The music of Don Gillis III; 18

You're listening to music by Don give us. A sions friends out there and radio commentator give us bring you a program direct from the Home Office of the national educational radio network. Who at this very moment are probably all sitting around in their darkened offices saying Only nine more and old what's his name is through the oh what's his name in this instance being me and the reason they're probably saying that is that they're probably counting up on their fingers how many shows are left in this highly cultured series. And there are indeed nine but I don't think they mind for the whole idea was theirs in the first place that I play my own music do my

own announcing write my own script make like an engineer and then the whole deal on down to the network so they can send it along to you. After all what do they expect on a program called Music by Don give us Fingal's Cave. I hope you realize that I am merely jesting and indulging myself in a milder flight of fancy. When I pretend at the national educational radio network and I are enemies. Actually we are very close friends and would be going steady except that they have their headquarters at the University of Illinois and I'm here on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas and not only that in the division of music in the School of the arts. But since the purpose of this program is to play my music for you with appropriate commentary. I'd better begin and the very first number on ASHO is titled Chamber of Commerce. And it's from the portrait of a frontier town music recorded in London by the new symphony orchestra with the composer conducting.

A. Hundred. Thousand.

The. Chamber of Commerce from Portrait of a frontier town was the opening number on this week's

edition of music by Don give us next music describing children that play in a very famous children's playground in Atlanta Georgia Piedmont Park. Piedmont Park from the Atlanta sweet music representing children at play

time or at least it did to me. Sometimes I wonder if composers really have a visual picture in mind when they write about specific things don't you. Take a title like Fingal's Cave of Mendelssohn for instance does it really sound like a cave to you single or otherwise. Or how about Daphnis and Chloe. Couldn't it as well have been about two other people all together. No lady I'm not either making fun of all this. I'm just wondering out loud about it because I just announced a number of my own that claims that it's all about children playing and maybe it just as well could have been children not playing or singles mountain or deafness looking for anybody else but cloy. Oh well I suppose composed. Get carried away with themselves just like everybody else I know I do. I also know I'm going to schedule another title next that just as well could have its name changed too I guess. It's called Solo for strings but maybe it could have easily been titled loneliness or sorrow.

Why don't you rename it as we hear music for strings. Music for strings cause the low-IQ we write for is for the young musicians of the

National High School orchestra and a locker next courthouse square. The music was Courthouse Square from my Suite for solo instruments with Chamber Orchestra

titles for scenes from yesterday. I named a courthouse square because I was writing about my hometown of Cameron Missouri and it seemed to me that a home town ought to have a courthouse square. Actually Cameron doesn't have even a courthouse but it does have a city park complete with a bandstand and a water fountain. So Courthouse Square wasn't such a good title after all I guess at least for my home town. Maybe it would have been better to call it city park. I suppose a lot of composers are given a chance for second thoughts about something might have changed the titles. I still go back to that Fingal's Cave title. I'm sure Mr Mandelson was a bit carried away when he named it that. Oh well on with their show and we have a tremendous and Ronnie's own by. And as our next number is a piece of coal and him for a solemn occasion. It's the slogan for my Star-Spangled symphony and it represents a feeling that I get whenever I think of the birthday of these United States but a solemn and inspiring

occasion it was when our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence. And what a great day for the world when this country came into being. Join me now as we hear this slow movement from my Star-Spangled Symphony played for us by the men of the United States Air Force Symphony Orchestra. The prayer and him for a solemn occasion. Thread

through. Prayer and him for a solemn occasion. From my star spangled symphony

was played for us by the men of the United States Air Force Symphony Orchestra. As the final number of this week's edition of music by Don get was this is done you know us who hopes you've enjoyed this 30 minutes of my assorted music and somewhat rambling paragraphs about it. Next week we will be back with a hunk of trivia that's designed to represent what would happen if the composer went the same route as the pop artist. It's gone Herman the frog would sang at the map and along with that a most serious work the first movement of my fifth sim. Me kindly do be with us as I'm checking the row next week and it may determine your final grade in this course and I'd hate to report you to the national educational radio network who brings this whole thing into being each week. It comes as I keep saying from the campus of Southern Methodist University Division of Music School of the arts to which you may send your most welcome cards and letters. In the meanwhile this is done give us saying so long for now.

And why do you suppose Mendelsohn really named that piece Fingal's Cave. Oh well so long. This program was distributed by national educational radio. This is the National Education already on network.