Friday, November 6, 2020

WPR Celebrates The Music Of William Grant Still: Pioneering African American Composer Broke Many Barriers

William Grant Still (1895-1978)
(Maud Cuney-Hare, Public Domain)


November 5, 2020

By WPR Music Staff

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of American composer William Grant Still, and WPR will be featuring a wide range of his works during our music programs the week of Nov. 9, including our weekday classical shows between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Still was born in Woodville, Mississippi in 1895, briefly worked on a medical degree, then went to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He also joined W.C. Handy’s pioneering jazz band in 1916 and later went to Harlem to continue working with him after serving in World War I. 

Still’s interests were wide and included lessons from the modernist French composer Edgar Varese. These influences can be heard in Still’s music, but don’t overshadow his distinct and unique voice.

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 Upcoming selections on WPR include:

Monday, 11/9: Symphony No. 1 "Afro-American"; Folk Suite No. 4

Tuesday, 11/10: Miniatures; Symphony No. 2 "Song of a New Race"

Wednesday, 11/11: Festive Overture; Suite for Violin and Piano

Thursday, 11/12: Lyric Quartet; Symphonic Poem "Africa"

Friday, 11/13: Summerland; Symphony No. 5 "Western Hemisphere"

Saturday, 11/14: Symphony No. 1 "Afro-American"

Sunday, 11/15:  Symphonic Poem "Africa"

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