[Courtesy Photo William Grant Still, often called Arkansas’ greatest composer, has been hailed as “the dean of African-American composers” by John Jeter, music director for the Fort Smith Symphony.]
Times Record Online
SWTimes.com
Posted: Tuesday, April 5, 2011
By Scott Smith
“The music of 'Arkansas' greatest composer' and some of the most gifted area musicians will grace a Fort Smith stage this month. The Fort Smith Symphony will present its next concert, 'The Naxos Sessions: The Music of William Grant Still,' at 7:30 p.m. April 16 at the Arkansas Best Corporation Performing Arts Center, 55 S. Seventh St., and the evening will showcase the talent of Still (1895-1978), a composer who was as talented or more so than many of the big names in orchestral music, said John Jeter, music director for the symphony.”
“The symphony will perform Still's 'Symphony No. 2 (Song of a New Race),' 'Symphony No. 3 (The Sunday Symphony)' and 'Wood Notes,' and each will highlight the artistic abilities and vision of Still, he said. 'We have recorded some of Still's work before on CD for the Naxos label, and this concert will serve as a warm-up for the symphony before we begin recording “Symphony No. 2,” “Symphony No. 3” and "Wood Notes” the next day,' Jeter said. 'We are finishing off this CD project - we will have recorded all of Still's symphonies, which will be a first. And it's exciting because we are playing music that people probably haven't heard before,' he added. ‘”Wood Notes” hasn't been heard, however these are great pieces.'
“Still's daughter, Judith Anne Still of Flagstaff, Ariz., will serve as guest host and offer a pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m. April 16, and will conduct a free forum at noon April 15 at the Fort Smith Public Library's Windsor Branch, 4701 Windsor Drive, Jeter said. Those attending the library forum will receive a free ticket to the symphony's performance, he said. Still's appearances and the symphony's performance of her father's work are aimed to spread the word about Still as a historical and artistic figure, Jeter said
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"'William Grant Still is well-known historically, but even though he had a big career, there were still a lot of opportunities he didn't get - he grew up in an era of segregation and a lot of racism,' he said. 'A lot of contemporary American composers are more well-known, but had Still had the same opportunities, he would be more well-known,' Jeter added. 'Still's music is as good or better than those other names. There is more to Still's music than popularity would lead you to believe.'”
“The concert will be the symphony's first event in 17 years to feature multiple works by only one classical composer, he said. 'Still's music is huge,' Jeter said. 'There are over 150 compositions - operas and lots of orchestral works.' 'People do need to know William Grant Still,' he added. 'In the history of Arkansas, he is the guy.'”
"'The Naxos Sessions: The Music of William Grant Still' presented by the Fort Smith Symphony
When: 7:30 p.m. April 16
Where: Arkansas Best Corporation Performing Arts Center, 55 S. Seventh St.
Tickets are $15 and $20 for students and $35 and $30 for adults and can be purchased by calling 452-7575 and at http://www.fortsmithsymphony.org. [William Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, where a complete Works Lists by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma is featured.]
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