William Grant Still - Afro-American Symphony (1958)

"Afro-American Symphony: I. Moderato Assai - Longing" by William Grant Still


On some of Fletcher Henderson's Dance Orchestra recordings, one can hear the rare oboe played by a young William Grant Still.  William Grant Still eventually moved out of the itinerant jazz ranks into the important role of music arranger for different band leaders, radio shows and films.  Still also composed, and his Afro-American Symphony became the first "complete score of a work composed by an African American" performed by a major orchestra (the Rochester Philharmonic) in 1931.  The first recording of Still's classic took a while longer, but a recording by the Orchestra of the Vienna Opera released in 1958 on AAO New Records.

Here is the discography surrounding William Grant Still's earliest recordings:

Lenox Avenue (1937 recording)
Old California (1945 recording)
Afro-American Symphony
Sahdji Ballet (1960 recording)

"Old California" by William Grant Still


"Sahdji Ballet" by William Grant Still


Pass the Headphones!!