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Presenting the life and professional career of "The Dean of Afro-American Composers," this is the first comprehensive book on the writings by and about Still, the compositions with manuscript sources, the performances of Still's works, and the reviews of those performances. It includes a touching personal reminiscence by his daughter Judith Anne. The full resources of the extensive collection known as The William Grant Still and Verna Arvey Papers at the University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, give this book the distinction of being the first one about Still that utilizes diaries, letters, scrapbooks, and family papers to provide information on his works and performances. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Still Biobibliography
Carolyn Quin's biographical sketch is particularly useful.Her compilation of the musical works, major performances, and contemporary critical commentary on them is very valuable.The book is not easy to use, however.Still's musical works are listed alphabetically by title, but there is no chronological list, and the book's index does not include the music, a frustrating omission.There are no running headers, making it hard to spot the titles of works onthe page.The list of Still's commercial arrangements, an area of his work that has drawn more attention in recent years, is provisional and incomplete.Dabrishus's bibliography of writings by Still and Verna Arvey (Still's second wife) does not include numerous writings by Arvey that aren't about Still.Despite its shortcomings, this book is essential for researchers on Still.I reviewed this book for *College Music Symposium* almost ten years ago; my opinion hasn't changed.Like most Greenwood titles, it's overpriced, now $20 over the original list.

William Grant Still, is one of the best composers in history
I think this book, is very wonderful. If you need some information about him, or just want to study about him this is the book for it. This BOOK is very GOOd. ... Read more

Product Description
During the 1930s and 1940s William Grant Still (18951978) was known as the "Dean of Afro-American Composers." He worked as an arranger for early radio, on Broadway, and in Hollywood; major symphony orchestras performed his concert works; and an opera, written in collaboration with Langston Hughes, was produced by the New York City Opera. Despite these successes the composers name gradually faded into obscurity. This book brings William Grant Still out of the archives and examines his place in America's musical heritage. It also provides a revealing window into our recent cultural past.

Until now Stills profound musical creativity and cultural awareness have been obscured by the controversies that dogged much of his personal and professional life. New topics explored by Catherine Parsons Smith and her contributors include the genesis of the Afro American Symphony, Still's best-known work; his troubled years in film and opera; and his outspoken anticommunism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

research resource
Thank goodness at last a new source for info on Wm. Grant Still.This material will surprise the reader with its insightful revelations. A pleasure to discover.I recommend it to all those interested and those whohave not as yet discovered Wm Grant Still. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Best Book About Still for Young Readers
This book is clear, concise and engaging.It doesn't skirt issues of race - it explores the obstacles Still faced in both the white and black communities. Highly recommended.

Of William's determination and of his many achievements
William Grant Still grew up the grandson of slaves in the segregated South: he knew he wanted to be a classical musician, but his mother wanted him to become a doctor and doubted his ability to achieve in the white-dominated classical music world. This biograhy for young readers tells of William's determination and of his many achievements, with a little over 100 pages including black and white photos throguhout. ... Read more

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William Grant Still (1895–1978) dreamed of a world in which his eight operas—for him the ultimate form of musical expression—would be heard in the major opera houses in the United States, devoting most of his career toward the pursuit of this goal.



The first part of I Dream a World creates a context for Still’s operas and explores commonalities among them, including structural elements and musical characteristics. The second part traces the research, composition, and perform-ances of the operas as a way of documenting the history of the composer and his contributions to American opera.



Although I Dream a World is not intentionally biographical, it is very pers-onal. It is more than the story of William Grant Still’s love of operatic music, of the libretti that reflect his own life and philosophy, and of the world he dreamed through his work. It opens a window on Still the man as well as on Still the composer that offers important insights into the social milieu of this pioneering figure. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the ultimate resource book on thecomposer/conductor, William Grant Still.This book includesbiographical information with personal insights from the composer andhis wife, a complete catalog of works, including thematic materialfrom the composer's private papers, scholarly contributions fromHoward Hanson, Donald Dorr, Miriam Matthews and others, Still'sarticle on orchestration, now used in many music composition courses,and personal memories of the composer from Judith Anne Still, ReverendMcGehee, Grant D. Venerable II and others.This is a must for everymusic and history library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Helping to make Still's place in American music
William Grant Still (1895 - 1978) is considered the "Dean of Afro-American Composers." (Though his daughter Judith Anne Still writes in another book, William Grant Still: A Voice High-Sounding p. 206, that he responded to this "Why, then, isn't Aaron Copeleand called the 'Dean of White Composers'?") This far-ranging collection of essays about Still's life, passions, ideas and musical works was originally published in 1972, six years before Still's death. It was reissued on the anniversary of his birth. Some of the essays I found most interesting discuss "black music" and the expectations placed upon a non-white composer to be "ethnic." ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

William Grant Still--
A masterful musical and socio/political analysis that shows the importance of understanding the context of music in America. Smith tackles the difficult issues raised by Still's life and the racial and political climate that made the reception of his work so limited while demonstrating the richness and importance of his music. An honest but careful treatment of a complicated family history. This is an invaluable addition to the Still literature that will lead to much greater understanding and--one hopes--broader use of his work. Might it even help to erode the resistance to the work of classical African-American composers and performers that persists today? ... Read more

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This is the story of America's first Black composer ofserious orchestal and operatic work.William Grant Still was thefirst Black composer in the US to have a symphony performed by a majorsymphony orchestra, the first to have an opera produced by a majorcompany in America and the first to conduct a major Americanorchestra.True to the promise he carried forward from his remarkableparents and grandparents, he helped his generation to shape the worldof music.His spiritual convictions, his explorations of the occult,his courage during dark periods, his relationships to the luminousnames in music during his lifetime, his bond to a racially-mixedfamily and, through it all, his dedication to the music he believedin, come together in a fascinating tale of live, aspiration, intrigue,disappointment and triumph.It is told from the perspective of thewoman who shared most of that life.It is a requiem, a love story, alog of a terrible and marvelous journey, a proclamation and apromise. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History, 2nd ed., brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 382 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.The Early Civilizations in the Americas Reference Library provides a comprehensive overview of the history of the regions of the American continents in which two of the world's first civilizations developed: Mesoamerica (the name for the lands in which ancient civilizations arose in Central America and Mexico) and the Andes Mountains region of South America (in present-day Peru and parts of Bolivia, northern Argentina, and Ecuador). In both regions, the history of civilization goes back thousands of years. ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! William Grant Still (May 11, 1895 - December 3, 1978) was an African-American classical composer who wrote more than 150 compositions. He was the first African-American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony of his own (his first 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. He is often referred to as "the dean" of African-American composers. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Notes, published by Music Library Association, Inc. on September 1, 2001. The length of the article is 1106 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: William Grant Still: A Study in Contradictions.(Review)
Author: Josephine Wright
Publication: Notes (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 2001
Publisher: Music Library Association, Inc.
Volume: 58Issue: 1Page: 103

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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Chapters: Scott Joplin, Henry Threadgill, Cynthia Cozette Lee, William Grant Still, List of Composers of African Descent, Michael Abels, Zenobia Powell Perry, Maurice Arnold Strothotte, Julius Eastman, Leslie Dunner, Leonard de Paur, Muhsinah, Diedre Murray, David Baker, Clarence Cameron White, Marvin Peterson, Ulysses Kay, Will Marion Cook, Pamela Z, Anthony Davis, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Olly Wilson, Kenneth Amis, Undine Smith Moore, Hale Smith, Adolphus Hailstork, Jeffrey Mumford, Scott Hayden, George Walker, Arthur Cunningham, Julia Perry, Arthur Marshall, Alvin Singleton. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 138. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Scott Joplin (between July 1867 and January 1868 April 1, 1917) was an African American composer and pianist, born near Texarkana, Texas, into the first post-slavery generation. He achieved fame for his unique ragtime compositions, and was dubbed the "King of Ragtime." During his brief career, Joplin wrote 44 original ragtime pieces, one ragtime ballet, and two operas. One of his first pieces, the Maple Leaf Rag, became ragtime's first and most influential hit, and remained so for a century. He was "blessed with an amazing ability to improvise at the piano," writes opera historian Elise Kirk, and was able to enlarge his talent "with the music he heard around him," which was rich with the sounds of gospel hymns and spirituals, dance music, plantation songs, syncopated rhythms, blues, and choruses. After he studied music with several local teachers, his talent was noticed by a German immigrant music teacher, Julius Weiss, who chose to give the 11-year-old boy lessons free of charge. Joplin was taught music theory, keyboard technique, and an appreciation of various European music styles, such as folk and opera. As an adult, Joplin also stu...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=29603 ... Read more