Concert Program: An Evening of Tillery and Bach

An Evening of
Tillery & Bach

June 26 & 27, 2009
Corcoran State Prison

Program

Suite for Violin and Guitar in D Major (Stephen Tillery, 1984- )
Waltz
Allegro
Waltz de Tragic
Largo
Allegro-Vivace

-Intermission-

From the Bach Cello Suite, Trasncribed for Violin:
Allemande from Suite No. 1
Prelude from Suite No. 2
Allemande from Suite No. 1

David Gray, Violin

From the Bach Violin Sonatas and Partitas, Transcribed for Guitar
Sarabande from Partita No. 1

By His Stripes, We Are Healed, For Violin and Guitar (Stephen Tillery)


About Bach’s Unaccompanied Violin Sonatas and Partitas

The six works, three Sonatas and three Partitas, were completed by 1720 when Bach resided in Anhalt-Cothen. After a brief business trip, Bach returned to find his beloved wife Maria Barbara already dead and buried. This tragedy affected these pieces which constituted the composer’s greatest work from this period. The famous Chaconne, nearly 16 minutes in length, is a memorial to his wife and is considered the finest single movement written for an unaccompanied violin. Unnoticed for the years, the masterpieces were nearly lost as wrapping in a butter factory.


About the Performers…

Stephen Tillery
Mr. Tillery has studied Classical Guitar for two years. He has taught himself guitar, as well as Music Theory. He is a gifted composer hand has composed a number of works for guitar, violin, flute, voice, and string quartet.

David Gray
Mr. Gray graduated with a B.A. in Music from the University of California, Davis and has served as Concertmaster in the Davis University Symphony, the Chico Symphony and the Shasta Symphony. He studied violin with Felix Khuner, Associate Concertmaster of the San Francisco Symphony. Mr. Gray has appeared as guest soloist and conductor of the Shasta Symphony. He was a member of the Grace Church Orchestra in Sun Valley, California.


With Thanks to:
Chaplain Indermill
Father Eugene

Journal: June 10, 2009

Dear Friends,

Had a good time with the Lord in prayer today. He is very closet o me in these difficult times of separation from my family and friends. I could not practice the violin today to prepare for the next concert because the chapel was closed. The Lord will provide. I read out of Gruden’s theology on the perseverance of the Saints—my next sermon topic in two weeks. Before bed I read out of John Piper’s book The Hidden Smile of God. Bunyan, Cowper and Brainard are such encouragements to me. Bunyan, while in prison writes, “I was made to see that if ever I would suffer rightly, I must…[learn] to live upon God that is invisible.” This is what I’m trying to do in this very painful trial.

William Cowper’s hymn is very special to me “…judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace; behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast unfolding every hour; the bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower…” These men who did suffer (along with their wives and children) l, are wonderful gifts from God to us who now suffer.

Journal: June 9, 2009

Dear Friends,

By God’s grace, I was able to preach today in chapel to about 30 men on the glorious doctrine of Election. I had spent days and hours preparing. I believe the Lord blessed it and the men were able to go grasp a glimpse of this truth. I do expect criticism from the Arminian camp.