(1912 - 1978)
Don Gillis was born in Missouri USA. His family moved to Fort Worth, Texas, and he studied at Texas Christian University, playing trombone and acting as assistant director of the university band. He graduated in 1935, and obtained a masters degree from North Texas State University in 1943. He became production director for the radio station WBAP, later moving to NBC where he became producer for the NBC Symphony Orchestra during the tenure of its conductor Arturo Toscanini. Gillis produced several NBC radio programs, including "Serenade to America" and "NBC Concert Hour." After Toscanini retired in 1954 Gillis, serving as president of the Symphony Foundation of America, was instrumental in helping to form the Symphony of the Air, using members of the old NBC Symphony. Gillis also produced the radio program "Toscanini: The Man Behind the Legend," which ran for several years on NBC after the Italian conductor's death.
Don Gillis Composition Timpani and Percussion Requirements
Four Scenes from Yesterday
Timpani + 3 percussion + celeste
Glockenspiel, tubular bells, vibraphone, xylophone, clash cymbals, suspended cymbal, triangle, temple bell, wood block, snare drum, celeste
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Portrait of a Frontier Town
Timpani + 3 percussion
Tubular bells, xylophone, cowbell, clash cymbals, gong, triangle, temple blocks, wood block, orchestral bass drum, snare drum
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Short Overture to an Unwritten Opera
Timpani + 2 percussion
Xylophone, clash cymbals, triangle, claves, snare drum
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Symphony No.5 1/2 (A Symphony for Fun)
Timpani + 4 percussion
Gong, tubular bells, vibraphone, xylophone, tom tom, cowbell, clash cymbals, triangle, claves, maracas, wood block, orchestral bass drum, snare drum
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Symphony X (Big D)
Timpani + 4 percussion
Gong, tubular bells, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, tuned cowbells, sleigh bells, suspended cymbal, triangle, maracas, temple blocks, wood block, orchestral bass drum, snare drum, tambourine
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The January February March
Timpani + 3 percussion
Clash cymbals, snare drum, temple blocks, triangle, wood block, orchestral bass drum, tom toms x 3, xylophone, tubular bells, maracas
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The Man Who Invented Music
Timpani + 3 percussion
1) xylophone, glockenspiel, vibraphone, tubular bells F, A, C, 2) snare drum, 3 temple blocks, wood block, cowbell, tambourine, iron plate, slapstick, 3) orchestral bass drum, clash cymbals, suspended cymbal, 2 tom toms, triangle
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