Festive Overture
William Grant Still (1895-1978)

THE STORY

William Grant Still, commonly referred to as “the Dean” of African American composers, was a torchbearer for African American representation in the classical music tradition of the twentieth century. Still’s Afro-American Symphony (1930) was the first symphony by an African American to be performed by a major U.S. orchestra; its success garnered him praise across the country and even in Europe, where it toured after its American premiere. In addition to receiving countless commissions for his work, Still received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1934, which allowed him to immerse himself fully in his work as a composer. His prolific output includes eight operas, five symphonies, and dozens of works for small and large ensemble.

The Festive Overture on today’s program is a prime example of Still’s compositional prowess. Composed in 1944 for an overture competition hosted by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Festive Overture was voted the unanimous winner out of the 39 pieces submitted. While Still was widely recognized during his lifetime, his music became increasingly neglected during the latter half of the twentieth century. Fortunately, the past few decades have seen an increased interest in performing his works and restoring his legacy as a champion of 20th-century American music.

LISTEN FOR

• The opening fanfare, which serves as a thematic springboard for the entire work—the lilting string melody, romantically expressive second section, and culminating march all stem from the opening few measures

• Playful xylophone and muted trumpet solos that heighten the celebratory mood

• The crunchy dissonance of the horns as they help transition to the final moments of the overture

INSTRUMENTATION

Three flutes (one doubling piccolo), two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp, keyboard, strings