I Dream a World: The Operas of William Grant Still (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781557287892)

William Grant Still (1895-1978) dreamed of a world in which his eight operas--for him the ultimate form of musical expression--would be heard in the major opera houses in the United States, devoting most of his career toward the pursuit of this goal. The first part of I Dream a World creates a context for Still's operas and explores commonalities among them, including structural elements and musical characteristics. The second part traces the research, composition, and perform-ances of the operas as a way of documenting the history of the composer and his contributions to American opera. Although I Dream a World is not intentionally biographical, it is very pers-onal. It is more than the story of William Grant Still's love of operatic music, of the libretti that reflect his own life and philosophy, and of the world he dreamed through his work. It opens a window on Still the man as well as on Still the composer that offers important insights into the social milieu of this pioneering figure.

Author: Beverly Soll
ISBN-10: 1557287899
ISBN-13: 9781557287892
Publisher: University of Arkansas Press
Language: English
Published: 04/01/2005
Pages: 306
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.36lbs
Size: 9.48h x 6.34w x 1.02d

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 12/15/2004 pg. 722
Univ PR Books for Public Libry 01/01/2006 pg. 1 - Recommended/Special Interest