NOTE ON RECORDINGS

As yet there is no thorough discography of Still's music that includes all of his numerous commercial and concert titles. A thorough search has yet to be made for recordings of Still's commercial arrangements, even among such obvious sources as the numerous recordings made by Paul Whiteman. Since Still (like other arrangers) is not identified as the arranger in many instances, this is no easy task. Very limited experience to date suggests that although some recordings credit his work, other cuts must be recognized solely by Still's autograph stylistic features. The list in the Bio-Bibliography, therefore, cannot be considered complete, nor is the list in the second edition (1995) of Fusion 2. Moreover, the reel-to-reel tapes in the Still-Arvey Papers remain unsorted, untransferred, and uncataloged. Their content is uncertain because of Still's late practice of recording over older material and possibly also because of their deteriorated state. We may hope that developing technology, interest, and funding will allow their recovery. For historical recordings, William Grant Still Music is at this writing the more accessible source. This collection includes acetate recordings of performances conducted by Hanson, Stokowski, and others (the CBS broadcast of Lenox Avenue, for example); six sides of the "Deep River Hour," Arvey's recordings for the short-lived Co-Art Turntable label; broadcast and taped interviews with Still over several decades; along with other items, about eighty-five records in all. Many of these have been transferred to tape and are available by special order as archival recordings from WGSM. What is listed in the next paragraph is selected from CDs available as of August 1999, including reissues.

The Afro-American Symphony (1931), Still's best-known work, is available in three versions, all with features to commend them: Cincinnati Philharmonia

Orchestra, Jindong Cai, conductor (Centaur CRC 2331, 1997); Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi, conductor (Chandos CHAN 9154, 1993); and a historic recording in stereophonic sound (1965) by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Karl Krueger, conductor, reissued by the Library of Congress (OMP-106; also available on Bridge 9086). The Cincinnati CD includes two other works by Still not otherwise available, in excellent performances: Kaintuck ' and Dismal Swamp, both with Richard Fields as the sensitive and brilliant piano soloist. The ballet Sahdji, a major work from the same year as the Afro-American Symphony, is available in a reissue of a fine stereo recording by the Eastman-Rochester Orchestra and Chorus, Howard Hanson, conductor (Mercury Living Presence MM 434 324-2, 1992), as part of a collection of American ballet music. Symphony No. 2 (Song of a New Race) in G Minor, has been released by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra with Neeme Jarvi (Chandos CHAN 9226, 1993). One hopes that the Detroit Symphony will continue to issue CDs with Still's large symphonic works. Symphony #3 is also available, performed with less polish than the others by the North Arkansas Symphony, along with several smaller works (Festive Overture; Romance; excerpts from the Folk Suites and Spirituals ), on Cambria Master Recordings (CD 1060, 1996). Darker America, the subject of so much discussion in the sources, and the witty suite From the Black Belt, both recorded in 1973 by the Music for Westchester Symphony Orchestra under Siegfried Landau, have been remastered and reissued, revealing their brilliant use of orchestral color and Still's unique brand of modernism ("The Incredible Flutist," American Composers Series, VOX CDX5157, 1996). The excellent ballet Le Guiablesse, Danzas de Panama, and two shorter pieces are available as well (Berlin Symphoniker, Isaiah Jackson, Koch 3-7154-2H1, 1993).

Witness Volume II: William Grant Still (Collins Classics 14542, 1996), by the Leigh Morris Chorale and Ensemble Singers, in the Chorus and Orchestra of the Plymouth Music Series, Philip Brunelle, conductor, and William Warfield, narrator, is a collection of newly recorded choral and choral-orchestral works. The most important of these, the choral ballad And They Lynched Him on a Tree, rather misses the mark stylistically, though the other works (Wailing Woman, Swanee River, Miss Sally's Party, Reverie, Elegy) are admirably performed.

There are several successful collections of smaller works, both instrumental and vocal. Works by William Grant Still (New World Records CD 80390-2, 1990) includes excellent recordings by the group Videmus of the Suite for Violin and Piano; Songs of Separation; Incantation and Dance; Here's One; Summerland; Citadel; Song for the Lonely; Out of the Silence; Ennanga; and Lift Every Voice and Sing. Remembrance: African-American Songs, with Dina Cameryn Foy, soprano, and Polly Brecht, piano, includes Still's best-known cycle, the five Songs of Separation and three others (DCR-MTSU, 1996). Get on Board: Music of William Grant Still, recorded by the Sierra Winds and supporting artists, contains nearly flawless performances of Miniatures; Folk Suites No. 2, 3, 4; Incantation and Dance; Quit dat Fool'nish; Summerland; Romance; Vignettes; Get on Board (Cambria Master Recordings CD 1083, 1994). (Miniatures for Flute, Oboe, and Piano is available in another fine performance on Crystal CD 321, reissued 1986.) The Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, Richard Auldon Clark, conductor, and Margaret Astrup, soprano, has recorded The

American Scene: The Southwest; The American Scene: The Far West; The American Scene: The East; From the Hearts of Women; Mother and Child; The Citadel; Phantom Chapel; "Golden Days" (aria from the opera Costaso ); and Serenade (Newport Classic LC 8554, 1995) with a little less panache but still very well. On Here's One (4-TAY Inc., CD4005, 1997) Zina Schiff, violin, and Cameron Grant, piano, perform several items, some arranged for violin and piano by Still's friend Louis Kaufman, with polished elegance.

Louis Kaufman, violinist, long a champion of Still's music, is heard in Ennanga and Danzas de Panama on Music and Arts CD 638, a reissue.

Althea Waites gives a fine performance of Three Visions ("Dark Horseman," "Summerland," "Radiant Pinnacle") on Cambria Master Recordings CD 1097, 1993. A poorly edited and not well performed piano version of the suite for orchestra Africa, a major work, along with other piano music, is available on Koch CD 3-7084-2H1, by Denver Oldham, mentioned here only because there currently is no other recording of Africa . The Berliner Symphoniker performs Still's revised, complete version of the ballet La Guiablesse and Danzas de Panama on Koch CD 3-7154-2H1, 1993; these are paired with Still's arrangements for flute and piano of "Quit Dat Fool'nish" and "Summerland." The flutist is Alexa Still, no relation to the composer. Alexa Still performs other Still numbers in her own arrangements (not nearly so interesting as Still's own) with the New Zealand String Quartet on another Koch CD.

Still's arrangements for Artie Shaw (Frenesi; Gloomy Sunday; Adios, Mariquita Linda; Marinella; Don't Fall Asleep; Chantez-les bas ) have been reissued on Pavilion Records (CD 9779).