[Symphony No. 1 (Afro-American); William Grant Still; Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Neeme Järvi, Conductor; Chandos 9154 (1993)]
Jan Stribula, Contributing Writer for the Danbury, Connecticut News-Times, writes on May 9 about a performance of the Danbury Community Orchestra under its musical director and conductor Stephen Michael Smith. Here is an excerpt: “Soloist Thoensen didn't let his reed dry up as he was playing his English horn again in the opening movement for "Afro-American Symphony," by William Grant Still (1895 -- 1978). Loaded with historical significance, this was the first symphony by a black composer to be performed by a major American orchestra at its premiere in 1930.
Still was born in Mississippi and traded musical ideas with Gershwin and Ellington, creating an amalgam of blues and jazz. I can't do justice to the intrinsic involvement of race in American musical history here. Ken Burns just scratched the surface in his 10-part documentary "Jazz." The 1930s were a delightful period in music from the standpoint of today's listener, but maybe not so joyous for the musicians living through it back then.
The DCO used muted trumpet, two pianos offstage, and some nice clarinet work to give a bluesy feeling with lots of rhythmic swing. I believe Smith succeeded in motivating the audience to go out and get a recording to hear the rest of Still's wonderful symphony.” Full Post [William Grant Still is profiled at AfriClassical.com]
William Grant StillAfrican American Composer
Afro-American Symphony
Danbury Community Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Chandos 9154 (1993)
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