William Grant Still: Symphony No. 2 "Song of a New Race" (Study Score in 4k)

Symphony No. 2 in G minor, also known as Symphony No. 2 "Song of a New Race", is a 1937 composition in four movements by American composer William Grant Still. The work was first performed on December 10, 1937, by the Philadelphia Orchestra led by conductor Leopold Stokowski.
William Grant Still contrasted his Symphony No. 2 with his earlier Symphony No. 1. If Symphony No. 1 "represented the Negro of days not far removed from the Civil War," Symphony No. 2 represented "the American colored man of today, in so many instances a totally new individual produced through the fusion of White, Indian and Negro bloods". According to one reviewer commenting on the premiere performance of the symphony by the Philadelphia Orchestra, "[The symphony]s characteristically expansive, lyrical string writing seems specifically intended to exploit that orchestra’s famously silky string sound. Near the climax of the first movement, and at key moments elsewhere, the brasses-trumpets and trombones especially, punctuate the texture with gestures suggesting call and response, elements of the African American essence that persistently asserts itself even as blacks were more fully integrated into the wider, more diverse American culture."
0:00 First movement: Slowly
9:52 Second movement: Slowly, with deep expression
18:17 Third movement: Moderately fast
21:57 Fourth movement: Moderately slow
#studymusic #studyscore #orchestra #orchestralscore #williamgrantstill #symphony

[@napilopez]

Thank you for sharing this score. The finale in particular lives in my head rent-free as one of my favorite symphonic movements.

[@michaelmcclary8054]

I played Symphony 2 by Still in Chicago with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra - Michael McClary, Professor of Trumpet 🎺, Georgia Perimeter College and GSU 😅😢😢

[@daviddas]

Wonderful symphony.

[@jordanmorrison4]

Thank you for sharing this very important score. Will you be able posting the rest of Mr. Still’s symphonies in the near future?

[@mendevliousgarner3554]

Hey maybe an odd question- where did you find the score for this piece?

[@LeaPar4]

7:17
20:54
26:12

[@woz5627]

1:09

[@woz5627]

7:17

[@woz5627]

20:54

[@woz5627]

26:10

[@faithyoun]

3 1:09
15 7:15

[@henrygingercat]

Attractive if not especially memorable music.