images of Mind and Heart; In Celebration; Of Moons, Moods, Myths, and the Muse; Harlem Echoes; Children's Corner: From A to Z; Seasons, Symbols, and Stones; Akiyoshidai Diary; Scattered Ghosts & Southern Winds; Bittersweet Harvest; Breaking Dawn & Healing; The Nature of Things: Human and Otherwise; Beginning Again; China-Shades, Shadows, and Scenes; and Ghosts and Winds in Eqypt's Lands.
 
Dr. Tillis was Professor Emeritus in the Department of Music and Dance and serves as Director Emeritus of the University Fine Arts Center and Director Emeritus of the Jazz in July Workshops in Improvisation at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He passed away May 3, 2020 in Amherst, MA.

 

List of recordings available:

ACA Festival 2004
Spiritual Fantasy No. 23

Festival Journey Concerto -
Spiritual Fantasy No. 9 -
Freedom (In Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King)

A Latin American Suite
University of Massachusetts Orchestra    
Four Corners of the World

Motherless Child - Spiritual Fantasy No. 12 - Spiritual Fantasy No. 9 - Freedom - Beyond Shades of Doubt - The Rain Forest - Singing for the Sake fo My Soul - The Best Times

Music for Peace and Goodwill    
Four Corners of The World - In the Spirit and the Flesh - Spiritual Fantasy #1 - For The Victims and Survivors of September, 11

American Trumpet Concertos    Spiritual Fantasy No. 6

ACA Festival 2006   Spiritual Fantasy Suite

ACA Festival 2009 Song for Sister Hokkaido

Jazz- American Classical Music    
Autumn Concerto for Trumpet - Images of the Blue Earth - Duet For Soprano Saxophone and Piano - The Time Has Come - Blue Differentia - Spanish and Indian Drone - Oil in My Vessel - Image of Blue Earth

Celebration (Grand March)    
Unbekannt

Frederick Tillis as a performer: Music of WC Handy, Charlie Parker, Billy Taylor and many others. Among Friends: The Billy Taylor Trio and Fred Tillis    Harlem Blues    Billy Taylor, piano; Victor Gaskin, bass; Bob Thomas, drums; Fred Tillis, tenor & soprano saxophone Includes The Holidays by Fred Tillis

Paintings in Sound for Solo Saxophone, Frederick Tillis    Motherless Child (Trad./Tillis) - One for Ray - Sombrero Dance - Rhymes and Rhythms - Sophisticated Lady (Ellington/Tillis) - A Different Drumming I - Besame Mucho (Velazquez/Tillis) - Ride the Wind - Toh Ryan Se (Trad. Japanese/Tillis) - A Different Drumming II - The Time Has Come - Golden Earrings

It's About Time    Spiritual Fantasy No. 5    Laura Klock: Horn, Nadine Shank: Piano Label: Albany

Yael Manor/Elixir Music for solo piano    Spiritual Fantasy No. 4

Festival Journey Concerto    Max Roach, trap drums (soloist); The New Orchestra of Boston - David Epstein, conductor

Spiritual Fantasy No. 9    Paulina Stark, soprano (soloist); University of Massachusetts Chorale - Richard du Bois, conductor

Freedom (In Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King)    University of Massachusetts Chorale - Richard du Bois, conductor

  • THREE SHOWPIECES FOR VIOLIN THREE SHOWPIECES FOR VIOLIN

    THREE SHOWPIECES FOR VIOLIN

      Frederick C. Tillis

      THREE SHOWPIECES FOR VIOLIN

      Solo Violin

      $14.00
      $14.00
    • THREE SONGS from Shadows and Distance Nowhere THREE SONGS from Shadows and Distance Nowhere

      THREE SONGS from Shadows and Distance Nowhere

        Frederick C. Tillis

        THREE SONGS from Shadows and Distance Nowhere

        Medium Voice and Piano

        $22.00
        $22.00
      • Three Spiritual Fantasies for Organ Nos 20 -21 - 22 Three Spiritual Fantasies for Organ Nos 20 -21 - 22

        Three Spiritual Fantasies for Organ Nos 20 -21 - 22

          Frederick C. Tillis

          Three Spiritual Fantasies for Organ Nos 20 -21 - 22

          Organ

          $19.00
          $19.00
        • THREE SYMPHONIC SPIRITUALS THREE SYMPHONIC SPIRITUALS

          THREE SYMPHONIC SPIRITUALS

            Frederick C. Tillis

            THREE SYMPHONIC SPIRITUALS

            chamber orchestra - 2222 - 2221 - timp, perc, cel - strings; voice (third movement only)

            $38.50
            $38.50
          • TIME HAS COME, THE TIME HAS COME, THE

            TIME HAS COME, THE

              Frederick C. Tillis

              TIME HAS COME, THE

              SATB Chorus, Piano, Double Bass, and Drum set

              $17.50
              $17.50
            • TRIO FOR STRINGS 1961 TRIO FOR STRINGS 1961

              TRIO FOR STRINGS 1961

                Frederick C. Tillis

                TRIO FOR STRINGS 1961

                Violin, Viola, and Cello

                $39.00
                $39.00
              • TWO MOODS FOR VIOLIN DUET TWO MOODS FOR VIOLIN DUET

                TWO MOODS FOR VIOLIN DUET

                  Frederick C. Tillis

                  TWO MOODS FOR VIOLIN DUET

                  Two Violins

                  $9.00
                  $9.00
                • TWO PIECES FOR ORCHESTRA (A Spiritual and Blues Fantasy) TWO PIECES FOR ORCHESTRA (A Spiritual and Blues Fantasy)

                  TWO PIECES FOR ORCHESTRA (A Spiritual and Blues Fantasy)

                    Frederick C. Tillis

                    TWO PIECES FOR ORCHESTRA (A Spiritual and Blues Fantasy)

                    Chamber Orchestra With Mixed Chorus 1(+picc)111 - 2211 - 2 perc - SATB - strings

                    $78.00
                    $78.00
                  • Two Songs (Enogod; Me) Two Songs (Enogod; Me)

                    Two Songs (Enogod; Me)

                      Frederick C. Tillis

                      Two Songs (Enogod; Me)

                      Soprano and Piano

                      $13.50
                      $13.50
                    • TWO SONGS (The End of All Flesh, and A Prayer in Faith) TWO SONGS (The End of All Flesh, and A Prayer in Faith)

                      TWO SONGS (The End of All Flesh, and A Prayer in Faith)

                        Frederick C. Tillis

                        TWO SONGS (The End of All Flesh, and A Prayer in Faith)

                        Baritone and Piano

                        $14.50
                        $14.50
                      • VERZIERUNGEN (GRACE NOTES) VERZIERUNGEN (GRACE NOTES)

                        VERZIERUNGEN (GRACE NOTES)

                          Frederick C. Tillis

                          VERZIERUNGEN (GRACE NOTES)

                          solo cl, 5 sx, 4 tpt, hn, 3 tbn, tb, vib, vc, gtr, pf, db, dms

                          $56.50
                          $56.50
                        • WADE IN THE WATER WADE IN THE WATER

                          WADE IN THE WATER

                            Frederick C. Tillis

                            WADE IN THE WATER

                            String Quartet

                            $23.00
                            $23.00