William Grant Still

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William Grant Still

• 1895-1978
• 83 year

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William Grant Still

• African American
• The first African American composer to have his
  work performed by a major American orchestra.
• Grew up in Little Rock

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William Grant Still

• Left medical school to compose
• Started a music degree, left school to join the
  navy (WWI)
• Settled on a style with an African American
  flavor.

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William Grant Still

• 1931 Premier of Afro-American Symphony in New
  York
• Immediately popular in U. S. and Europe
• Moved to L. A. to write film scores, concert
  works and operas

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William Grant Still

• First African American to conduct a major
  symphony orchestra
• First African American to have an opera performed
  by a major opera company

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William Grant StillAfro-American Symphony

• Written in 1930-31
• Beginning of depression
• Wrote his own blues theme
• Wanted to show that the blues could be elevated
  to the the highest musical level.

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Afro-American Symphony

• Blues theme appears in each movement as a
  unifying element.
• African American flavor
• Used banjo in the orchestra
• Used themes which imitate spirituals and jazz
  tunes
• Subtitles for movements from Paul Laurence Dunbar
  poetry

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Afro-American Symphony

• Third movement
• An well shout ouah hallelujahs
• On dat mighty recknin day

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Afro-American Symphony3rd movement

• Hallelujah melody
• Countermelody with blue notes