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SS 24.06.23 - Still - Symphony No. 1 "Afro-American"

2.2K views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  leonsm  
#1 ·
A continuation of the Saturday Symphonies Tradition:

Welcome to another weekend of symphonic listening!

For your listening pleasure this weekend:

William Grant Still (1895 – 1978)

Symphony No. 1 "Afro-American"


I. Moderato assai
II. Adagio
III. Animato
IV. Lento, con risoluzione




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Post what recording you are going to listen to giving details of Orchestra / Conductor / Chorus / Soloists etc - Enjoy!
 
#5 ·
Love this symphony...great tunes, beautiful scoring. Who else wrote a banjo part in a symphony? The music is so honest and deeply felt. I'll put it on in the newest recording; with Kellen Gray and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra on the LInn label. That way I get the Dawson Negro Folk Symphony as a bonus!
 
#9 · (Edited)
Image

London Symphony Orchestra
Paul Freeman

Columbia / Sony
1974 / 2019

I noticed Paul Freeman conducted Still's symphony some 30 years before the recording I posted earlier, now included in Sony's 10-disc Black Composers Series. Thought I would give it a listen as well.