This Day in 1931, William Grant Still’s Afro-American Symphony Premiered

On this date in 1931, African-American composer William Grant Stills’ Afro-American Symphony premiered. Of his nearly 150 artistic contributions, it was the Afro-American Symphony that established William Grant Still’s reputation worldwide. This landmark work was premiered by Howard Hanson with the Rochester (N.Y.) Symphony. It rapidly established itself in the repertoire, including the New York Philharmonic performance at Carnegie Hall and performances by 34 other American orchestras in the 1930s alone.

“I knew I wanted to write a symphony; I knew that it had to be an American work; and I wanted to demonstrate how the blues, so often considered a lowly expression, could be elevated to the highest musical level,” Still said of the Afro-American Symphony.

A major genre of African-American music, dance music, which encompasses ragtime and jazz, is celebrated with distinctive syncopated cross-rhythms and ‘backbeat’ figures. The use of the banjo (the first use of the instrument in a symphony) adds local color to the festive atmosphere.

Revisit this wonderful contribution to the cross pollination of Jazz and Western Art Music with this superb the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Neeme Järvi.