Still, William Grant (1895-1978), was an American composer whose numerous works include five symphonies and nine operas. Afro-American Symphony (1931), his first symphony, was the first work by an African American composer to be performed by a major orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic. It remains his best-known composition.
Still’s characteristic style is conservative and richly melodic, drawing heavily upon African and African American themes. These themes appear in his first symphony, as well as in his second symphony, Symphony in G Minor: Song of a New Race (1937).
Still was born in Woodville, Mississippi. In the 1920’s, he began writing concert music. In the 1920’s and 1930’s, Still also played violin and oboe in orchestras and dance bands. In 1934, he settled in Los Angeles. He wrote his operas there, including Troubled Island (completed 1941, first performed 1949), A Bayou Legend (completed 1941, first performed 1974), and Highway 1, U.S.A. (1962).
