A Black Pierrot

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of African-American composer William Grant Still. Today, an unhappy brush with Hollywood, and Still’s Fourth Symphony, ‘Autochthonous'.

In 1942, Still was approached by 20th Century Fox to be musical director on Stormy Weather, a film with an all-black cast based on the life of the dancer Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson, who also starred. Things did not go to plan. Before long, he said, he found himself sat in an office all day with nothing to do, twiddling his thumbs. It must have been a relief to return to the world of “pure music”, which is how Still said he composed his Fourth Symphony, to which he later gave the unusual subtitle ‘Autochthonous’, meaning ‘native to the place where it is found’. The symphony, Still said, was “intended to represent the spirit of the American people. It may also be said that the music speaks of the fusion of musical cultures in North America”.

‘A Black Pierrot’ (Songs of Separation)
Robert Honeysucker, baritone
Vivian Taylor, piano

Incantation and Dance, for oboe and piano
Joseph Robinson, oboe
Pedja Muzijevic, piano

Festive Overture
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Arthur Bennet Lipkin, conductor

Bells
Denver Oldham, piano

Symphony No 4, ‘Autochthonous’
Fort Smith Symphony
John Jeter, conductor

Produced by Chris Barstow for BBC Wales