Poem For Orchestra by William Grant Still - John McLaughlin Williams
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ม.ค. 2012
- A live performance of one of William Grant Still's major orchestral works by John McLaughlin Williams, Conductor, and the Cleveland Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra. An interesting feature of the Poem is the heightened intensity of expression, particularly in the first half of the work. Still is thought of as a primarily lyrical composer, yet he was capable of creating dramatic passages of febrile impact. Still's wife, Verna Arvey, described the Poem as "inspired by the concept of a world being reborn spiritually after a period of darkness and desolation", which is in keeping with the dark and foreboding mood established at the beginning of this work. In the Poem Still creates a climax of nearly expressionistic angst, and through the concluding melodic section the composer maintains an underlying feeling of uncertainty. That Still had an individual and original compositional voice is undeniable, and through this somewhat uncharacteristic work the composer's voice shines through magnificently.
One of the photos is of Still with a roomful of the greatest hollywood composers and musicians of that time. Seated L to R: Franz Waxman, Dimitri Tiomkin, Meredith Willson, Bramwell Coles, Earl Lawrence, Wm. Grant Still. Standing L to R: Abe Meyer, Leith Stevens, Wm. Broughton, Anthony Collins, John Green, Miklos Rosza, Victor Young, Werner Heymann, Leo Shuken, Arthur Bergh, Alex Steinert, Robert Emmett Dolan, Frank Skinner, Wilbur Hatch, Carlos Morales, Louis R. Lipstone - เพลง
Gorgeous piece!...
William Grant Still never misses! Thank you for posting this
A moving composition. Your accompanying words ably describe the moods of the piece. Though I've long been aware of Still's best known works, I greatly enjoy finding recordings of anything he wrote. Thanks again.
Beautiful rendition and interpretation... Really learning about this great American composer and his music.
My eyes are full of tears hearing this beautiful composition of a great black composer. As a composer myself, I understand the struggles of acknowledging ones creativity and then sharing it to a world that ignores the treasury that is set before them. Thank you so much for posting this!
Just played this with a community orchestra in my area. Beautiful piece. I love your tempos and of course the orchestra sounds amazing. Bravo!
Very glad to hear about your appreciation of this fine composer. Yes, he really had a way with an orchestra.
I have several recordings of the music of Wm Grant Still. I remember as a teenager listening to very little of it. But during my collegiate years, I had an opportunity to revisit the music of Still. Our symphonic wind ensemble (FAMU) did a performance/recording of symphonic works by African-American composers. Since then I have sought the music of composers like Still. His harmonic catalogue is simply astounding. His passionata style is amazing. He truly had an understanding of orchestra
"KappaKlass" as in 1911? I am of that class, too. So was William Grant Still.
This is the Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Jeter. I had the honor and privilege of playing in this performance (double-bass). I have been a member of this orchestra for 33 years. John Jeter is a first-rate conductor, and a great friend.
Note: Fort Smith is in west-central Arkansas, USA
Wayne Warmack Hello Wayne; this is not the FSSO, it is the Cleveland Institute of Music SO playing, conducted by me. I have heard FSSO's recording and it is quite good. Bravo to you for your participation.
This sounds GREAT. I love the themes, the marmonies, the chord structure, the blues element, and so on. This ballad at the end is taking me away; WOW. I need to listen more intently to his works. I am also a composer of string orchestral music targeting the market of grade schools. I compose waltzes, overtures, marches, "adventure" music (similar to music soundtracks), and so on. I have a "touch" of "blues elements" such as some synchopation, some chord structure, and a few "blue" notes. I'm very "conservative" in my writing (for the time being). I want to reach out to that market worldwide, then expand on it to get somewhat closer to what William Grant Still is doing. I have played some of his works on cello and double bass. John, congratulatins on conducting this wonderful work and in all that you do in orchestral music including your compositions.
Thanks very much for your very kind words. We are all learning from Still. Keep doing what you're doing! That is a repertoire niche that really needs quality material. I'd love to hear your stuff sometime.
Thank you
Very beautiful, compelling, cinematic... of the period. Thank you, John!
Still's dissonance is largely from his employment of chords derived from octatonic scales. It's found in virtually all his works. It's always used by Still as a dramatic device. I like Deserted Plantation too.
This video music took me far away to an ancient world where people were kind and soft.This music talks to you .
@CurzonRoad Thank you, Doug!
Thanks for listening!
"Like" on 2 October 2016
I'm happy your orchestra is playing as well. What orchestra is it?
Thanks for listening, and for your comments. I know Dawson's symphony and while it has moments of great power, the piece is a bit too discursive for my taste. I always find myself wish it were over much sooner than it is.