William Grant Still. Symphony 1 Afro-American.(III) Detroit S.O. Neeme Järvi

[illiteratePumkinbutt]

not enough banjo!

[KamikazeLive]

Those strings at the start of the symphony sounds like the opening to a black kung fu b movie.

[TheVrajr]

Did you notice the sly "I got rhythm" bits in the beginning? Great stuff!

[proffninja77]

@TheVrajr yes! I knew I heard something familiar.. :)

[spartan456]

@TheVrajr

This piece was loosely based on "I got Rhythm."

I find it so horrific that Still is so underrated. I've never really heard of him, nor his music, until about a week ago. Such a great composer. He's one of the few composers which I can think of off the top of my head who actually has a style which he can call his own.

[MicrobeObliteratorMo]

This is amazing. Honestly.

[dasecret0ne]

Favorite Piece from Music Appreciation XD

[jslasher1]

A wonderful work by the 'Dean of Afro-American Composers'. Racism existed then, much as it does now, which is why the music of this great composer is sadly neglected in the USA.

[KamikazeLive]

@jslasher1

I disagree. In my opinion, racism is borderline nonexistent in this Country. From a political perspective, African Americans have just as much rights as Whites, Hispanics, Etc. If you think about it, slavery, the civil rights movements, K.K.K, etc are all contributions to the free country America has become. I think Blacks should look back at all they have achieved and move forward, it's not about how we got here, or what we've been through, it's where we are going.

[MichaelDPorter]

@KamikazeLive No disrespect, but it's easy to say that if you happen to be white, and your ancestors were never enslaved, or lynched, or terrorised by the KKK, or murdered by white racists during the fight for civil rights. Yes, Americans both black and white can move forward as equals into the future, the sufferings of the past forgiven... But not FORGOTTEN, KamikazeLive! Don't expect black Americans to consign their ancestors to the garbage-heap of history and FORGET them!

[Aperson156]

@MichaelDPorter

White people *were* enslaved, white people *were* lynched and white people *were* terrorized by the KKK.

[MichaelDPorter]

@Aperson156 Who ever in history 'enslaved' white Americans as a nation and a race? The blacks certainly didn't. Nobody did! Yes, many white people were lynched, and many were persecuted for upholding their beliefs, but by other whites, and it wasn't because of their skin colour either. These white victims should be honoured and remembered too, whether they be teenagers murdered in Alabama, or 'cattle thieves' hanged without trial by ranchers.

[Aperson156]

@MichaelDPorter

I never specified white Americans as being enslaved, but there are many occasions where white people were used as slaves outside of North America.

[MichaelDPorter]

@Aperson156

True, there are, but I thought we were talking about race relations from an American perspective only. However, the word 'history', like the word 'God', means to each of us what we need it to mean, so let's agree to differ, shall we? This is a great American symphony written by a great American. You think that the 'black' context in which it was written is no longer relevant, I think that it is. But at the end of the day it's the music that matters, and the music is wonderful.

[acuario1002]

@MichaelDPorter I agree with you

[Wyvernx]

I think of pioneering when I hear this.

[dxnat39]

Thanks for posting. I agree he doesn't get the credit he desreves!!

[jo295842]

SOOOOOOOOO GOOD!

[acuario1002]

¡I really apreciate your comments!

[wanimusician]

thank you for this. :)