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Collection Overview
Title: William DeFotis Papers, 1953-2004
ID: 26/20/124
Primary Creator: DeFotis, William (1953-2003)
Extent: 5.3 cubic feet
Arrangement:
Materials are arranged in four series, which are as follows:
Series 1) Personal Papers, is unrranged.
Series 2) Music, is arranged in two sub-series: sub-series 1) Original Compositions and sub-series 2) Translations and Orchestrations by DeFotis.
Series 3) Audio and Audio Visual Recordings, is arranged in two sub-series: sub-series 1) Audio Recordings and sub-series 2) Films.
and Series 4) Research and Correspondence, which is arranged in three sub-series: sub-series 1) Research Files, Publications, Lectures, and Notes; sub-series 2) Tenure Documents; and sub-series 3) Correspondence.
Date Acquired: 07/24/2003. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Alumni, Baylor University, Brün, Herbert (1918-2000), Clarinet, Composers, Compositions-Music, Computer Music, Conductors (Music), Films, Fulbright Awards, Gaburo, Kenneth (1926-1993), Music Composition, University of Iowa, Vocal music, William and Mary, College of
Formats/Genres: Concert Programs, Experimental Music, Papers, Scrapbooks, Sheet music, Sound Recordings, Video recordings
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Consists of publications, correspondence, original scores and arrangements, concert programs, audio and video recordings of William DeFotis' compositions and performances, and scrapbooks, documenting the career of alumnus and composer William DeFotis. Major correspondents include: Steven Blum, William Brooks, Herbert Brün, Constance DeFotis, Kenneth Gaburo, Perry Goldstein, Walter Levin, Allen Otte and Percussion Group Cincinnati, and Steve Whiting.
Biographical Note
William "Bill" George DeFotis (1953-2003) was born in Chicago, Illinois. DeFotis graduated from Elk Grove High Schol (Elk Grove, IL), where he began composing and playing clarinet. Following this, he studied music composition with Herbert Brün, Ben Johnston, and Morgan Powell at the University of Illinois, earning his Bachelor's of Music (1975) and his Master's of Music (1977). In 1977 he traveled to Germany on a Fulbright grant to study with composer and musicologist Wolf Rosenberg. During this period, he toured with Musica Negativa, playing clarinet throughout Germany. Upon his return to the United States, DeFotis attended the University of Iowa, earning a DMA in conducting. From 1983 to 1985, he taught composition and orchestra at Baylor University and from 1986 to 1996 he taught conducting, composition, and a course in women's studies at the College of William and Mary.
DeFotis's compositions have been performed by the LaSalle Quartet, Percussion Group Cincinnati, Opus One, the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory Philharmonia, and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. He took medical retirement in 1996, after which he composed and recorded more than a dozen songs for the album Satire is Serious Business, which was released by Centaur Records. DeFotis died due to complications from multiple sclerosis in 2003.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Accruals:
Memorial CDs and posthumous score releases were acquired sometime during 2004.
Acquisition Source:
Estate of William DeFotis
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Personal Papers, 1953-2003],
[Series 2: Music, 1971-1998],
[
Series 3: Audio and Audio Visual Recordings, 1975-2004],
[
Series 4: Research and Correspondence, 1973-1998],
[
All]
- Series 2: Music, 1971-1998
- Consists of orginal scores and arrangements by William DeFotis. Materials are arranged in two sub-series: sub-series 1) Original Compositions and sub-series 2) Arrangements and Orchestrations.
- Sub-Series 1: Original Compositions, 1971-1998
- Consists of original scores by William DeFotis, including notes about compositions, sketches, drafts, and translations of texts for songs. Materials are arranged chronologically.
- Box 3
- Folder 1: High School Compositions, ca. 1971-1972
- Includes reduction of scores published in Elk Grove High School Arts Magazines, Gabriela's Fantasies for piano and String Quartet (tribute to H. Stanislav); arrangement for Air for the G String by J.S. Bach, parts for Oboe and Alto Clarinet.
- Folder 2: Euphoniana, for solo Euphonium, 1972
- Premiered by Mark Sikorowski. Sketches, Manuscript, Published Score.
- Folder 3: Three Movements for Clarinet Solo, 1973
- Premiered by the composer. Manuscript and Published Score.
- Folder 4: Variation for Piano and Percussion, 1973
- Premiered by the Blackearth Percussion Group. Sketches, manuscript, and published score.
- Folder 5: Septet, 1974
- For clarinet, bassoon, French horn, tuba, harp, viola, double bass, and off-stage flute. Premiered by the composer. Manuscript, published score, and set of parts.
- Folder 6: Tune, for solo flute, 1974
- Premiered by John Fonville. Manuscript and published score.
- Folder 7: Wind Quintet, 1975
- Premiered by the composer. Published Score.
- Folder 8: Inconsequences, 1975-1976
- For narrator and 12-member chamber orchestra. Premiered 1977, conducted by the composer. Manuscript, published score, and parts.
- Box 4
- Folder 1: String Quartet, 1977
- Premiered October 2, 1979 by the LaSalle Quartet in Cincinatti, Ohio. Publicity, lecture notes, program, manuscript, and published score.
- Folder 2: Pre-Quotes, for solo clarinet, 1977
- Premiered 1978 in Munich by the composer. Manuscript and published score.
- Folder 3: Recitation, 1978
- For nine solo speakers and chorus. Premiered by students of Unit One at the University of Illinois. Text and instructions.
- Folder 4: Continuous Showing, for three percussionists, 1978
- Premiered in 1979 by Percussion Group, Cincinnati. Sketches, manuscript, published score, and parts.
- Folder 5: Eclipse, for cello and piano, 1979
- Two published scores.
- Folder 6: Poem After, for tape, 1979-1980
- Includes Notes.
- Folder 7: Piece for Flute Solo with Tape Accompaniments, 1980
- Premiered in New York by John Fonville. Score and instructions.
- Folder 8: Two Pieces for String Quartet, 1981
- Funded by the Illinois Arts Council. Manuscript and published score.
- Folder 9: Wind and Percussion Music, 1984
- Commissioned by the Baylor University Bands. Premiered by Michael Haithcock and the Baylor Wind Ensemble on February 14, 1985. Manuscript and published score.
- Box 5
- Folder 1: Against that time, 1981-1982
- Ten songs on familiar texts for soprano, mezzo-soprano, and orchestra. Commissioned anonymously through the University of Iowa Foundation with additional grants from the Hancher Circle Fund. Premiered by the Cincinnati College-Conservatory Philharmonia on December 3, 1982, Gerhard Samuel conducting. Manuscript, sketches, and published score.
- Folder 2: Against that time, 1981-1982
- Parts.
- Box 6
- Folder 1: Percussion and String Octet, 1983-1985
- Premiered on July 4, 1988 by the Percussion Group, Cincinnati. Manuscripts, sketches, drafts, and published score.
- Folder 2: Percussion and String Octet, 1983-1985
- Parts.
- Box 7
- Folder 1: e.e. cummings bagatelles, 1986
- For mezzo soprano and piano. Premiered November 8, 1987 in Williamsberg, VA by Constance DeFotis. Manuscript, notes, correspodence, and published score.
- Folder 2: Openers, for orchestra, 1987
- Premiered February 3, 1988 by the William and Mary Orchestra. Manuscript, notes, and published score.
- Folder 3: Breaking Up Immediately Recognizable Units of Significance is Hard to Do , 1988
- For electronic tape. Notes and text.
- Folder 4: In the Cracks, for piano, 1989
- Premiered by Stefan Litwin in Williamsberg, Virginia on January 23, 1991. Revisions, correspondence, notes, and published score.
- Folder 5: How Many Times Had We Found Ourselves..., 1989
- Full title of piece: How Many Times Had We Found Ourselves Mouthing Received Opinions, Using the Language of Oppression, Before We No Longer Had Any Claim to Be Oblivious to Our Having Become Both Victim and Perpetrator of Injustice?, for women's chorus. Premiered and conducted by Constance DeFotis and the Wellesley College Choir. Manuscript, correspondence, notes, and published score.
- Folder 6: Solo with Snare Drum, 1991
- Premiered by Allen Otte, 1992. Score.
- Box 8
- Folder 1: 14 Satirical Songs, for voice and piano, 1992-1994
- Recorded by Christine Williams. Manuscripts, correspondence, and texts.
- Folder 2: I am a Composer, 1998
- Recitation and Text.
- Folder 3: The Range for Disorder, 2003
- Unfinished dramatic work. Includes instructions and sketches.
- Sub-Series 2: Translations and Orchestrations by DeFotis, 1991-1997
- Consists of translations of texts and libretti as well as score orchestrations of Bach Fugues by William DeFotis. Materials are arranged chronologically.
- Box 4
- Folder 10: Zeitungsausschnitten, Op. 11 by Hans Eisler, translations by DeFotis, ca. 1981
- Premiered in English by Constance DeFotis.
- Box 7
- Folder 7: 14 Ways to Describe the Rain, by Hans Eisler, translated and arranged by DeFotis, ca. 1985-1987
- Synchronized with the silent film Rain. Annotated parts and score.
- Folder 8: The Three Penny Opera, by Kurt Weill, translated by DeFotis, 1988
- Annotated conductor's score from William and Mary performance.
- Box 8
- Folder 4: Prelude and Fugue in C# Major, Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1 by J.S. Bach, arranged by DeFotis, 1990
- Premiered by the Cincinnati College-Conservatory Philharmonia. Score and Parts.
- Folder 5: Prelude and Fugue in C# Minor, Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1 by J.S. Bach, arranged by DeFotis, 1991
- Premiered by the Cincinnati College-Conservatory Philharmonia and the Percussion Group Cincinnati. Score and parts.
- Folder 6: Prelude and Fugue in Ab Major, Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1 by J.S. Bach, arranged by DeFotis, 1995
- For Orchestra. Score and Parts.
- Folder 7: Prelude and Fugue in B Minor, Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1 by J.S. Bach, arranged by DeFotis, 1997
- For Orchestra. Score and Parts.
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Personal Papers, 1953-2003],
[Series 2: Music, 1971-1998],
[
Series 3: Audio and Audio Visual Recordings, 1975-2004],
[
Series 4: Research and Correspondence, 1973-1998],
[
All]
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