Don Gillis

 

Don Gillis
1912 - 1978

U.S. composer Don Gillis is most noted for having worked at NBC Radio, somehow with ties to the famous conductor Arturo Toscanini. If the internet is to believed, Toscanini even performed Gillis' music.

The music of Gillis falls straight into the categories of Americana and light orchestral music, perfect works for pops concerts of yesteryear. It is apparent to my ears that Gillis had no lack of humor when it came to composing, an element which actually endears me to his output. I will be curious to hear if the composer had a serious vein to his music.

My first introduction to the music of Don Gillis came from David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony Orchestra on their Albany Records recording from 2000, having performed and recorded his music over the previous five years. I listened to that recording with great joy.

While I was enthusiastic regarding his brand of music, I had never followed up listening to the rest of his catalogue. In 2000 though, there wasn't much, until Albany contracted the Sinfonia Varsovia to further record the rest of his symphonies and miscellaneous orchestral music.

Of course, now we have a few recordings of Don Gillis leading his own music from the 1950s. I look forward to exploring more.

Recordings and reviews currently on hand
(Click orange links to visit a musing)
(Green links are reviews yet to come)

Recordings

2000: Symphony 5 1/2 & 10
2003: Symphony 8 & 9
2004: Symphony 4 & Piano Concerto 2
2005: Symphony 5 & 6
2006: Symphony 1 & 2
2006: Symphony 3 & 10
2006: Symphony 7
2008: Harp & Trumpet Rhapsodies



Bits 'n Bobs
Here I will stream individual pieces by the composer I no longer have in my collection, or I haven't fully reviewed as of yet. Often I will mix other genres than those titled in the posts links below.


    •  Brass, Chamber, & Choral Music