American Symphony Orchestra: William Grant Still's "Africa, Suite for Orchestra," conducted by Leon Botstein, available online for one week from April 9, 2020

William Grant Still (1895-1978)

American Symphony Orchestra

April 9, 2020

Welcome to ASO Online!

Each Wednesday, for as long as live performances are not possible, the ASO will release a recording of a past performance from our archives. Content will alternate weekly between ​live video recordings of SummerScape operas and audio recordings from previous ASO concerts that you can enjoy in your home.

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Africa, Suite for Orchestra

Composed by William Grant Still
American Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Leon Botstein, music director
Runtime: 27 minutes

I. Land of Peace
II. Land of Romance
III. Land of Superstition

Operas, symphonies, concerti, chamber music, art songs, film scores, popular music—William Grant Still embraced all of America’s music, and ranks among the greatest American composers.

Rivaled only by Leonard Bernstein in the variety of his output, Still’s contributions helped to establish the sound of the “American Experience.” When jazz was the epitome of Black artistic expression, Still was defining his voice within the world of classical music. He became the first African-American to have a symphony performed by a professional orchestra as well as an opera nationally televised and performed by a major opera company.

Recorded live during the concert, Revisiting William Grant Still