Fort Smith Symphony, John Jeter - Still, W.G.: Symphonies Nos. 4, "Autochthonous" and 5, "Western Hemisphere" / Poem (2009)

Tracklist

01. Symphony No. 5, Western Hemisphere: I. Briskly
02. Symphony No. 5, Western Hemisphere: II. Slowly, and With Utmost Grace
03. Symphony No. 5, Western Hemisphere: III. Energetically
04. Symphony No. 5, Western Hemisphere: IV. Moderately
05. Poem
06. Symphony No. 4, Autochthonous: I. Moderately
07. Symphony No. 4, Autochthonous: II. Slowly
08. Symphony No. 4, Autochthonous: III. With a Graceful Lilt
09. Symphony No. 4, Autochthonous: IV. Slowly and Reverently

Often referred to as the ‘dean of African-American composers’, William Grant Still received many honours for his pioneering music for the concert platform, film and television. Still’s most distinctive works use African-American forms such as the blues, spirituals and jazz within a neo-romantic idiom. He declared that his Fourth Symphony was ‘intended to represent the spirit of the American people’, an idée fixe unifying its four contrasting movements into an appealing whole. His triumphant Fifth Symphony celebrates ‘the sharing of resources and achievements’ which the composer saw as the key to America’s greatness.

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac]