[TOP:
William Grant Still Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3, 'Wood Notes' on Naxos
8.559676 BOTTOM: William Grant Still (Photo is the sole property of
William Grant Still Music, and is used with permission)]
“David
Denton
January
2012
William
Grant Still became the first coloured American to have a symphony
played by a major orchestra and the first to conduct one of the major
league orchestras. His
symphonies were largely lightweight, pleasant and undemanding on both
the performer and listener… They are easy to listen to and are also
amusing caricatures of the weekend break and its religious
connotations. Wood
Notes offers
more pictures of American life, the work here receiving its world
premiere recording. Originally in five movements, but published in
the four we have here, it ends in sheer fun with Whippoorwill’s
Shoes, the
whole piece again in the world of light music. The large Fort Smith
Symphony is the best known orchestra from Arkansas and, together
their long established music director, John Jeter, they give hugely
attractive performances. The sound quality is very good, the disc
completing the Naxos release of Still’s five symphonies.”
[
William Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which
features a comprehensive Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de
Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com]
No comments:
Post a Comment