William Grant Still composed eight operas, and the Music Division is lucky to own holograph scores for the first two: Blue Steel (call number ML96.S915 Case) and Troubled Island. As such, it is a natural fit for Still's entry in the Naxos American Classics series. The Very American Music of William Grant Still, Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2005. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, In memoriam, "The Colored Soldiers who Died for Democracy": In Memoriam: The Colored Soldiers Who Died for Democracy, Symphony No. In Memoriam: The Colored Soldiers Who Died for Democracy, for orchestra, Africa (also known as: Darker Africa; Darkest Africa), suite in 3 movements for orchestra (or piano). Price (1887-1953) is the first African-American female composer to have a major symphonic composition performed by a leading American symphony orchestra. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. “At a concert in Millenium Park's Pritzker Pavilion last week, part of a program on American music during the freedom holiday week, a work by William Grant Still entitled "In Memoriam: The Colored Soldiers Who Died For Democracy" was played by the Grant Park Orchestra. He's not talked about much today with all the Mahler, Sibelius, and Brahms that floods the market, which is truly a shame, because Still had some great things to say musically. It wasn't until Baptist missionaries traveled to Africa that the continent's other sides became apparent -- a land of unending inter-tribal warfare, starvation, and poverty. Known as the "Dean of African-American Composers," William Grant Still was born in Woodville, Mississippi and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, where his mother was a high school English teacher. William Grant Still (1895-1978) In Memoriam (1943) [7:22] Africa (Symphonic Poem) (1930) [27:51] Symphony No. 1 "Afro-American" is the only one of his many works that has seldom needed a recording. Ross mentions W G Still, so I gave it a go, and it's really well worth a listen. Price (1887-1953). He began to study the violin at age 14 and taught himself to play a number of other instruments, excelling at the cello and oboe. 1 Afro-American (1930) [24:57] Fort Smith Orchestra/John Jeter rec. There is one glaring omission that broke my heart a little: no banjo in Symphony 1 "Humor." 4 5 PROGRAM NOTES In Memoriam: The Colored Soldiers Who Died for Democracy WILLIAM GRANT STILL Born May 11, 1895, in Woodville, Mississippi Died December 3, 1978, in Los Angeles, California The score calls for 3 flutes, 1 piccolo, 3 oboes, English horn, 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, https://courses.lumenlearning.com/musicapp_historical/chapter/still Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at Last.fm. : Symphony No. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Still, William Grant : Africa (also known as. Let us hope that Naxos will once again employ the Fort Smith Symphony in the significant amount of William Grant Still's orchestral music that remains to be unearthed and heard. On the other hand, "Africa" has some very compelling music, too, and is colorfully orchestrated in Still's signature manner. 1 Usage. Sorrow (Adagio), Symphony No. Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2017. Such is the inscription to be found on the scores of the works of William Grant Still, sometimes called "The Dean of African-American Composers" and one of America's most versatile musicians.. BUY NOW . 1 "Afro-American" is the only one of his many works that has seldom needed a recording. WILLIAM GRANT STILL: LIST OF MAJOR WORKS Compiled by Eileen Southern Orchestral Darker America, tone poem, 1924. His father passed away when Still was only three months old, and he and his mother moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, where she soon remarried. In Memoriam: The Colored Soldiers Who Died for Democracy was written by William Grant Still, known for giving voice to African-American classical music in the first half of the 20th century, in January of 1944, at the height of the Second World War. Many of his works are believed to be lost. As a boy, Still learned to play the oboe and cello and took violin lessons. The original source for the music of William Grant Still: sheet music, CDs and other recordings, books, archival materials, and memorabilia. William Grant Still was the first African-American classical composer and during his time he composed many works which capture the essence of the American experience. AFRICA (SYMPHONIC POEM) & SYMPHONY NO. As an African American, he broke race barriers and opened opportunities for other minorities. How can you not have banjo? William Grant Still was the first African-American classical composer and during his time he composed many works which capture the essence of the American experience. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2020, Erinnert ein wenig an Klassik meets Wilder Westen. William Grant Still, (born May 11, 1895, Woodville, Mississippi, U.S.—died December 3, 1978, Los Angeles, California), American composer and conductor and the first African American to conduct a professional symphony orchestra in the United States. In memoriam (1943) -- Africa (symphonic poem) (1930) -- Symphony no. Among the many recordings of the "Afro-American Symphony" is … Still was but three months old when his father, the town bandmaster, died. Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2017. In Memoriam of the Colored Soldiers Who Died for Democracy (1944) by William Grant Still performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by George Szell (9.22 minutes). He's not talked about much today with all the Mahler, Sibelius, and Brahms that floods the market, which is truly a shame, because Still had some great things to say musically. In Memoriam of the Colored Soldiers Who Died for Democracy (1944) by William Grant Still performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by George … "With humble thanks to God, the Source of Inspiration." 1 'AFRO-AMERICAN' 1930, Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2018. Its melodies and musical gestures may be less striking than those in Still's one big work, the Afro-American Symphony, also included on this disc. Listen free to William Grant Still – STILL: In Memoriam / Africa / Symphony No. In Memoriam: The Colored Soldiers Who Died for Democracy. From the Black Belt, suite, 1926. William Grant Still Music and The Master-Player Library. To enjoy Prime Music, go to Your Music Library and transfer your account to Amazon.com (US). By William Grant Still. Florence B. In Memoriam: The Colored Soldiers Who Died for Democracy was written by William Grant Still, known for giving voice to African-American classical music in the first half of the 20th century, in January of 1944, at the height of the Second World War. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 8, 2012. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. ウィリアム・グラント・スティル（William Grant Still, 1895年 5月11日 - 1978年 12月3日 ロサンジェルス）はアフリカ系アメリカ人の作曲家。 150曲以上の作品があり、アフリカ系アメリカ人の作曲家の偉大な先駆者としてしばしば言及されてきた。 Stil's 150 classical works included five symphonies, four ballets and nine operas. Naxos is certainly to be commended for recording these wonderful symphonies. 1, 'Afro-American' (In memoriam, "The Colored Soldiers who Died for Democracy": In Memoriam: The Colored Soldiers Who Died for Democracy, Africa: Land of Peace and more). Just listen to the soft solo for timpani at the start: this sets the mood immediately for the first movement, entitled "Land of Peace." Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Still: In Memoriam / Africa / Symphony No. William Grant Still (1895–1978) William Grant Still grew up in Little Rock (Pulaski County) and achieved national and international acclaim as a composer of symphonic and popular music. Un compositeur afro américain de classique, Une tentative intéressante de fusionner Jazz et classique. Okay, first: I love the music of William Grant Still - in fact, my label Bay Cities was certainly one of the first to do an all Still CD way back in 1988. And I can't say I'm in love with the sound on the CDs - a bit tubby and distant for my taste. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Still composed almost 200 works, including eight operas, five symphonies, four ballets, plus art songs, chamber music, and works for solo instruments. He began to think about a career as a classical composer—an option not even on the horizon for African Americans at the time—after the Afro-British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor came to Ohio on a U.S. tour. Biography. The music is so gorgeous and original. Published by Carl Fischer, Inc. 1 … In the end, while one can carp about performance and sound, these Still releases on Naxos are essential purchases. By comparison, the "Afro-American" is drawn from a more Dvorákian part of Still's vocation. William Grant Still: Afro-American Symphony; In Memoriam; Africa (Symphonic Poem) (classical music album) - Play streams in full or download MP3 from Classical Archives (classicalarchives.com), the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. William Grant Still was the first African-American classical composer and during his time he composed many works which capture the essence of the American experience. William Grant Still: Afro-American Symphony is both an excellent introduction to the work of a major, yet under-recognized American composer and a testament to the excellence of some of America's local community orchestras. This recording is very satisfying. Your Amazon Music account is currently associated with a different marketplace. However, Naxos has gone the extra mile for Still, including a key work never heard on record before, his symphonic poem Africa written between 1924 and 1930. Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2009. Given the program of this symphonic poem, which is close to being a symphony, Still's music is appropriately lush, dreamy, and owes something to the work of Ferde Grofé. 1, "Afro-American": II. Handy (1873-1958). There his musical talents blossomed. As such, it is a natural fit for Still's entry in the Naxos American Classics series. Symphony No Still lacks consistent advocacy by a major composer be commended recording... 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