#26 William Grant Still

Still was an extremely important composer of the 20th because of his racial barrier accomplishment. I feel that it was important that he was the first African American to compose a symphony performed by a major orchestra. He credits most of his life to the learning under Varése. I thought it was interesting how he felt the music consumed his life. He believed that he became the music's servant rather than its master. I feel that this shows how devoted he was to music. His second great accomplishment was the creation of racial music. He found a great influence within his own community and race. While one would assume that his devotion would render Still as a narrow minded composer, he actually "remain[ed] receptive to all" forms of music(151).