SKU: CF.AS144

ISBN 9781491160602. UPC: 680160919192.

Often referred to as the Dean of African American Composers, William Grant Still's illustrious career contained many ground-breaking achievements. Following the massive success of his critically acclaimed Symphony No. 1, the Afro-American Symphony (1930), Still's Symphony No. 2 was premiered in 1937 by the Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of conductor Leopold Stokowski. The work, subtitled Song of a New Race, infuses elements of blues and jazz into the classical form, creating a uniquely blended sound to reflect Still's vision of an increasingly diverse American culture. Slow, dreamy themes are expressed through lush harmonies utilizing thick textures along with solo and divisi playing. The tension between traditional and jazz idioms is felt in the push and pull of shifting tempo and tonality. Originally composed for Full Orchestra, this slightly abridged version for String Orchestra includes the original harp part, honoring the legacy of one of America's greatest composers.
Often referred to as the Dean of African American Composers, William Grant Still's illustrious career contained many ground-breaking achievements. Following the massive success of his critically acclaimed Symphony No. 1, the Afro-American Symphony (1930), Still's Symphony No. 2 was premiered in 1937 by the Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of conductor Leopold Stokowski. The work, subtitled Song of a New Race, infuses elements of blues and jazz into the classical form, creating a uniquely blended sound to reflect Still's vision of an increasingly diverse American culture. Slow, dreamy themes are expressed through lush harmonies utilizing thick textures along with solo and divisi playing. The tension between traditional and jazz idioms is felt in the push and pull of shifting tempo and tonality. Originally composed for Full Orchestra, this slightly abridged version for String Orchestra includes the original harp part, honoring the legacy of one of America's greatest composers.
Often referred to as the Dean of African American Composers, William Grant Still's illustrious career contained many ground-breaking achievements. Following the massive success of his critically acclaimed Symphony No. 1, the Afro-American Symphony (1930), Still's Symphony No. 2 was premiered in 1937 by the Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of conductor Leopold Stokowski. The work, subtitled Song of a New Race, infuses elements of blues and jazz into the classical form, creating a uniquely blended sound to reflect Still's vision of an increasingly diverse American culture. Slow, dreamy themes are expressed through lush harmonies utilizing thick textures along with solo and divisi playing. The tension between traditional and jazz idioms is felt in the push and pull of shifting tempo and tonality. Originally composed for full orchestra, this slightly abridged version for string orchestra includes the original harp part, honoring the legacy of one of America's greatest composers.
Often referred to as the “Dean of African American Composers”, William Grant Still’s illustrious career contained many ground-breaking achievements. Following the massive success of his critically acclaimedSymphony No. 1, the Afro-American Symphony (1930), Still’s Symphony No. 2 was premiered in 1937 by the Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of conductor Leopold Stokowski. The work, subtitled “Song of a New Race”, infuses elements of blues and jazz into the classical form, creating a uniquely blended sound to reflect Still’s vision of an increasingly diverse American culture. Slow, dreamy themes are expressed through lush harmonies utilizing thick textures along with solo and divisi playing. The tension between traditional and jazz idioms is felt in the push and pull of shifting tempo and tonality. Originally composed for full orchestra, this slightly abridged version for string orchestra includes the original harppart, honoring the legacy of one of America’s greatest composers.

SKU: CF.WF232

ISBN 9781491153772. UPC: 680160911271.

Known internationally for superior flute editions, Robert Stallman continues his considerable expansion of the flute repertoire with re-creations, or “new” works for flute by Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, Chopin, Dvořák, and other great composers.Conceived originally as a work for solo piano, this arrangement of Dvořák’s Suite in A Major for flute and piano is based on both the piano and orchestra versions. It is one in a series of Stallman’s “new” works for flute. Dvořák composed the Suite in A Major in 1894, inspired by his happy and fruitful stay in the “New World” —a period that produced some of his greatest works, full of thematic freshness, raw energy and folk influences, both American and Old World Czech. The “New World” Symphony, Cello Concerto, “American” Quartet, String Quintet in E≤ Major, the Violin Sonatina and this A Major Suite are all cut from the same musical cloth—textured with his personal impressions of the Wild West’s fascinating Indian and Afro-American music, its God-fearing and friendly people, its vast open spaces and its awe-inspiring natural beauty.
PrefaceConceived originally as a work for solo piano, the Suite in A Major was composed by Dvořák in 1894, during his famous two-year visit to the United States. He wrote the work in a mere ten days, and a year later made a full orchestration of it. The Suite was first performed in this second version in 1910 in Prague at the Rudolfinum. Dvořák, who died in 1904, never had a chance to hear a performance of this stirring orchestral realization.The Suite was inspired by the composer’s happy and fruitful stay in the “New World”, especially by his unforgettable summers spent in the quiet Czech-American village of Spillville, Iowa—a period that produced some of his greatest works, full of thematic freshness, raw energy and folk influences, both American and Old World Czech. The “New World” Symphony, Cello Concerto, “American” Quartet, String Quintet in Eb Major, the Violin Sonatina and this A Major Suite are all cut from the same musical cloth—textured with his personal impressions of the Wild West’s fascinating Indian and Afro-American music, its God-fearing and friendly people, its vast open spaces and its awe-inspiring natural beauty.Several of the Suite’s affecting melodies find echoes in these other, better known compositions of this American period. Wistful themes abound in all five movements, reflecting Dvořák’s transformative American experience as it found resonance in his own emotions. Contrasting with deeply felt, contemplative passages are Dvořák’s joyous and tempestuous expressions, which open the second, third and final movements.This arrangement for flute and piano is based on both the piano and orchestra versions. It is one in a series of my “new” works for flute by some of our greatest composers and I am delighted to add it to the collection. I predict that the A Major Suite will become a popular addition to our Romantic recital repertoire, much like the Dvořák Sonatina.—Robert StallmanMarblehead, Mass.June 1, 2018.

SKU: CF.SC89

ISBN 9781491158852. UPC: 680160917570.

Scoring: Bass Clarinet in Bb, Bassoon, Clarinet 1 in Bb, Clarinet 2 in Bb, Contrabass, Flute 1, Flute 2, Harp, Horn 1 in F, Horn 2 in F, Horn 3 in F, Oboe, Percussion, Timpani, Trumpet 1 in Bb, Trumpet 2 in Bb, Trumpet 3 in Bb, Viola, Violin 1, Violin 2 and more.

William Grant Stillas catalog of works comprises over 200 pieces, including five symphonies, nine operas, four ballets and numerous works for chamber ensembles. He initially found employment as an oboist in pit orchestras in New York City, later as an arranger of popular music for various ensembles, including those by William C. Handy, James P. Johnson and Paul Whiteman. His career as a composer was launched with a performance in 1931 of his Symphony No. 1 aAfro-Americana by the Rochester Philharmonic, conducted by Howard Hanson, who would remain a life-long champion of Stillas orchestral works. By the 1950s the symphony had been performed in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and various European capitals. This notoriety earned Still a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1934, after which he moved to Los Angeles. He is credited as the first African-American to conduct a major orchestra (the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra), the first to have an opera performed by a major company (Troubled Island by the New York City Opera in 1949), and one of the first composers to write for radio, films and television. So numerous were his awards and accolades, including three Guggenheim Fellowships and a variety of honorary doctorates, that he was designated as the aDean of Afro-American Composers.a The aBlack belta refers to a region in the southern United States that was distinguished by the color of its fertile soil. It was an area whose rich economy was based on cotton and tobacco plantations that were controlled by rich white people and worked by poor black laborers. Stillas piece From the Black Belt from 1926 is presumably a musical representation of these laborers. He described its seven parts in the following ways:   William Grant Stillas catalog of works comprises over 200 pieces, including five symphonies, nine operas, four ballets and numerous works for chamber ensembles. He initially found employment as an oboist in pit orchestras in New York City, later as an arranger of popular music for various ensembles, including those by William C. Handy, James P. Johnson and Paul Whiteman. His career as a composer was launched with a performance in 1931 of his Symphony No. 1 aAfro-Americana by the Rochester Philharmonic, conducted by Howard Hanson, who would remain a life-long champion of Stillas orchestral works. By the 1950s the symphony had been performed in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and various European capitals. This notoriety earned Still a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1934, after which he moved to Los Angeles. He is credited as the first African-American to conduct a major orchestra (the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra), the first to have an opera performed by a major company (Troubled Island by the New York City Opera in 1949), and one of the first composers to write for radio, films and television. So numerous were his awards and accolades, including three Guggenheim Fellowships and a variety of honorary doctorates, that he was designated as the aDean of Afro-American Composers.a The aBlack belta refers to a region in the southern United States that was distinguished by the color of its fertile soil. It was an area whose rich economy was based on cotton and tobacco plantations that were controlled by rich white people and worked by poor black laborers. Stillas piece From the Black Belt from 1926 is presumably a musical representation of these laborers. He described its seven parts in the following ways: Lial Scamp If one were to base his judgment on the volume of sound, he would think this little fellow, who delights in playing childish pranks, a big scamp. But the aptness of the title is determined by the brevity of the piece rather than by the volume of sound. Honeysuckle A musical suggestion of the saccharine odor of the honeysuckle. Dance This title is self-explanatory. Brown Girl A tone picture of a lovely girl. Mah Bones Is Creakina An old man, afflicted with rheumatism, complains loudly. Blue The lament of a weary soul. Clap Yoa Hanas The participants in a game for children form a circle and clap their hands at intervals.