Afro-American Symphony

The Afro-American Symphony is a significant work by American composer William Grant Still. Completed in 1931, it was the first symphony by an African American composer to be performed by a major American orchestra. Still, who was also the first African American to conduct a professional symphony orchestra in the United States, sought to incorporate African American musical elements into his compositions. While he rarely borrowed actual melodies, he drew inspiration from African American styles, using simple harmonies and orchestrations with great professionalism. The symphony reflects Still's engagement with the experiences of African Americans in U.S. society.1