Tuesday, November 17, 2009

NatchezDemocrat.com 'Symphony's sounds to fill Natchez'


[William Grant Still - Photo is the sole property of William Grant Still Music, and is used with permission.]

NatchezDemocrat.com
David Dreyer
Published Tuesday, November 17, 2009
“The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra will make a rare appearance in Natchez at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Natchez City Auditorium to perform works written by William Grant Still Jr. Still was born in Wilkinson County in 1895. His father was a graduate of Alcorn College, the principal of a school in Gloster, and the leader of a brass band in Woodville. However, his father died shortly after he was born, and his mother took Still to live with her family in Little Rock, Ark.”

“The Mississippi Symphony will perform Still’s 'Afro-American Symphony' in full Thursday night. They will also give the professional premiere of Still’s tone poem 'The Deserted Plantation.' Also on the program are Still’s 'Plain Chant for American' and the hymn 'All That I Am.'”

“The Thursday performance is part of a four-day celebration of Still which will begin with the dedication of a Blues Trail marker at the Wilkinson County Courthouse in Woodville at 11 a.m. Wednesday.” [Full Post] [William Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, where a complete Works List by Dr. Dominique-René de Lerma is found.]






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