Composers

William Grant Still

1895 - 1978

About

William Grant Still (1895 – 1978), born in Woodville, Mississippi, began violin lessons in grammar school at age 14 and was self-taught in clarinet, saxophone, oboe, double bass, cello, and viola. At Oberlin College, in Boston, and in New York, Still honed his compositional skills by studying with George Andrews, Friedrich Lehmann, George W. Chadwich, Edgard Varèse. Besides Duke Ellington, he stands as one of the foremost composers of the Harlem Renaissance and is its greatest art-music composer. Among his well known works: Afro-American Symphony, Songs of Separation, Plainchant for American Symphony, Seven Traceries, The Little Song That Wanted to be A Symphony, three ballets – La Guiablesse, Sahdji, and Lenox Avenue, Levee Land, and A Bayou Legend. William Grant Still’s career was filled with milestones, which marked the growth of black society and its musical language. His Afro-American Symphony was the first large work by a black composer performed by a major orchestra and was the first symphonic work to use blues and jazz; he was the first black conductor active in the deep south; he was the first black composer to have an opera performed by major U.S. company; his Bayou Legend was the first opera by a black composer to be broadcast on national television and for this, he is called the Dean of Afro-American composers. William Grant Still’s compositional output consists of all forms, including more that 25 works for large orchestra, 5 symphonies, 4 ballets, 8 works for voice and orchestra, more than a dozen chamber compositions, many pieces for keyboard and accordion, songs, music for radio groups, and soundtracks of films and television. He is recognized as one of the great American composers.

Related Information

Biographies of black composers and songwriters, international dictionary of Black composer, http://www.williamgrantstillmusic.com/BiographicalNotes.htm

Works by William Grant Still

Title Collection Voice Type Range Poet
More Lovely Than My Imagining, a Bayou Legend Arias, Duets, and Scenes from the Operas, Volume 2: Arias for Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Tenor Eb3 - Ab4 Verna Arvey
Must I Die for my Boldness? Mota Arias, Duets, and Scenes from the Operas, Volume 2: Arias for Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Tenor G3 - Bb4 Verna Arvey
Now They Will Be Coming to the Tree, A Bayou Legend Arias, Duets, and Scenes from the Operas, Volume 2: Arias for Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Mezzo-Soprano D#4 - F#5 | Optional A5 Verna Arvey
Once A Little Child, Highway 1 U.S.A. Arias, Duets, and Scenes from the Operas, Volume 2: Arias for Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Mezzo-Soprano D4 - F5 Verna Arvey
Paean Rhapsody Voice Eb4 - C6 Verna Arvey
Parted Songs of Separation Voice E4 - A5 Paul Laurence Dunbar
Pastorale Rhapsody Voice G4 - E6 Verna Arvey
Peter, Go Ring Dem Bells Twelve Negro Spirituals, Volume 2 Voice D4 - G5 Biblical
Poéme Songs of Separation Voice E4 - A5 Philippe Thoby Marcelin
Romance Rhapsody Voice E4 - B5 Verna Arvey
See the Trees, Blue Steel Arias, Duets, and Scenes from the Operas, Volume 2: Arias for Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Baritone C3 - F4 Bruce Forsythe
Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass William Grant Still: An Art Song Collection Voice Eb4 - F5 Spiritual
Song for the Lonely William Grant Still: An Art Song Collection Voice E4 - G#5 Verna Arvey
Song for the Valiant William Grant Still: An Art Song Collection Voice Eb4 - Ab5 Verna Arvey
The Drums Weave the Spell of Death. Blue Steel Arias, Duets, and Scenes from the Operas, Volume 2: Arias for Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Contralto, Soprano, SATB Chorus Bruce Forsythe
This Strange Awakening, Mota Arias, Duets, and Scenes from the Operas, Volume 2: Arias for Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Soprano G4 - A5 Verna Arvey
Tis Sunset in the Garden, Troubled Island Arias, Duets, and Scenes from the Operas, Volume 2: Arias for Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Soprano Eb4 - A5 | Optional C6 Langston Hughes
To Polish and Shine. Troubled Island Arias, Duets, and Scenes from the Operas, Volume 2: Arias for Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Contralto Langston Hughes
What Does He Know of Dreams? Highway 1 U.S.A. Arias, Duets, and Scenes from the Operas, Volume 2: Arias for Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Tenor E3 - Ab4 Verna Arvey
Who Can Tell What Fate? Mota Arias, Duets, and Scenes from the Operas, Volume 2: Arias for Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Mezzo-Soprano D4 - E5 Verna Arvey
Why Do Laugh Vuval? Troubled Island Arias, Duets, and Scenes from the Operas, Volume 2: Arias for Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Baritone D3 - D4 Langston Hughes
Title Published Size Solo with Ensemble Duration Range Level Orchestration
Legend Yes Full Orchestra Professional 3(2nd=picc).2+EH.3.2/4.3.3.1/timp+2 (trian., tamb., marimba, cymbs., tom-toms)/ hp, cel / str
Levee Land Yes Full Orchestra Soprano 10-20 Professional 0.0.3.1+alto sax/drums, ten. banjo, pno., 2 v., sop.
Lift Every Voice and Sing Yes String Orchestra | Chamber+Chorus Professional fl., pno., str., chr
Little Red Schoolhouse Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2( 2nd ad picc. )-2( 2nd ad EH )-2( 2nd ad ba. cl. )-2; 3-3-2-1; timp., bells, trian., cymbs., wood blk., drums, hp., cel., str..
Log Cabin Ballads No Professional
Los Alnados de Espana Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2/4.3.3.1/timp+2 perc (claves, castanets, bells, glock., xylo., trian., cymbs) / hp, cel / str
Miniature Overture Yes Full Orchestra Under 5 Professional 3.2+EH.3.2/ 4.3.3.1 / timp+2perc (trian., glock., xylo., drums, cymbs) / hp / str
Mother and Child Yes String Orchestra 5-10 Professional str
Old California Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.3/4.3.3.1/timp+2perc (claves, vibrap., chime, res. bell, maracas, castenets, tamb., costume bells, gong, drums, tom-tom, cymbs) /hp / str
Out of the Silence Yes String Orchestra | Chamber 5-10 Collegiate or above flute, piano and string orchestra, or piano and str.
Pages From a Mother's Diary Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2(2nd=picc). 2 (2nd=EH).2 (2nd=bcl).2/3.3.2.1/timp+2 (bells, trian., cymbs., wood blk., drums) / hp, cel / str
Pages From Negro History Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2.2.2.2+asax, tensax/ 4.2.3.1/ perc / hp, pno / str
Pastorela Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2/4.3.3.1/ timp+1 (chimes, cymbs) / hp /str (+ solo violin)
Patterns Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2picc.2+EH.2.2/ 2.0.0.0/ str.
Plain-Chant for America Yes Full Orchestra +Chorus 10-20 Professional 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2/4.3.3.1/timp+2 (drums, cymbs.)/ hp/ str + SATB Chorus
Plain-Chant for America Yes Full Orchestra Baritone 10-20 Professional 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2/4.3.3.1/timp+2 (drums, cymbs.)/ hp/ str + Baritone soloist
Poem for Orchestra Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3(2nd&3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2 (2nd=contra)/4.3.3.1/ timp+perc/ hp, cel/ str
Preludes Yes String Orchestra | Chamber 10-20 Professional string orchestra, flute, pno.
Preludes 1-5 Yes String Orchestra | Chamber Piano Professional fl., str., pno
Promised Land Yes Full Orchestra Piano Professional
Puritan Epic No Professional
Quit Dat Fool'nish Yes Full Orchestra Under 5 Professional 2.2.2.2+sax/3.2.2.0/timp/hp/str
Rhapsody Yes Full Orchestra + Chorus 10-20 Professional 2.2+2EH.2.2/3.3.2.1/timp+2 (sm. trian., bell, cymbs)/hp, cel/ str+ SATB Chorus
Rhapsody Yes Full Orchestra Soprano 10-20 Professional 2.2+2EH.2.2/3.3.2.1/timp+2 (sm. trian., bell, cymbs)/hp, cel/ str+ sop. soloist
Romance Yes Full Orchestra Saxophone Under 5 Professional 2.2.2.2+sax/2.0.2.0/hp/str
Sahdji Yes Full Orchestra Bass 20+ Professional 2+2picc.2+EH.2+Eb+bc.2/4.2.2.1/timp+2/str
Serenade Yes String Orchestra Violin 5-10 Professional string orchestra, pno., solo violin.
Serenade Yes Full Orchestra Violin 5-10 Professional 2(2nd=picc).2.2.2/3.2.2.1/2perc (bells, cymbs., glock)/ hp /str
Song for the Lonley Yes Full Orchestra Under 5 Professional 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2/4.3.3.1/ timp +2 (bells, chime, cymbs., drums) / hp, cel / str
Songs of the Oak Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3(3rd=picc.).2+EH.4.2 / 4.3.3.1; timp. + 2 perc. (drums, 3 tom-toms, wood block, gourd, vibrap., wire brush, bells, cymbs) / hp / pno, cel/ str.
Spirituals: A Medley Yes Full Orchestra Professional 1.0.2.1/0.0.0.0/hp, pno/str
Suite for Violin and Orchestra Yes Full Orchestra Violin 10-20 Professional 2.1+EH.2+bass.2+contra/4.3.3.1/Timp+1perc/harp/cel/str
Summerland Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Collegiate or above 1.1.2.1/2.2.1.0/drums/str
Symphony No. 1 (The Afro-American Symphony) Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3.2+EH.4.2/4.3.3.1/timp+2 (vib., trian., wire brush, drums, cymbs)/hp, cel/ str
Symphony No. 2 in G Minor Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.4.2/4.3.3.1/ timp+1/ cel, hp/str
Symphony No. 3 (The Sunday Symphony) Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2/4.3.3.1/timp+2 (bells, trian., tamb., drums, 3 tom-toms, cymbs) /cel, hp/ str
Symphony No. 4 (Autochthonous Symphony) Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2 (2nd=contra)/4.3.3.1/timp+3 (glock., res. bell in G, trian., wire brush, drums, military drum, cymbs., gong) / hp, cel / str
Symphony No. 4 (Third movement for youth orchestra) Yes Full Orchestra Professional 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2 (2nd=contra)/4.3.3.1/timp+2 (glock., res. bell in G, trian., wire brush, drums, military drum, cymbs., gong)/ hp, cel /str
Symphony No. 5 (The Western Hemisphere) Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3( 3rd ad. picc.) -2-EH-3-2; 4-3-3-1; timp., bells, chime, marimbap., sn. drum, cymbs., hp., cel., str..
Texas Moaner Blues Yes Full Orchestra Professional
The American Scene Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3(3rd = picc.).2+EH.3.2(2nd = contra.) /4.3.3.1 / timp. +3 perc (maracas, claves, castanets, rattle, glock., bells, chimes, trian., tamb., xylo., drums, tom-tom, cymbs gong) / hp, cel / str.
The Black Man Dances Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 1.1.1.0 + 3 sax/1.2.1.1/ 1 perc (bells, drums) / pno, guitar/ str
The Blues Yes Full Orchestra Violin Under 5 Professional 1.1.3.2 + 4 sax/2.2.1.0 / 1perc (drums)/ str + solo violin
The Devotion of a People No Full Orchestra Piano Professional
The Little Song that Wanted to be a Symphony Yes Full Orchestra Narrator, Soprano, Soprano, Soprano 10-20 Professional 2(2nd=picc).2 (2nd=EH).2.2./3.3.2.1/timp+3 (bells, glock., xylo., slap stick, maracas, castanets, trian., tamb., wood blk., drums, cymbs)/hp,cel/str + narrator, 3 sop., or str. substit.
The Path of Glory Yes Full Orchestra Bass-Baritone 10-20 Professional 3.2+EH.3.2/4.3.3.1/timp+1/hp/str + bass bar. soloist.
The Peaceful Land Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 2.2.2.2/3.2.2.1/hp/str
The Phantom Chapel Yes Full Orchestra Under 5 Professional 1.2.1.1/2.1.0.0/perc/str
The Phantom Chapel Yes String Orchestra Cello Under 5 Professional Strings, pno
Three Dances from La Guiablesse Yes Full Orchestra Professional 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2/4.3.3.1/timp+1/hp/str