Still, William Grant, 1895-1978

Composer; d. 1978.

From the description of William Grant Still papers, 1937-1969. (Fisk University). WorldCat record id: 70972606

Epithet: composer and conductor

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001186.0x000212

William Grant Still was a prominent African-American composer. Verna Arvey, Still's wife, was a journalist and musician who collaborated with her husband on many compositions.

From the description of William Grant Still and Verna Arvey Papers, 1894-1991. (University of Arkansas - Fayetteville). WorldCat record id: 27347587

Commissioned by the League of Composers, 1935. Composed 1935. First performance Rochester, N.Y., 16 January 1936, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Howard Hanson conductor, Harry Watts soloist.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Kaintuck' / William Grant Still. [19--] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 55119217

Ballet composed 1932. First performance Rochester, N.Y., 5 May 1933, Rochester Civic Orchestra, Howard Hanson conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Three dances from La Guiablesse / William Grant Still. [19--] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 55119211

Composed 1925. First concert performance Rochester, N.Y., 8 May 1929, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Howard Hanson conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of From the journal of a wanderer / William Grant Still. [19--] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 55088724

Composed 1934. First performance Fort Worth, Texas, 3 November, 1936, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, Paul Whiteman conducting.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Ebon chronicle / William Grant Still. [1934] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 55088715

Twentieth century African-American composer.

From the description of Papers, 1877-1992, n.d. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 32714276

American composer and arranger.

From the description of Typewritten letter signed : Los Angeles, California, to Mr. and Mrs. Ray Davis, 1944 Nov. 12. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270904717

• 1895, May 11: Born in Woodville, Miss.
• 1895: Moved to Little Rock, Ark. with mother, Carrie Fambro Still
• 1911: Matriculated at Wilberforce College
• 1915: Married Grace Bundy
• 1916: Employed in music publishing company of W. C. Handy and Charles Pace (Memphis, Tenn.) Played in W. C. Handy's band.
• 1917: Entered Oberlin Conservatory
• 1924: Composed Darker America
• 1929: Composed Breath of a Rose
• 1931: Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performed Afro-American Symphony
• 1935: Composed Kaintuck
• 1934, 1935 and 1938: Won Guggenheim Fellowships
• 1938: Married Verna Arvey Commissioned to compose music for the 1939 New York World's Fair
• 1940: Arranged Katherine Garrison Chapin's poem, And They Lynched Him on a Tree
• 1941: Composed Bayou Legend Completed Troubled Island (Libretto by Langston Hughes and Verna Arvey)
• 1952: First full recording of Afro-American Symphony
• 1978, Dec. 3: Died in Los Angeles

Orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony, have performed Still's works throughout the United States. He received honorary degrees from the University of Arkansas, Wilberforce College, and Bates College.

From the guide to the William Grant Still Papers, 1877-1992, (Duke University. David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library)