Symphony No.1 in A flat major "Afro-American" - William Grant Still
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- čas přidán 7. 07. 2024
- Detroit Symphony Orchestra conducted by Neeme Järvi.
I - Longings. Moderato assai - Più mosso - Andante cantabile - Poco più lento - Poco più mosso - Allegro - Andante cantabile: 0:00
II - Sorrows. Adagio - Più mosso (non tanto) - Poco più mosso - : 7:25
III - Humor. Animato: 12:45
IV - Aspirations. Lento, con risoluzione - Più mosso - Più lento - Più mosso - Andante, molto espressivo - Lento, con risoluzione - Vivace - Maestoso: 15:53
Stills' Symphony No.1 was composed between October 30 and December 6 of 1930, being premiered on October 29 of 1931, performed by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Howard Hanson. It was the first time in the history of the United States that a major orchestra premiered a symphony written by a black person. The work obtained a great triumph and soon was interpreted all over the country. The composer said: I "knew that I wanted to write a symphony, I knew it should be an American work. I wanted to show how blues, often considered as a low-level genre of expression, could be raised to the highest musical level".
At the beginning of the 20th decade, the black cultural movement known as "Harlem Renaissance" had been born, right when Still came to New York. Its objective was show that the black race had a rich culture, which would soon prove to the United States and the entire world. Still was an active member of this movement, influencing him in his music throughout his life. In 1924, he began to work on a trilogy of works that describe the Afro-American reality: The symphonic poem "Africa" represents its roots, the Afro-American Symphony the life of blacks in America, and Symphony No.2 "Song of a new race" the vision of an integrated society.
The first movement is loosely structured in sonata form. It begins with a slow introduction, in which English horn presents a blues theme that will become the core of the work. The muted trumpet presents the main theme, derived from said blues. After a climax, a lyrical second theme is presented by the oboe, inspired by spirituals. The following development is vigorous and colourful, leading us to an inverted recapitulation; with the second theme on strings and the main one on muted trumpet. The blues opening theme reappears in the final part fully orchestrated, leading to an uplifting coda.
The second movement is also written in sonata form. It opens with a melancholic main theme exposed by the oboe over strings and flute, derived from the opening blues. The blues theme itself reappears on the flute as a second theme, oscillating between major and minor. These materials are then developed in an expressive manner, always with a certain sadness. The recapitulation is also inverted, with the second theme before the main one. A meditative coda ends the movement.
The third movement is monothematic in form. It begins with a brief but atmospheric introduction, followed by the exposition of a lively and animated dance theme, syncopated in its rhythms. We can clearly hear the influence of ragtime and jazz. The use of the banjo adds local colour to the festive atmosphere. A tune vaguely reminiscent of Gershwin’s "I’ve Got Rhythm" appears as well. Still’s melody predates Gershwin’s, the tune being improvised by Still in the 1920s while performing in the Broadway show "Shuffle Along". A powerful coda ends the movement.
The fourth movement is very free in form, slightly resembling a rondo. It opens with a noble, hymn-like main theme derived from the opening blues. The main theme of the first movement appears on clarinet, followed by the main theme of the second movement in a menacing climax. It reappears more clearly and expressively after, leading us to a placid and calm passage. The main theme from the third theme suddenly appears in an energetic allegro. In the final part, the characteristic blues returns, which leads to a triumphal coda of great power.
Picture: "Aspirations" (1936) by the Afro-American painter Aaron Douglas.
Sources: bit.ly/3JVBLAw and bit.ly/3HW7vTQ
To check the score: bit.ly/3DYnQGm - Hudba
my high school's symphony orchestra is performing this in April, and it will be my last concert with them (I am a senior this year). I'm a harpist and we are due to receive the parts soon...I've known about this piece for more than a year now and am so excited to be a part of its performance!!!
Bravo Brian! May God order your steps!
omg hi brian
omg that u Ray!! Glad to see you. this Detroit Symphony recording is my fave@@monamizumi4990
I just met his daughter " Judith" She is 80 years old and she has been a steward of her Fathers legacy for 40 years..She's very smart, funny and charming...
This is so authentically american and I'm in love with it.
When it comes to art music, I feel Americans don't take enough interest in what they've made, and focus only on a handful of European musicians, which is a shame because amazing works like this get totally buried.
Underrated composer!
This great symphony by America's foremost Black composer is replete with infectious charm & melodic invention. It deserves to be programmed more often.
Hello! I thought you might be happy to know that we are preparing this piece for our upcoming June program :)
@@ccoyouthorchestra4851 awesome, good luck
What a find bro!
Nothing amazing. A copy.
I am here thanks to Wikipedia picture of the day. I never heard of this composer and I pride myself to know quite a lot of them... I am happy to always find new noteworthy composers!
Gotta love all of the bass clarinet moments sprinkled throughout, and the reference to the theme of "I Got Rhythm"(even though Still used it before Gershwin).
One of the greatest pieces of American musical history.
agree
What a find bro!
Indeed.
I love that American classical music has such a distinct sound- you really hear a romanticized version of what was at the time considered one of the most industrial and modern places in the world. Especially the 1st movement, the key has a jazzy modern tone, and the sound and rhythm switches back and forth between dreamy sways and the constant chugging of a growing industrial machine-but both parts are honestly just as pleasant to listen to.
Wow! The African American influence is there front and center. This is the first of his works I've heard, and it's glorious! I came looking for it after seeing him referenced in W. C. Handy's 1941 autobiography. I agree with others that this is far more interesting than Gershwin's long form compositions (although I've long been a great lover of his contribution the the Great American Songbook). Interesting that he was born in Woodville, MS, 14 years before another Woodville native, the great saxophonist Lester Young! Must have been something awfully special in the water!
You might notice that Gershwin's most famous song 'I Got Rhythm' is actually remake of this theme in the Symphony - published in the same year: czcams.com/video/8hzFcm6HCeI/video.html
I had a book published about the Federal Music Project of the 1930s. It is titled Sounds of the New Deal. This Symphony and William Grant Still played prominently in this history.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE William Grant Still's music! Florence Price's 3rd Symphony in C minor is like unto it! Truly GREAT, BEAUTIFUL music!! How refreshing! What spirit! How blessed I am to have ears, heart & soul to hear & embrace it! Thank God for these marvelous, gifted musicians!
One of the Apex American composers a real national treasure.
Ive never been so captivated by anything on a classical and jazz station like this when I heard it. I listen to a lot of C&J on the radio in my car. This is absolutely stellar.
William Grant Still (May 11, 1895 - December 3, 1978) was an American composer of more than 150 works, including five symphonies and eight operas.
Often referred to as "the Dean" of African-American composers, Still was the first American composer to have an opera produced by the New York City Opera. Still is known most for his first symphony, the "Afro-American", which was until the 1950s the most widely performed symphony composed by an American.
Born in Mississippi, he grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, attended Wilberforce University and Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and was a student of George Whitefield Chadwick and later Edgard Varèse.
Of note, Still was the first African American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony (his 1st Symphony) performed by a leading orchestra, the first to have an opera performed by a major opera company, and the first to have an opera performed on national television.
Due to his close association and collaboration with prominent Afro-American literary and cultural figures such as Alain Locke and Langston Hughes, William Grant Still is considered to be part of the Harlem Renaissance movement.
I wear my American Badge no higher than my African Badge. It's like a gang. I rep this.. but I dont rep that type of talk. I rep both sets. Bc you cant have a future without a past.
@@christiandavis5332 Wonderfully said!
The racism is real.. like fr I just learned that Sam Cooke was trying to start the first black owned distribution company as far as music.. to compete with the other majors labels but he was killed.. Then modern day moguls like Irv Gotti, Jprince, Suge Knight and Dame Dash was trying to do the same thing.. in 1 week the feds raided their offices and put out investigations on them.. Micheal Jackson owned half of Sony and wanted to leave as a free agent.. bc they wanted his catalogs.. he dies.. then In his will the catalog goes back to Sony?! Bill Cosby wants to buy nbc network or whatever and then 50 something white women come out the woods works saying he raped them.. that is no coincidence.
@@christiandavis5332, Racism is real. But those are coincidences. Can we just listen to the music?
@@christiandavis5332 Racism would totally end if we separated. Diversity doesn't work my friend and never will.
Cheers
Playing this one in December. A huge range of styles and nods to numerous composers, classic and modern, throughout this piece. It's not long, but there's a lot to unpack.
Wonderful Symphony: especially enjoyed the vibrant, jazzy third movement, and the beautiful, hymn-like fourth !! Thanks Sergio, for introducing these works by WGS !
Absolutely Beautiful
I would like to hear this performed and see it interpreted by a fine African-American dance group.
William Grant Still is amazing. I love his music and all five symphonies.
Just played this today with an amazing and talented orchestra. Never been so proud, even if I didn't contribute more than a single part out of many:)
Performance wouldn't exist without you. Nicely done!
Nice we’re playing this in Youth Orchestra in February
Just discovered William Grant Hill today thanks to Vintage Black Glamour’s Instagram post. I immediately googled him and now listening.
It’s so nice to hear more american orchestral music!!!
What a find bro!
Nothing amazing. A copy.
A great symphony!! A great performance!!
this is my firsat time watching for school in 3thd grade 2021
Wonderful piece of music.
Delightfully American.
His music is beautiful., calm, relaxing and speaks volume. The art work is so peaceful !! This is great for medication and it would be also good listening for children . The tone is great for their ears !
Perhaps a combo, my 6 month-old seems to have entered a meditative state.
bravo! good to hear this.... same old stuff being played in concerts
Great work by William Grant Still. Beautiful melodies, rich harmony and pulsating rhythms. I love the choice of instrumentation, the dynamics, the various moods and character of this piece of music; very inspirational 💥👌🏾!
I have several CD's from Jarvi's series of American music recordings with the Detroit orchestra. All are exceptionally well done, although I have reservations about whether the Randall Thompson was worth Jarvi's effort. Somehow I missed this Still work, and I'm very glad to have found it here. As to whether it's 3rd rate Gershwin, it's most certainly not. It's endlessly inventive, and what's more it's not worn to a frazzle from over-performance for white audiences that think they're taking a walk on the wild side.
love your comment, haha!
this music is beautiful and by reading the description, history and what does it means, it made it even more beautiful
Thanks so much for the beautiful work of Aaron Douglas in addition to this amazing history!
I'm going through listening to classic American composers, and I think the ending to this song might be the best one I've heard so far.
This song goes hard
@Andrew Schrantz - IT IS NOT A SONG!!!
Do you hear anyone saying lyrics to a song? This is an orchestral composition or a Symphony, but it is definitely not a song.
I’m sick of people calling piano pieces “songs”.
Saying - should have been “singing”.
@@JD-qd5zp you must be so fun a parties
@@JD-qd5zp this comment/attitude does NOT inspire new people to learn more about classical music… it kills any interest they would have had.. not everyone has had the opportunities to learn the nomenclature like you - humble yourself
@Andrew Schrantz
Yeah it does!!!
Beautiful...
Reading the description of the final movement and listening to the final 45 seconds of this symphony, I can't help but get goosebumps. The feeling reminds me of listening to final moments of the third movement of Rachmaninoff's piano concerto #2. In both cases, I feel an amazing sense of triumph and transcendence. Thanks so much for making this symphony available on CZcams!
Thank you for your wonderful comment!
Gotta learn my history
This symphony is such a wonderful, wonderful little masterpiece. And it's full of such catchy and characterful tunes!
... copy ...
5:04 blessed
Reminds me of Duke Ellington :)
More like George Gershwin
This is awesome.
im a 13yo who listens to weird electro stuff like acetantina and this is one of my favorite pieces of all time
Marvelous symphony! So, so annoying to have it be interrupted by the ad inserted in the middle of it!
Unfortunatelly I cannot do anything about it. Those ads are put by youtube themselves.
Excellent... Thank you...
10:53 beautiful moment
2:23 serene and airy, feels very serene. like being in lush fields and you feel the soft grass and see blue skies and a midafternoon sun that glows.
3:39 beautiful (and satisfying to play)
21:14 another beautiful moment. Good harp part, it sounds thoughtful
The Florida Orchestra is in concert tonight with Aldo Lopez conducted by Thomas
Wilkins expect a great performance.
I love it!
This is Beautiful!
TY for posting. I love this. Haven't heard it for a long long time. It was nice to hear again.
Wonderful music!
Wow. This is my favorite, and touches me to my soul and back. Thank you!🪐🍓🔥✨📚✨👍💕💕💕💕💕💕💕❤️❤️
Recientemente tuve curiosidad por los compositores afroamericanos, escuché varias composiciones y sinfonías y creo que de todas esta es mi favorita, captura todo el espíritu del afroamericano, toda la belleza, alegría y tristeza que hay en ellos. No puede faltar claro está, el uso del jazz.
Creo que entonces disfrutarás de sus cinco sinfonías. También te recomiendo a Dawson como un contemporáneo de Still
@@SergioCánovasCM Muchas gracias por la recomendación, buscaré el resto de sinfonías, de Dawson sólo he escuchado la Negro Folk Symphony, muy buena también. Saludos!!!
Nice, brilliant(sound wise) rendition. Well Done.
I. Longings
(00:00-01:00)
(01:01-01:43)
(01:44-02:07)
(02:08-02:24)
(02:25-02:49)
(02:50-03:05)
(03:06-03:41)
(03:42-03:52)
(03:53-04:50)
(04:51-05:31)
(05:32-05:44)
(05:45-06:25)
(06:26-07:18)
II. Sorrows
(07:26-07:48)
(07:49-08:52)
(08:53-09:11)
(09:12-09:51)
(09:52-10:15)
(10:16-11:18)
(11:19-11:47)
(11:48-12:38)
III. Humor
(12:45-12:56)
(12:57-13:25)
(13:26-13:40)
(13:41-13:46)
(13:47-13:54)
(14:07-14:35)
(14:36-14:47)
(14:48-15:14)
(15:15-15:44)
IV. Aspirations
(15:53-17:16)
(17:17-17:32)
(17:33-18:02)
(18:03-18:16)
(18:17-18:26)
(18:27-19:01)
(19:02-19:36)
(19:37-19:53)
(19:54-20:07)
(20:08-20:28)
(20:29-21:14)
(21:15-21:55)
(21:56-22:18)
(22:19-22:33)
(22:34-22:54)
(22:55-23:15)
(23:16-23:22)
(23:23-24:02)
This is fire
Thanks to Wikipedia (it was closed in Turkey for nearly 3 years) for letting us to know such a musician. I guess he inspired Gerschwin and others.
Gershwin is three years older
@@evlynnehouseholder2617 Thanks but Gershwin is three years younger (born 1898) not older (Still B.1895). Anyway as I have mentioned mine was a guess, just an impression.
@@bulendhatipoglu5741 bad math, but beautiful music
Does indeed remind me of Gershwin -- who clearly gets played more.
@Evlynne, I've certainly been influenced by people my age or younger than myself.
Upon first impressions Still strikes me as more of a romanticist than Gershwin. I also feel like Still was a better orchestrator (but Gershwin a better songwriter and popular musician). @@kevdaag2523
Celeste Headlee TED talk brought me here 😉
Wonderful , a black Gershwin .
Or was Gershwin a white Grant Still?
@@O5680 Gershwin was likely influenced by him. Many of the same chord progressions.
This is so beautiful. It has almost this...magic sound to it. Very mysterious and magical like it belongs in a Disney movie
Dvorak final!!
Harlem please stand Up !
2:23
Can someone just confirm that the begging theme is the same as Give Me One Reason by Tracy Chapman? And did she intentionally write it with this melody?
I have no idea who was the first to use a banjo in a symphonic work, but it wasn't Still. John Alden Carpenter used one in his ballet Skyscrapers (1926).
I just checked that ballet and I see you are right, the banjo appears earlier then. In the context of the video the phrase sais: "being the first time in the history of the symphony that this instrument is used" so it means in the history of the symphony as a musical genre, not symphonic music in general.
@@SergioCánovasCM OK, I'll split that difference with you. :-)
virgil tomson in his work the river has used
23:22
Symphony No.1 (Flat Major) "Afro-American" by William Grant Still
1:04
2:23
4:54
10:16
11:18
12:44
13:26
22:30
4th mvt melody is so similar to holst jupiter
No.
modern symphony
Reminds me of Gershwin
It always bewilders me when I hear someone from a minority ethnic group chiding enormously talented artists for not being true to their roots. // Small-minded critics have no idea that art and music can be transcendent creative exercises. Great talents are in fact world citizens who are not intimidated by small town mentalities.
Compare this work to the “Harlem Symphony” by James P. Johnson.
Citation for artwork needed: artist and title.
Looks like the work of Thomas Hart Benton, but I don't know what the name of the piece is. It is simple yet powerful.
The title of the painting is "Aspirations" by the Afro-American painter Aaron Douglas. I found it after reading some articles about the harlem renaissance in preparation to this video.
@@SergioCánovasCM Perhaps you could edit the description above to include this information.
I updated the description to include it in the end some time ago.
@@SergioCánovasCM I'm sorry, I didn't/don't see it.
Reminiscient of Gottschalk, but more melancholic and more English-American (lots of Gershwinisms) and West African than Latin stylistically.
Even some Elgar and maybe Shostakovich.
Not so sure about any influences by Elgar and DSCH. Plenty of Gershwin and, perhaps, a touch of Gottschalk.
Don't know about the influence, he wrote this 4 years before Gershwin wrote Porgy and Bess.
@@sorartificial Could just be a coincidence.
There's a legitimate argument to be made that Gershwin actually borrowed one of Still's publicly performed riffs for the tune of "I Got Rhythm." At any rate, Still and Gershwin were contemporaries and it's realistic to assume each was influenced by the other. www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2005-08-21-0508170975-story.html
@@sorartificial Don't lie to yourself. Pay attention to the dates: Rhapsody in Blue, (1924)
, Piano Concerto in F (1925), An American in Paris (1928)
Second Rhapsody (1931), etc.
great music interrupted in middle by obnoxious ad, i refuse to listen
Get youtube red so you don’t get add
Ad blocker
I don’t hear much about African composers
Racism
... retold Gershwin plus Dvorak (american composition).
Let's be tolerant and indulgent with clones.
Similar to Asian cars: in Europe, research is done, the resistance of materials, shock tests, tests in laboratories, etc., etc., and the Chinese, Koreans, Thais, Taiwanese, Singaporeans, etc. - disassemble and copy.
The same with the creation "black heritage".
🥱
Why is George Gershwin more famous than this guy who;s way better??
Still was better at orchestra Gershwin at songs.
Symphony or Jazz? (I don't like jazz.)
I don't get this shit at all if y'all are music geniuses pls help I am going to fail
It be like that 🤣 I’m lost too
FF
I’m sorry, but I have absolutely zero appreciation for this kind of music, regardless of who wrote it. I just find it extremely boring. I’ve tried listening to many different types, but I can never maintain interest for more than a couple of minutes. My loss, I suppose, but I’m just expressing an honest opinion. ✌️
What about this music do you find so boring? Also, just because you don't enjoy something personally doesn't mean you can't appreciate it. For instance, I don't really enjoy rap, but I can appreciate the hard work some artist put into making it.
Me when I try listening to metal 😂
This is not an expressive composition. Still is nothing but a third class Gershwin...
Nobody cares about your Worthless opinion
"Still is nothing but a third class Gershwin" That statement couldn't be further from the truth as Still preceded Gershwin. You speak from sheer ignorance, both were incredible composers with vast portfolios. Gershwin even admitted he admired and got much inspiration from Still. Gershwin possibly got the idea of "I've Got Rhythm" from the 3rd movement of this symphony. Don't take my word for it, research it for yourself.
@@nickmaestro Rhapsody in Blue, (1924)
, Piano Concerto in F (1925), An American in Paris (1928)
Second Rhapsody (1931), etc. But this is not important, the fact is that Still is not a great composer.
@@Rickriquinho Those are all great pieces by Gershwin, I'm not arguing with you on that. One of my favorite pieces by Gershwin are his 3 preludes for solo piano. But once again, those 3 preludes pretty much sound like Rhapsody and the Piano Concerto. Once you hear one Gershwin piece, you've heard them all. Kind of like Chopin. You really can't say that about Still.
Still composed four operas, I think 8 ballets, 5 symphonies, and scores for radio dramas. I play with a few professional orchestras, and most recently I played "And They Lynched Him On A Tree" for orchestra, narrator, soloist and double choirs. Still is super underrated and is overshadowed by Gershwin. Much of the harmonies and rhythms Gershwin did, Still and many other composers were already doing for at least a decade. Take it with a grain of salt, as there is much I don't know about Still.
Since you are so critical of William Grant Still, how about you write something and post it?
@@nickmaestro Don't be ridiculous! This is quite typical; musicians usually can’t separate the good from the bad.