[William
Grant Still (Photo is the sole property of William Grant Still Music,
and is used with permission]
Monday, January 30, 2012
PULLMAN,
Wash. - As part of Black History Month in February, the Washington
State University School of Music Faculty Artist Series will present
works by one of the most famous African-American composers, William
Grant Still (1895-1978), at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, in Bryan Hall.
Admission is free
for WSU students with ID. General admission costs $10; students
(non-WSU) and seniors $5. Proceeds go to the School of Music
scholarship fund. Tickets will be on sale in the lobby one hour
before the concert.
Still was the first African American to
conduct a major U.S. symphony orchestra, the first to have one of his
symphonies performed by a major orchestra, and the first to have an
opera performed on national television. His music is characterized
as exciting, varied, jazzy and rhythmic. The concert will begin with
Meredith Arksey, violin, and Michelle Mielke, piano, performing two
movements from "Suite for Violin and Piano: Mother and Child and
Gamin.” Julie Wieck, soprano, and Sheila Converse, mezzo soprano,
accompanied by Mielke on piano, will sing several songs with jazz
elements.
Keri McCarthy, oboe, and Karen Savage, piano, will
perform the light but lively "Incantation and Dance for Oboe and
Piano.” Christopher Dickey, euphonium, will perform three song
transcriptions. The concert will conclude with Still’s famous
string quartet, "Danzas de Panama,” an appealing piece with
beautiful melodies and contrasting, driving rhythms. Each movement
depicts a different style of Panamanian folk music. This exciting
work will be performed by the WSU Faculty and Friends String Quartet:
Arksey, violin; Rebecca Darnall, violin; Rebecca Miller, viola; and
Ruth Boden, cello.
[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
Recordings, sheet music and books of William Grant Still are
available at www.WilliamGrantStill.com,
which is operated by the composer's daughter Judith Anne Still]
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