Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

May 11, 1895 in Woodville, MS

Death

:

December 3, 1978 in Los Angeles, CA

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

William Grant Still was an American composer who was born on May 11, 1895, in Mississippi. He was the son of two teachers, and his mother was a musician who played the organ and piano. Still's parents separated when he was young, and he moved with his mother to Little Rock, Arkansas. It was there that he began his musical education, studying the violin and later the oboe. Still's talent as a musician was evident from a young age, and he quickly became a sought-after performer in Little Rock. He played in local orchestras and bands, and he also began composing his own music. In 1911, Still moved to Little Rock to attend Wilberforce University, where he studied composition and conducting. After graduating from Wilberforce, Still moved to New York City to pursue a career in music. He played in various orchestras and bands, and he also worked as an arranger and composer for radio and film. In 1921, Still became the first African American to conduct a symphony orchestra in the United States when he led the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Throughout his career, Still composed a wide variety of music, including operas, ballets, symphonies, and chamber music. He was known for his use of traditional African American musical forms, such as the blues and spirituals, in his compositions. Still's music was also influenced by his experiences as an African American living in the United States during a time of racial segregation and discrimination. One of Still's most famous works is his Symphony No. 1, "Afro-American," which he composed in 1930. The symphony was the first by an African American composer to be performed by a major symphony orchestra in the United States. The piece incorporates elements of African American music, including blues and spirituals, and it was praised for its originality and beauty. Still continued to compose throughout his life, and he was recognized as one of the most important American composers of the 20th century. He received numerous awards and honors, including the Guggenheim Fellowship and the NAACP's Spingarn Medal. Still died on December 3, 1978, in Los Angeles, California, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking music that continues to inspire and influence musicians today.

More....