William Grant Still for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first

William Grant Still was an American composer who lived from 1895 to 1978. He wrote more than 150 works, among them five symphonies and nine operas. His Afro-American Symphony brought the blues into the concert hall, and he was the first Black American to have a symphony played by a major orchestra in the United States. The best first piece for a child is the third movement of that symphony, a short, joyful dance with a banjo in it.

Quick facts

• Born: 1895, in Woodville, Mississippi
• Died: 1978, in Los Angeles, California
• Era: Modern
• Played: violin, oboe, cello, and other instruments
• Known for: the Afro-American Symphony, operas, and music for radio and film

The life in short

Still’s parents were both teachers. His father died when William was a baby, and his mother moved with him to Little Rock, Arkansas, where she taught high school English.

His stepfather loved music. He bought opera records and took William to shows. William started violin lessons at 15.

His mother wanted him to be a doctor, and he began college with that plan. He spent his time leading the band, learning one instrument after another, and writing music. He went on to study at the Oberlin Conservatory.

He earned his living in popular music. He played in the bands of W. C. Handy, who was known as the “father of the blues,” and he arranged music for him. He played the oboe in the orchestra of a hit Broadway show. He arranged music for radio programs and, later, for films.

In those same years, he studied with two classical composers and wrote concert music of his own.

In 1931, the Rochester Philharmonic played his Afro-American Symphony. Many more orchestras in the United States and Europe played it in the years that followed.

In 1934, he moved to Los Angeles, where he lived for the rest of his life.

A list of firsts

• 1931: The first Black American to have a symphony played by a major American orchestra
• 1936: The first Black American to conduct a major American orchestra, at the Hollywood Bowl
• 1949: The first Black American to have an opera staged by a major American opera company
• 1955: The first Black American to conduct a major orchestra in the Deep South
• 1981: After his death, the first to have an opera shown on national television

What the music sounds like

Still wanted to lift the music of Black Americans into the symphony. He built his tunes on the blues, on spirituals, and on dance rhythms. He set them for full orchestra with the skills he had learned as an arranger.

His music is tuneful and clear.

Pieces to play first

Afro-American Symphony, third movement. A bright, bouncing dance. Listen for the banjo strumming on the off-beats. It is thought to be the first time a banjo was used in a symphony.

Afro-American Symphony, first movement. After a short opening, a trumpet with a mute plays a slow blues tune. The whole symphony grows from it.

“Summerland.” A calm, glowing piece for piano. It is also played in a version for orchestra.

“Mother and Child.” A tender slow movement from his Suite for Violin and Piano. Each movement of the suite was inspired by a work of art.

Things to do together

Find the banjo. Play the third movement. Strum an air banjo each time you hear it.

Blues question and answer. In the first movement, the trumpet plays a phrase, and other instruments answer. Raise one hand for the question and the other for the answer.

Art into music. Still wrote “Mother and Child” after looking at a picture. Choose a picture at home and describe the music it would make.

Count the firsts. Read the list of firsts together. Ask your child which one they think was hardest.

The blues in a symphony

A blues tune follows a set plan that lasts 12 bars. The first line is sung, the same line is sung again, and a new line answers. Still used that plan for the main tune of his symphony, which was new for a symphony.

Print and play

Fill in a composer study notebook page for William Grant Still. Read about more Black composers in Black composers for kids: ten to know. For another symphony that uses Black American music, read Florence Price for kids.

For more composers by era, see classical composers for kids.