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Frederick C. Tillis

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Biography
Composer-performer-educator- and poet, Frederick Tillis was born in Galveston, Texas on January 5, 1930. He is a graduate of Wiley College, receiving his B.A. at the age of 19, then received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Music Composition from the University of Iowa. His catalog includes more than 125 compositions and commissions, spanning both jazz and classical European traditions in various media - orchestral, jazz, instrumental, choral, chamber music, and vocal works. Melodic and harmonic textures reflect elements of various musics of the world, including Asian and Western cultures, as well as natural outgrowths of his ethnic and cultural background.
 
Tillis' music is performed nationally and abroad. Among his commissioned compositions are "A Symphony of Songs," a choral/orchestral work based on poems by Wallace Stevens and commissioned by The Hartford Chorale, Inc. (1999); "A Festival Journey," (1992) and "Ring Shout Concerto," (1974) for percussion, written for Max Roach and premiered by Max Roach and symphony orchestra; and "Concerto for Piano" (Jazz Trio) and symphony orchestra (1983) written for Billy Taylor and performed with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
 
Dr. Tillis has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the 1997 Commonwealth Award from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and an award for outstanding service from the International Association of Jazz Educators. As Professor of Music at the University of Massachusetts, he taught music composition and a survey course in the history of Afro-American Music & Musicians. Beginning his professional performing career at the age of 12, as a jazz saxophonist, he traveled with the Tillis-Holmes Jazz Duo and the Tradewinds Jazz Ensemble to Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, England, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, the former Soviet Union, Switzerland, and Turkey.
 
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

ACE Publications

111 title(s)
Composer Title SCORING/INSTRUMENTATION Year
Frederick C. Tillis ALLELUIA SATB Chorus
Frederick C. Tillis AUTUMN CONCERTO FOR TRUMPET Trumpet and Big Band
Fl, 5 Sax, 2 F. Hrns, 4 tpts, 4 tb, tba - trumpet solo - perc, pno/gtr, db
Frederick C. Tillis Beck and Call Voice and Piano
Frederick C. Tillis BEST TIMES Voice and Piano
Frederick C. Tillis Beyond Shades of Doubt High Voice and Piano
Frederick C. Tillis BLOW OUT THE CANDLES OF YOUR CAKE Soprano, Cello, and Piano
Frederick C. Tillis Bolero SATB Chorus and Piano
Frederick C. Tillis CAPRICE for string orchestra String Orchestra
Frederick C. Tillis CAPRICCIO Viola and Piano
Frederick C. Tillis CELEBRATION - Grand March Wind Ensemble
pic-1-1-4sax-5-1; 3cor-4-0-3-bar-1; timp, perc; cb
Frederick C. Tillis CONCERT PIECE FOR CLARINET AND PIANO Clarinet and Piano
Frederick C. Tillis CONCERTO for Piano (Jazz Trio) and Symphony Orchestra Jazz Trio and Orchestra
2222 - 4331 - timp, 2 perc - piano, bass, and drum set solos - strings
Frederick C. Tillis CONCERTO for Trio and Orchestra Trio Pro Viva (Flute, Cello, and Piano) and Orchestra
0000 - 1100 - timp - flute, cello, and piano solos - strings
Frederick C. Tillis COTTON CURTAIN Orchestra
1121 - 4321 - timp, perc - strings
Frederick C. Tillis DEEP RIVER Strings and Celeste
Frederick C. Tillis DESIGNS FOR ORCHESTRA 1 & 2 Orchestra
2(2+picc)12(2=bcl)1 - 2211 - timp, 3 perc - strings
Frederick C. Tillis Essay For Orchestra: Fugal Fantasy on Bach Orchestra
2222 - 4231 - timp - strings
Frederick C. Tillis FANTASY ON A SCHEME BY J.S. BACH Soprano Saxophone and Piano
Frederick C. Tillis FANTASY ON CHANTEZ-LES BAS Chamber Orchestra
1111 - 2211 - 2 Perc - Strings
Frederick C. Tillis Fantasy on Sunday in Egypt's Land Big Band
5 sax, 4 tpt, 4 tbn, Gtr, Pno, Bass, Drums
Frederick C. Tillis FESTIVAL JOURNEY for Solo Percussion and Wind Ensemble Percussion Solo and Wind Ensemble
solo perc, pic,2fl,2ob,2bsn,e-cl,3cl,bass cl,sop sax,alt sax,ten sax,bar sax,3 t[t. 4 horn, 3 trmb, bass trmb, euph, tuba, contrabass, timp, perc`
Frederick C. Tillis FESTIVAL JOURNEY for Solo Percussion and Symphony Orchestra Solo Drum Set and Orchestra
3(3=picc)222 - 4331 - timp, 2 perc - solo drum set - strings
Frederick C. Tillis Five Fantasies on Primary Colors Woodwind Quintet
Frederick C. Tillis FIVE SPIRITUALS for chorus and brass ensemble SATB Chorus and Brass Choir
SATB Chorus, 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, baritone, and tuba
Frederick C. Tillis FOR THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF SEPTEMBER 11 Big Band and Narrator
5 sx, 4 tpt, hn, 3 tbn, tb, timp, vib, narr, gtr, pf, db, dms

Additional Works