Frederick C Tillis

Biography: 

Composer-performer-educator- and poet, Frederick Tillis was born in Galveston, Texas on January 5, 1930. He is a graduate of Wiley College and 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. Active as a jazz saxophonist, he has 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.

…

In addition, he recently visited the University of Fort Hare in South Africa, 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 seven 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 Harvests, Breaking Dawn & Healing, The Nature of Things: Human and Otherwise, and Beginning Again.

Dr. Tillis is currently Professor Emeritus in the Department of Music and Dance and serves as Director Emeritus of the University Fine Arts Center and Director of the Jazz in July Workshops in Improvisation at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

 

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

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ACE Publications

1 ALLELUIA (1969)
satb (pf reh only)

2 AUTUMN CONCERTO FOR TRUMPET (1979)
Fl, 5 Sax, 2 Hrns, 5 tpts, 5 tb, Perc, Pno/Guit, bass

3 Beck and Call (1993)
voice, pno

4 THE BEST TIMES (1993)
voice, pno

5 Beyond Shades of Doubt (1993)
high voice, piano

6 BLOW OUT THE CANDLES OF YOUR CAKE (1994)
sop, vlc, pf

7 Bolero (1995)
SATB, Pno

8 CAPRICCIO (1960)
vla,pf

9 CAPRICE for string orchestra
str orch 2-1-1-1

10 CELEBRATION, Grand March
band: pic-1-1-4sax-5-1; 3cor-4-0-3-bar-1; timp, perc; cb

11 CONCERT PIECE
cl,pf

12 CONCERTO for Piano (Jazz Trio) and Symphony Orchestra (1982)
pf (jazz trio) w/bs and drm,orch: 2-2-2-2; 4-3-3-1; timp, 2perc; str

13 CONCERTO for Trio and Orchestra (1980)
for trio pro viva (fl/alfl/pic,vcl,pf) and chamber orch: hn,tpt,timp/perc,strings

14 THE COTTON CURTAIN (1966)
orch: 1121 4321, timp, perc, str

15 DESIGNS FOR ORCHESTRA 1 & 2 (1963)
orch:2/pic-1-1-bcl-1, 2-2-1-1,3perc,str

16 Essay For Orchestra Fugal Fantasy on Bach (1959)

17 FANTASY ON A SCHEME BY J.S. BACH (1987)
SOPRANO SAX, PIANO

18 Fantasy on Sunday in Egypt's Land (1997)
5 sax, 4 tpt, 4 tbn, Gtr, Pno, Bass, Drums

19 FESTIVAL JOURNEY for Solo Percussion and Symphony Orchestra (1992)
solo jazz drum set & orch: pic-2-2-2-2,4-3-3-1, 2perc, timp, str

20 FESTIVAL JOURNEY for Solo Percussion and Wind Ensemble (1992)
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`

21 Five Fantasies on Primary Colors
woodwind quintet

22 FIVE SPIRITUALS for chorus and brass ensemble (1976)
satb plus brass choir:4-4-4-4-euph-1

23 FOR THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF SEPTEMBER 11 (2001)
5 sx, 4 tpt, hn, 3 tbn, tb, timp, vib, Narr, gtr, pf, db, dms

24 FOUR CORNERS OF THE WORLD (2005)
Narr, orch: pic-2-2-2-1; 4-3-3-1; timp, perc; str

25 FOUR SONGS
voice and keyboard

26 FREEDOM (1968)
satb (pf for reh)

27 HALLELUYAH (1966)
TTBB (male glee club)-pf for reh only

28 IMAGES OF THE BLUE EARTH (1990)
string quartet with solo soprano saxophone

29 IN THE SPIRIT AND THE FLESH (1985)
SATB, jazz trio, orch: 2-2-2-2, 4-3-3-1, timp, perc, str

30 INAUGURAL OVERTURE (1989)
2 trumpets, french horn, trombone, tuba, timpani

31 JOY OF SINGING: 12 SONGS FOR VOICE AND PIANO (2002)
voice, pf

32 LATIN AMERICAN SUITE for String Quartet (2006)
string quartet

33 Latin Fringe (1999)
SATB

34 Let Us Break Bread Together (1995)
SATB

35 Little David (1995)
voice, pno

36 Metamorphosis on a Scheme by J.S. Bach (1972)
5 sax, 4 tpt, hn, 4 tbn, gt, pno, bass, perc

37 MILITANT MOOD for brass sextet (1961)
hn, 2 tpt, tbn, euph, tba

38 MOTIONS (1964)
trombone, piano

39 MUSIC FOR AN EXPERIMENTAL LAB ENSEMBLES No. 1 (1967)
NO.1:alsax,tensax,hn,tb,pf,vln,

40 MUSIC FOR EXPERIMENTAL LAB ENSEMBLES No. 2
NO.2:fl,2tpt,pf,med vc

41 MUSIC for violin, cello, piano (1971)
vln,vcl,pf

42 NIGER SYMPHONY (1975)
cham orch:1-1-1-0,2-1-1-1,perc,str

43 Nobody Knows (1986)
tpt, ten sax, 2 vln, vla, vcl, cb

44 One for Ray (1984)
SATB, Pno, cb, drumset

45 OVERTURE TO A DANCE (1961)
band:pic-2-2-5(Ebcl-2-lalcl-bcl)- 4sax(aatb)-1,4-3-euph-3-1,timp,perc,cb

46 PASSACAGLIA for Brass Quintet (1950)
br qnt:1-2-1-1

47 PASSACAGLIA for organ (1962)
org

48 PASTORALE (2005)
wind ensemble: pic-2-15-4sax(aatb)-1, 2-3-barhn-3-1, 7 perc

49 PHANTASY (1962)
vla, pf

50 PLAY ON YOUR FLUTE LITTLE MARY (1995)
sop, ten, pf

51 POEM FOR ORCHESTRA NO. 1 (1996)
pic, 2 fl, 2 ob+ca, 2 cl+bcl, 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, tb, 3 perc, str.

52 A PRAYER IN FAITH (see Two Songs) (1960)
Baritone, pf

53 QUINTET FOR BRASS (1962)
br qnt: 1-2-1-1

54 Quintet for Four Woodwind and Percussion (1962)
fl, ob, cl, bsn, perc (mar, 2 bong, temp bl, mrcs, 3 susp cymb, 2 g, hi-hat, 2 trg, 2 cow b, 4 timp, s d, timb, tamb) )

55 THE RAIN FOREST (1993)
voice and piano

56 REFLECTIONS (1971)
S or T, pf

57 RING SHOUT CONCERTO for solo percussion & orchestra (1974)
perc& orch:1-1-1-4sax(satb)-1, 2-3-2-0,perc,str

58 Secrets of the African Baobab Tree (1976)
5 Sax, 4 tpt, 4 tbn, perc, pno, bass

59 Sequences and Burlesque (1966)
student or young string orchestra

60 Seton Concerto for Trumpet (1974)
5 sax, 4 tpt, 4 tbn, perc, pno, bass

61 Singing for the Sake of My Soul (1993)
voice, pno

62 Sombrero (1990)
SATB

63 Song for Sister Hokkaido (2008)
brass quintet, chimes, perc (1) congas

64 SPIRITUAL CYCLE (1978)
S, orch: 2-2-2-2; 4-3-3-1; timp, 2perc, str

65 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 1 (2007)
DUO for piccolo trumpet, piano

66 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 10: WE WEAR THE MASK (1988)
mixed chor, pf

67 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 12 (1988)
for string quartet, includes "Wade in the Water" (2nd movement)

68 Spiritual Fantasy No. 14 and Rag (1990)
pno, fl, ob

69 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 16: DEATH'S COLD ICY HANDS ON ME (1991)
Eb asx, pf

70 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 2 (1980)
cb, pf

71 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 20: ALL IS WELL WITH MY SOUL (2000)
org

72 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 21: IF I CAN HELP SOMEBODY (2000)
org

73 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 22: 'PARAMANA SUTTU BATTU PADARA'
org

74 Spiritual Fantasy No. 23 (Weary Traveler) (2001)
fl,ob,cl,bsn,hn

75 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 24: LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE (2010)
cl, pf

76 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 25: WADE IN THE WATER
Bb ssax, pf

77 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 3 (1981)
pf 4-hands

78 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 30: OH, FREEDOM (2005)
asax, pf

79 Spiritual Fantasy No. 32 (2007)
picc tpt, pno

80 Spiritual Fantasy No. 33 This Little Light Of Mine (2010)
cl, pf

81 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 4 (1981)
piano

82 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 5 (1982)
hn,pf

83 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 6 (1982)
solo tpt, orch: 2-2-0-2,2-2-0-0, timp,perc,str

84 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 7 (1983)
vcl, pf

85 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 8 (1993)
vln,vcl,pf

86 SPIRITUAL FANTASY NO. 9 SYMPATHY (1986)
SATB, Soprano solo, & brass quintet

87 SPIRITUAL FANTASY SUITE, NO. 27: WALK TOGETHER CHILDREN (2004)
s/a sax, pf

88 SPIRITUAL FANTASY SUITE, NO. 28: MY SOUL'S BEEN ANCHORED (2004)
s/a sax, pf

89 SPIRITUAL FANTASY SUITE, NO. 29: STAN' STILL JORDAN (2004)
sop sax, alto sax, pf

90 STRING TRIO (TRIO 1961) (1961)

91 SYMPHONY OF SONGS (1997)
orch: pic, 2- 2(ca)-2cl-2 , 2-3-3-1, SATB chor

92 THREE CHORALE SETTINGS(1962) (1962)
org

93 THREE MOVEMENTS FOR PIANO (1964)
pf

94 THREE PLUS ONE (1969)
clarinet, violin, guitar, self-generated recording and playback device

95 THREE SHOWPIECES FOR VIOLA (1966)
viola

96 THREE SHOWPIECES FOR VIOLIN or VIOLA (1985)

97 THREE SONGS from Shadows and Distance Nowhere (1971)
medium voice, pf

98 THREE SPIRITUAL FANTASIES FOR ORGAN (Spiritual Fantasy Nos. 20-21-22)
Organ

99 THREE SYMPHONIC SPIRITUALS (1978)
orch:2-2-2-2,2-2-2-1, cel,timp,perc,str

100 TIME HAS COME, THE (1989)
SATB, pf, str bass, drums

101 TRIO FOR STRINGS 1961 (1961)
violin, viola, cello

102 TWO MOODS FOR VIOLIN DUET (2019)
2 vln

103 TWO PIECES FOR ORCHESTRA (A Spiritual and Blues Fantasy) (1990)
1111 2211 Perc (2) Strings 44221

104 TWO SONGS (Enogod; Me) (1960)
sop,pf

105 TWO SONGS (The End of All Flesh, and A Prayer in Faith) (1960)
Baritone, piano

106 VERZIERUNGEN (GRACE NOTES) (2003)
solo cl, 5 sx, 4 tpt, hn, 3 tbn, tb, vib, vc, gtr, pf, db, dms

107 WADE IN THE WATER (1988)
str 4tet: 2-1-1

108 WE WEAR THE MASK (1988)
SATB, Piano

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