Composers
William Grant Still
1895 - 1978About
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 | Published | Size | Solo with Ensemble | Duration Range | Level | Orchestration |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A Deserted Plantation (version 1) | Yes | Full Orchestra | Piano | 10-20 | Professional | 2.2+EH.4.1 +4 sax/1.3.3.1/timp + 1/banjo+guitar /hp, pno/str |
A Deserted Plantation (version 2) | Yes | Full Orchestra | Two Pianos | 10-20 | Professional | 1.1+EH.3.0+4 sax/0.3.3.1 / 1 perc /banjo+guitar/cel, 2 pianos/ str |
A New Orleans Street | Yes | Full Orchestra | Professional | picc., 2 ob., 2 clar., 2 bass., 2 hrns., hp., pno., str. Quintet( 2 v., vio., ce., ba. ). | ||
A Psalm for the Living | Yes | Full Orchestra + Chorus | Professional | 2.2.2.2/4.2.2.1/1perc/hp/pno/str + SATB Chorus | ||
A Song at Dusk | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2/4.3.3.1/timp+2 (bells, chime, cymbs., drums)/hp, cel / str | |
Africa (I. Land of Peace II. Land of Romance III. Land of Superstition) | No | Full Orchestra | Professional | 3(3rd=picc.).2+EH.4.2 / 4.3.3.1 / timp. + 3 perc. (drums, 3 tom-toms, wood block, gourd, vibrap., wire brush, bells, cymbs.) / hp. / pno. / cel. / str. | ||
After You've Gone | Yes | Full Orchestra | Option for solo vocalist | Professional | 2(3rd= picc.).2+EH.3.2 / 4 sax/ 4.4.4.1 / timp. +1 perc. / hp., pno, banjo, bass / str. | |
All That I Am | Yes | Full Orchestra + Chorus | Under 5 | Professional | 2.2.3.1/3.2.3.0/hp/str + SATB chorus | |
America: A Vision | Yes | Full Orchestra | Professional | 3.2+EH.3.2 / 4.3.3.0 / timp. + drums / hp. / pno. / str. | ||
And They Lynched Him on a Tree | Yes | Full Orchestra + Chorus | Contralto, Baritone | 10-20 | Professional | 2(2nd=picc).2+EH.2.2./3.3.3.1/timp+1 (susp. cymb)/ hp / str + double mixed chorus, SATB, narrator, cont. soloist. |
Archaic Ritual | Yes | Full Orchestra | 20+ | Professional | 3(3rd picc.).2+EH.3.2(2=contra.) /4.3.3.1 / timp. +2 perc (bells, res. bells in G D, chimes, drums, 3 tom-toms, cymbs., gong) /hp, cel / str. | |
Ballet Music | Yes | Chamber | Professional | fl (ad piccolo), oboe, piano, str | ||
Bells | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 3(3rd=picc.).2+EH.4.3(3rd=contrab.); 4.3.3.1/timp.+2 (bells, vibrap., chimes, cymbs.) hp, pno, cel, str | |
Beyond Tomorrow | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 3( 3rd=picc.).2+EH.3.2/ 4.3.3.1/ timp.+ 2 (bells, chime, cymbs., drums)/hp, cel/ str | |
Black Bottom | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 3(3rd=picc).1.3.2/2.3.2.1/ timp. +2 (gourd, slap stick, bells, drums, cymbs) / str. | |
Black Pierrot | Yes | Full Orchestra | Under 5 | Professional | 2.2.2.2/3.1.2.1/ hp, cel / str | |
Can'tcha Line Em | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 1.1.2.1/ 2.2.1.0/ perc / str | |
Carmela | Yes | Full Orchestra | Viola | Professional | 2.2.2.2/2.2.0.0 / timp+1 (castanets) /hp ,pno/ str + solo viola | |
Carribean Melodies | Yes | Full Orchestra + Chorus | Soprano, Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Contralto, Tenor, Baritone | 20+ | Professional | drums, tom-toms, vegetable grater, rattle, pno., chorus, SATBB, dancers, 6 soloists ( 2 sop., mezzo, cont., ten., bar. ) |
Choreographic Prelude | Yes | Full Orchestra | Professional | 2(2nd=picc).2.2.2/3.2.2.1/timp+2 (tamb., conga drum, cymb.)/ hp/ str.; or fl. / pno / str | ||
Christmas in the Western World | Yes | String Orchestra |Chamber + Chorus | 20+ | Professional | string orchestra, pno., chorus; or, quartet, pno., chorus. | |
Citadel | Yes | String Orchestra | Chamber | Soprano | Under 5 | Professional | string orchestra, pno., voice. |
Dances in the Canebrakes (Orch. of work by Florence Price) | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 2.2.2.2 +altosax/ 3.3.2.0/ timp + perc/ harp/ str | |
Danse Barbare | Yes | Full Orchestra | Professional | 2(2nd=picc).2.2.2 + 2 sax/ 4.2.3.1 / 1 perc / ten banjo / string quintet | ||
Danzas de Panama | Yes | String Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | str | |
Dark Madonna | Yes | Full Orchestra | Professional | 2.2.2.2+3 sax / 4.2.3.1/ timp +1 (drums) / ten banjo/ str | ||
Darker America | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 2.1+EH.2.2 / 1.1.1.0 / 1 perc (cymb., bd) / pno / str | |
Dismal Swamp | Yes | Full Orchestra | Piano | 10-20 | Professional | 3 [1.2.3/Pic] 3 [2+EH] 4 3 [1.2.contra] – 4331 – Timp +2 (vibrap., trian., drums, cymbs) – str + piano solo |
Ebon Chronicle | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 3(3rd =picc).2+EH.4.3 (3rd=contra)/ 4.3.3.1/ timp+ 3 perc ( vibrap., temple blks., wire brush, wind machine, glock., drums, 2 tom-toms, cymbs) /hp / str | |
Ennanga | Yes | String Orchestra | Harp | 10-20 | Professional | str / hrp / piano |
Entrance of Les Porteuses | Yes | String Orchestra | Professional | str | ||
Fanfare for American War Heroes | Yes | Full Orchestra | Under 5 | Professional | 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2/4.3.3.1 / timp + 1 (susp cmb) / hp / str | |
Festival Overture | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2 / 4.3.3.1 / timp +3 (bells, resonator bells, chimes, xylo., marimbap., trian., greeko cymb., cymbs., tamb., sn. drum, military drum) / hp, cel / str. | |
Florida Blues | Yes | Full Orchestra | Professional | 1.0.1.0 /0.2(cornets).1.0 / 2 perc (drums, cymbs., trian., block.) /pno / str | ||
From a Lost Continent | Yes | Full Orchestra + Chorus | Soprano, Tenor | 10-20 | Professional | 2.1.2.2/0.0.0.0/timp + 3 (bells, chime, trian., maracas, sn. drum, tom-tom, susp. cymb) / hp / str + SATB Chorus, soprano and tenor soloists |
From the Black Belt | Yes | Full Orchestra | 20+ | Professional | 2.1.3.1/3.3.0.0 / timp + 1 perc / hp, cel / str | |
From the Gaiety of People | No | Professional | ||||
From the Heart of a Believer | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 3(3rd=picc)2+EH.3.3(3rd=contra)/ 4.3.3.1/ timp+2 (drums, cymbs., gong, trian., glock) / cel / str. ( Small bore trombones preferable. ) | |
From the Hearts of Women | Yes | Full Orchestra | Soprano | 5-10 | Professional | string orchestra, hp., sop.; or, fl., ob., pno., quartet, sop. |
From the Land of Dreams | No | Professional | ||||
Glory to the Newborn King | Yes | String Orchestra | Chamber | Professional | string orchestra, pno., chorus, SATB. | ||
Grief (Weeping Angel) | Yes | Full Orchestra | Soprano | Professional | 2.2.2.2/3.0.2.1/cel,hp/str + soprano soloist | |
Here's One | Yes | String Orchestra | Chamber + Chorus | Mezzo-soprano | Under 5 | Professional | fl., pno., str / chorus, SATB |
Here's One | Yes | String Orchestra | Chamber | Mezzo-soprano | Under 5 | Professional | fl., pno., str + mezzo soloist |
Here's One: A Still Medley | Yes | Full Orchestra | Mezzo-soprano | Baritone | Under 5 | Professional | 2.1+EH.2.2/2.2.2.1/timp+2 (cymb., sn. dr)/ hp. or pno/str + mezzo or bar. soloist. |
If You Should Go | Yes | Full Orchestra | Soprano | Under 5 | Professional | 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2 / 4.0.3.1 / timp + susp. cymb / hp, cel, str (soprano soloist) |
In Memorium: The Colored Soldiers Who Died for Democracy | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.3.2/4.3.3.1/ timp +2 perc (chimes, drums, cymbs) / hp / str | |
Jungle Drums | Yes | Full Orchestra + Chorus | Professional | orchestra and choir | ||
Kaintuck' | Yes | Full Orchestra | Piano | 10-20 | Professional | 3(3rd=picc).2+EH.4.2/4.3.3.1/timp+1/str + solo piano |
La Guiablesse | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 3[1.2.3/pic] 2[1.2/Eh]2[1.2/Bcl]2-4331-timp-perc-harp-str |
Composer | Title | Work | Instrumentation | Level | Number of Movements | Accompanied | Size | Duration Range |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
William Grant Still | A Bit of Wit | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | African Drums | Piano | 3 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Cloud Cradles | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Dark Horsemen | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Fairy Knoll | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Marionette | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Muted Laughter | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Mystic Pool | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Out of the Silence | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Phantom Chapel | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Prelude | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Quit Dat Fool'nish | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Radiant Pinnacle | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Summerland | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Swanee River | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Wailing Dawn | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
William Grant Still | Woven Silver | Piano | 1 | No | Solo |