William Grant Still (1895-1978): Symphonien Nr.2 & 3
Fort Smith Symphony, John Jeter
The life and career of the African-American composer William Grant Still qualifies as the quintessential American ‘success story.’ Often referred to as the ‘dean of African-American composers,’ Still rose from humble beginnings to work as an arranger while studying composition with Chadwick and Varèse. Still embraced the blues, spirituals, jazz, and other ethnic American musics within classical forms. Wood Notes musically depicts Still’s love of nature. Symphony No. 2, the last of a trilogy of works depicting the African-American experience, presents the vision of an integrated American society, while Symphony No. 3 describes a spiritual ‘day in the life’ of a devout worshipper.
Tracklist:
1. Wood notes (1947)
1.1. 1. Singing river: Moderately slow
2.2. 2. Autumn night: Lightly
3.3. 3. Moon dusk: Slowly and expressively
4.4. 4. Whippoorwill's shoes: Humorously
5. Sinfonie Nr. 2 g-moll "Song of a New Race" (1937)
5.1. 1. Slowly
6.2. 2. Slowly and deeply expressive
7.3. 3. Moderately fast
8.4. 4. Moderately slow
9. Sinfonie Nr. 3 "The Sunday Symphony"
9.1. 1. Awakening: Moderately fast
10.2. 2. Prayer: Very slow
11.3. 3. Relaxation: Gaily
12.4. 4. Day's end and a new beginning: Resolutely
Released 2011.