Symphony No.3 "Sunday Symphony" - William Grant Still
Музыка
Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Jeter.
I - The Awakening. Moderately fast: 0:00
II - Prayer. Very slowly: 3:45
III - Relaxation. Gaily: 10:16
IV - Day's End and a new beginning. Resolutely: 12:43
Still's Symphony No.3 was composed in 1958, being actually his last but later renumbered as No.3. It was premiered during the William Grant Still Festival on February 12 of 1984, performed by the North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra conducted by Carlton Woods.
Still was a very devout man, to the point of dedicating works to God. Symphony No.3 is a programmatic work that depicts the Sunday life of "a devout worshipper". Composed in four movements, "with titles suggesting the activities carried out on a typical Sunday, from waking up to the end of the day". Overall, the music expresses the composer's religious beliefs, "each day being a new opportunity to serve the creator".
The first movement is monothematic in form. It opens with a brief fanfare, leading us to a joyful and rhythmic theme. It is actively developed throughout the orchestra with percussion punctuation in "call and response" fashion. Specially colourful woodwind writing enhances and offsets the forceful outbursts. A vivacious coda ends the movement.
The second movement is written in form of an arch. It begins with a lyrical main theme in form of a blues, presented by the English horn as a sign of prayer. The music grows more passionate and expressive, reaching a solemn climax in the middle part. The main theme is then calmly recapitulated by the English horn. A sober coda ends the movement.
The third movement is a short scherzo in monothematic form. It opens with a cheerful and lively main theme in form of a dance. It is answered by rapid staccato "chattering" of brass and percussion. The theme is repeated in its original form, leading us to a sudden cut-off ending instead of a coda.
The fourth movement is structured in ternary form. It begins with a resolute main theme, derived from the work's opening fanfare. In the central part, a lyrical second theme in form of a blues is presented by strings. The music rises in a romantic climax, before the main theme is energetically recapitulated. A decided coda ends the work firmly.
Picture: "Gullah Country Church" by the Afro-American painter John W. Jones.
Musical analysis partially written by myself. Source: bit.ly/3Ibst11
Unfortunately the score is not available.
Пікірлер: 42
Still is one of America's unsung Treasures. I'm so happy to know of him.
@rudolphkopp9902
3 жыл бұрын
We fully agree. Still also worked in Hollywood, where he orchestrated for Dimitri Tiomkin among others. Rudolph G Kopp thought highly of him.
I just heard this on the radio and I'm blown away at how soulful this sounds Omg I will be playing this for life
A symphony in the American tradition. A delight to listen to.
I had never heard of William Grant Stills until Classic FM payed a movement from his 4th Symphony today. What a joy to discover his music
@deelightful6124
2 жыл бұрын
I just heard it on Chicago classical music station today on a Sunday , I know about Grant Still but had never heard this work ... delightful and hauntingly beautiful in the second movement
Still had a very good ear. His creations make musical sense from beginning to end. They are also very attractive and audience friendly.
His music makes you feel like a conductor. Love it.
he’s a great composer i love him! everyone should hear his work
A great little known composer. Listen to his 2nd Symphony, especially its last movement, one of the greatest pieces of serious music written by an American. I would say it was one of the three greatest American symphonies, along with Copland 3 and Hansen"s 2 The Romantic.
This really helped. I have the pleasure of being able to perform this with the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra on May 29th. thanks for the score.
@victorhumphrey131
2 жыл бұрын
Yup, it's a good one. I also perform in the St. Louis Youth Orchestra.
I just Met his Daughter Judith...she is 80 years old..and sharp as a tack and funny.
So beautiful ...
Great Americana music! Masterfully orchestrated and great harmonies, use of folk tunes, and rhythmically catchy.
friend thank you very much for uploading these great works.
@SergioCánovasCM
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your kind words
I really like this. It sounds like jazz with a touch of Prokofiev. Dvorak wrote that American composers should use folk music as a source for composition, and Still does so, mining black music and striking gold. I am beginning to like him as much as Aaron Copeland.
@niclacy4048
Жыл бұрын
what do you mean by “mining” black music?
@thomassnider6691
Жыл бұрын
@@niclacy4048 I mean using it as the source material for the composition, for example taking a gospel song and fleshing out its themes and motifs.
I am glad to have been given a chance to listen to this work.
Wonderful Thank you so much for uploading this amazing music
A new delight for me. Thank you, Sergio!
Very beautiful!!🌹🌻🌼 Greetings from Miami. 🌞
Nice.
I've been enjoying all four symphonies over the past month or so. I never knew of Still until his 2nd was played on our local classical station in Sacramento. I got in in mid-stream and didn't know what I was listening to. I reckoned it might be a Gershwin I wasn't familiar with. And there is alot of "correspondence" betw. the two composers.
@marccaroul4123
2 жыл бұрын
He has 5 symphonies. Be sure to check out the fifth. I can also recommend the Africa symphonic poem and "Mother and Child" which is part of a suite for violin and piano
@niclacy4048
Жыл бұрын
isnt there a discrepancy concerning the origin of the tune for “i’ve got music” between still and gershwin?
A beautiful and charming work. Thks for sharing it.
He is also apart of the greatest Fraternity known to God and man.......Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. #Achievement My brother in the bond!!!
One of America's finest composers. Yes, 'Black Composer's Lives Matter Too'.
His music is wonderful.. Anybody know who the artist is that painted the work that is posted with the video/music?
@SergioCánovasCM
4 жыл бұрын
The title is "Gullah Country Church" by the Afro-American painter John W. Jones.
@PatrickSDuffy
4 жыл бұрын
@@SergioCánovasCM Thank you, Sergio!
@PatrickSDuffy
4 жыл бұрын
If you are on FB check my page.. I have a music group page too
@SergioCánovasCM
4 жыл бұрын
@@PatrickSDuffy Unfortunately I don't use almost any kind of social media, but thanks for your interest! If you want to contact me you can send me a message to my email (sergiocanovasf@gmail.com)
Is it correct that Still composed this work in Mission Viejo, California, in light of the fact that the composer's granddaughter wrote, in a comment on another one of your KZread videos, that "He never lived or worked in Mission Viejo. His daughter, my mom, did." ?
@SergioCánovasCM
2 жыл бұрын
She said that part was wrong so I deleted that of the text, in this video as well.
bringgggggggggggggggg
Still mines similiarly "American" sentiment in a manner Copland did to much greater acclaim. Ives was way more sophisticated and astute composer than Still and Copland. And so what. For my ear Still is superior to Copland.
@cagrantsmom
3 жыл бұрын
I would strongly disagree that Ives is somehow more sophisticated than Still. Still used, almost exclusively, original melodies instead of using folk tunes like Copland. And he was perhaps the best orchestrator the US produced in the 20th century. Plus, his piano works and chamber works are masterful. He wrote more than 200 pieces and they are worth deeper study.
@niclacy4048
Жыл бұрын
still used folk melodies…? just bc they’re mostly familiar to the descendants of enslaved people doesnt make them any less of the folk variety?