The Fine Art of Listening

It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow. Maybe it makes you feel broody. Maybe it makes you feel lonely. Maybe you just don’t care.

What is love to you? Is it comfort and security? Is it care and companionship? Is it … a rebellious bird?

(3rd part in a series – the whole symphony will be played throughout the month)

William Grant Still was the first African-American to conduct a symphony orchestra as well as the first to have his symphonic music and operas played by a major orchestra. It’s no wonder he’s known as “the Dean” of African-American Composers.

Back when I was in college (music conservatory), a major component of American music history was finding a true American voice, distinct from European Art Music. Some composers simply copied the European style. Dvorak was convinced the American voice would come from the melodies of the Native Americans. Then there’s Copland‘s very popular “American” sound and style of composition (might Daugherty, whom we heard yesterday, be the next Copland?) And of course, there are the composers like Gershwin who adopted African-American styles as their own.

So where does that leave William Grant Still? His first symphony, “Afro-American”, is in four movements, and has more character than the Second New England School, all the richness of Dvorak’s “New World Symphony”, far more depth than any of Copland’s popular works, and can claim the African-American heritage better than Gershwin can. Everybody should know this music.

Like many symphonies, the second movement is slow and lyrical. Lush, jazz-inspired harmonies and blue-note melodies abound.

Today Christians observe Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Traditionally, Ash Wednesday services include the reading or singing of Psalm 51 – in Latin, Miserere Mei – a psalm of humility and repentance. There are numerous settings of this text; more than that, there are numerous GOOD settings of this text. Many, though, believe that Gregorio Allegri’s is by far the best.