Composers

T.J. Anderson

1928 -

About

T.J. Anderson (b. 1928) is one of the leading composers of his generation. He was born August 17, 1928 in Coatesville, Pennsylvania and received degrees from West Virginia State College, Penn State University, and a Ph.D in Composition from the University of Iowa. He also holds several honorary degrees. He studied composition with George Ceiga, Philip Bezanson, Richard Hervig, and Darius Milhaud. Anderson is well known for his orchestration of Scott Joplin's opera, Treemonisha which premiered in Atlanta in 1972. His first opera, Soldier Boy, Soldier based on a libretto by Leon Forrest, was commissioned by Indiana University. The opera, Walker, was commissioned by the Boston Athenaeum with a libretto by Derek Walcott. Slip Knot, commissioned by the School of Music, Northwestern University is based on a historical paper by T.H. Breen with libretto by Yusef Komunyakaa. T.J. Anderson takes pride in collaborations with his distinguished friends Leon Forrest, writer, and Richard Hunt, sculptor. A number of his works have premiered in the artist's studio. As a lecturer, consultant, and visiting composer, he has appeared in institutions in the United States, Brazil, Germany, France, and Switzerland. He has been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, Virginia Center for the Arts, the Djerassi Foundation, the National Humanities Center (their first composer), and a scholar-in-residence at the Rockefeller Center for the Creative Arts, Bellagio, Italy. Other honors include an honorary membership in Phi Beta Kappa, a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, and a Rockefeller Center Foundation grant, Composer-in- Residence Program (with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Shaw, Conductor). At his 60th birthday celebration at Harvard University, letters from Robert Shaw and Sir Michael Tippett were read. In March 1997, he was honored as a founder and first president of the National Black Music Caucus with a concert of his music. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, May 18, 2005. After serving as Chairman of the Department of Music at Tufts University for eight years, Thomas Jefferson Anderson became Austin Fletcher Professor of Music and in 1990 became Austin Fletcher Professor of Music Emeritus. He now lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where he devotes his full time to writing music.

Related Information

http://www.tjandersonmusic.com/bio.html

Works by T.J. Anderson

Title Collection Voice Type Range Poet
A Musical Kaddish "in Sea" for John Zimarowski Soprano C#4-E6 Mark L. Belletini
A Song for Elma Lewis Soprano C#4 - C6 T. J. Anderson III
A Sonic Language Soprano E4 - Bb5 T. J. Anderson III
Adieu 3 Songs of Life Voice E4 - A5 Anita Turpeau Anderson
Archipelago In Front of My Eyes: An Obama Celebration Soprano Bb3 - C6 Robert Pinsky
Better Than Before In Front of My Eyes: An Obama Celebration Soprano Bb3 - C6 Robert Pinsky
Beyond Silence: A Cantata for Tenor, Bb Clarinet, Trombone, Viola, Cello, and Piano Tenor C3 - C#5 Pauline Hanson
Block Songs Solo Voice Bb3 - A5 Pearl Lomax
Cedar Cornerstones Soprano A3 - Bb5 Elye Alexander
Cody and the Chicken Songs of Illumination for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano Soprano D4 - B5 | C3 - Bb4 T. J. Anderson III
Confession Songs of Illumination for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano Soprano D4 - B5 | C3 - Bb4 T. J. Anderson III
Coptic Cairo: The Hanging Church Cairo Songbook Mezzo-Soprano G#3 - A5 T. J. Anderson III
Corner Court Songs of Illumination for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano Tenor D4 - B5 | C3 - Bb4 T. J. Anderson III
Dancing with Her Cornerstones Soprano A3 - Bb5 Elye Alexander
Dovey Junction Cornerstones Soprano A3 - Bb5 Elye Alexander
Evocation Soprano C4 - A5 T. J. Anderson III
Frankie Dead Songs of Illumination for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano Soprano D4 - B5 | C3 - Bb4 T. J. Anderson III
I Want to be Free (Part One) Words My Mother Taught Me Soprano E4 - C6 Anita Turpeau Anderson
I Want to be Free (Part Two) Words My Mother Taught Me Soprano E4 - C6 Anita Turpeau Anderson
I. I Dream a World 7 Cabaret Songs Voice Ab3 - Eb5 Harryette Mullen
II. Ain't Cut Drylongso 7 Cabaret Songs Voice A3 - E5 Harryette Mullen
III. Between Man and Himself 7 Cabaret Songs Voice A3 - F5 Harryette Mullen
In An Island Way In Front of My Eyes: An Obama Celebration Soprano Bb3 - C6 Robert Pinsky
In Indonesia In Front of My Eyes: An Obama Celebration Soprano Bb3 - C6 Robert Pinsky
Income Songs of Illumination for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano Soprano D4 - B5 | C3 - Bb4 T. J. Anderson III
IV. In Dahomey 7 Cabaret Songs Voice A3 - B4 Harryette Mullen
Life Words My Mother Taught Me Soprano E4 - C6 Anita Turpeau Anderson
Living Below Van Gogh Songs of Illumination for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano Tenor D4 - B5 | C3 - Bb4 T. J. Anderson III
Message of Fire Songs of Illumination for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano Tenor D4 - B5 | C3 - Bb4 T. J. Anderson III
Moon Songs of Illumination for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano Tenor D4 - B5 | C3 - Bb4 T. J. Anderson III
Myself when I am real Songs of Illumination for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano Tenor D4 - B5 | C3 - Bb4 T. J. Anderson III
Nina Songs of Illumination for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano Soprano D4 - B5 | C3 - Bb4 T. J. Anderson III
No Song Left Untold Contralto A3 - C5 Amy Ray
Nursery Rhyme for T.J. 3 Songs of Life Voice E4 - A5 Anita Turpeau Anderson
One People In Front of My Eyes: An Obama Celebration Soprano Bb3 - C6 Robert Pinsky
Pavane for the Wind Soprano D4 - Bb5 Yasmine Aida Kaldas Anderson
People Words My Mother Taught Me Soprano E4 - C6 Anita Turpeau Anderson
River to Cross (Duet) Songs of Illumination for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano Soprano | Tenor D4 - B5 | C3 - Bb4 T. J. Anderson III
Shells Mezzo-Soprano G3 - F#5 Elye Alexander
Songs of Illumination for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano: Song of Illumination (Duet) Songs of Illumination for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano Soprano | Tenor D4 - B5 | C3 - Bb4 T. J. Anderson III
Spider-Silk Riddle Cornerstones Soprano A3 - Bb5 Elye Alexander
Spiritual: I'm So Glad Trouble Don't Last Always In Front of My Eyes: An Obama Celebration Soprano Bb3 - C6 Robert Pinsky
Spiritual: I Done Done What You Told Me To Do In Front of My Eyes: An Obama Celebration Soprano Bb3 - C6 Robert Pinsky
The Angel Rolled The Stone Away In Front of My Eyes: An Obama Celebration Soprano Bb3 - C6 Robert Pinsky
The Callings Cairo Songbook Mezzo-Soprano G#3 - A5 T. J. Anderson III
The Flying Squirrel Cornerstones Soprano A3 - Bb5 Elye Alexander
The Future Words My Mother Taught Me Soprano E4 - C6 Anita Turpeau Anderson
The Monkey Has Died Cairo Songbook Mezzo-Soprano G#3 - A5 T. J. Anderson III
The Tallest Man In The World Cairo Songbook Mezzo-Soprano G#3 - A5 T. J. Anderson III
V. X-Rated 7 Cabaret Songs Voice C4 - Eb5 Harryette Mullen
Title Published Size Solo with Ensemble Duration Range Level Orchestration
Bahia, Bahia Yes Chamber Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2[1.2/pic] 222-2110-perc-str
Chamber Symphony Yes Chamber 10-20 Professional 1111-1110-2perc-hp-str
Classical Symphony Yes Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2222-4231-Timp-Perc-Pf-Str
Concerto for Two Violins and Chamber Yes Two Violins + Chamber Orchestra 2 Violin Soloist 10-20 Professional Two Solo Violins
Fragments (a JS Bach-TS Monk Fantasy) Yes improvised piano and orchestra improvised piano 20+ Professional 2[1.2/Picc] 2[1.2/Eh] 2[1.2/Bcl] 2[1.2/Cbsn]-4331-timp-percstr, imprv pf
Horizons '76 Yes Solo Voice + Large Ensemble | Orchestra Soprano 20+ Professional 2[1.2/Pic] 2[1.2/Eh] 2[1.2/Bcl]-Asax-Tsax-2[1.2/Cbsn]-4331-Timp-Pf/Cel-Hp-Perc-Str
In Memorium-Malcolm X Yes Orchestra Mezzo 10-20 Professional 2[1.2/pic] 222-asx-4331-2perc-pf-str Middle voice
Intervals Sets I and VII Yes Large Wind Ensemble 20+ Professional 3[1.2.pic] 3[1.2.EH] 3[1.2.Bscl] 3[1.2.Bbsn-Alsx-Tsx-433[1.2.Bstbn] 1-3Perc-Str
Intervals Sets II, III, IV, V, and VI Yes Small Subsets of a Large Wind Ensemble 20+ Professional 3[1.2.pic] 3[1.2.EH] 3[1.2.Bscl] 3[1.2.Bbsn-Alsx-Tsx-433[1.2.Bstbn] 1-3Perc-Str
Introduction and Allegro Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 2222-4231-tmp-perc-str
Ragged Edge (a Ragtime Reflection) Yes Chamber Orchestra 10-20 Professional 1111-2110-perc-pf-str
Six Pieces for Clarinet and Chamber Ensemble Yes Chamber Bb Clarinet 10-20 Professional 1[1/Picc] 1[1/Eh] 1[1/Bcl-1111-timp-perc-hp-str Solo Bb Clarinet
Spirituals Yes Full Orchestra Tenor; Jazz Quartet; Narrator 20+ Professional Children's chorus-SATB chorus-2222-2200-timp-str
Squares: An Essay For Orchestra Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2[1.2/pic]222-4321-tmp-2 perc-str
Syphony in Three Movements Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2222-4221-tmp-2perc-str
Variations on a Theme by MB Tolson Yes Chamber Mezzo 10-20 Professional mezzo-a sax-tpt-trbn-vln-vcl-pf
Composer Title Work Instrumentation Level Number of Movements Accompanied Size Duration Range
T.J. Anderson Albert Lee Murray: In Memoriam 1 No Solo
T.J. Anderson Aurelia, In Memoriam Violin 1 No Solo
T.J. Anderson Be Be Bassoon 1 No Solo Under 5
T.J. Anderson How To Be Remembered Piano 1 No Solo 5-10
T.J. Anderson Jane Kibler: In Memoriam Piano 1 No Solo
T.J. Anderson Lerone Bennett, Jr.: In Memoriam Violin 1 No Solo Under 5
T.J. Anderson Madeline Adams: In Memoriam Piano 1 No Solo Under 5
T.J. Anderson Mattiwilda Dobbs Janzon: In Memoriam Piano 1 No Solo Under 5
T.J. Anderson Peggy Smith: In Memoriam Piano 1 No Solo Under 5
T.J. Anderson Robert Piano 1 No Solo Under 5
T.J. Anderson Street Song Piano 1 No Solo
T.J. Anderson Watermelon Piano 1 No Solo