The American Hemisphere

“The overshadowing spirit of kindness and justice in the Hemisphere” is the title of the fourth movement of American composer William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 5. It is it with the hope that we move towards that vision that SPM embarks on its five-concert tribute to America’s 250 th . The African-American Still is considered the first composer to create a truly American classical music sound with his heartfelt melodies, lively rhythms, and descriptive tone painting. Along with SPM’s first performance of a Still piece are two beloved works by Johannes Brahms, the stirring “Tragic Overture” and the iconic 2nd Piano Concerto, often cited as one of the five greatest piano concertos ever written.