A listener’s guide to William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 4

Wed 28 Oct, 2026

A symphony inspired by the spirit of America

What does a nation sound like? Can music capture its optimism, compassion, humour and spirit?

For William Grant Still (1895–1978), these questions spoke to a broader ambition: to bring African-American musical traditions into the heart of American concert music. A pioneering musician, Still made history in 1931 when his Afro-American Symphony became the first symphony by an African-American composer to be performed by a major American orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic. Its success helped establish his reputation, and he went on to build a remarkably varied career encompassing orchestral music, opera, ballet and chamber works. Closely associated with the Harlem Renaissance, Still drew on an array of influences, from the blues and jazz to spirituals and the European classical tradition, weaving them into a musical language of his own.

In his Fourth Symphony, composed in 1947, Still turned his attention to the question of what distinctly ‘American’ music might sound like. Subtitled Autochthonous, meaning ‘native to a place’ or, more literally, ‘sprung from the soil’, the Fourth offered a broader vision of American culture, one shaped by the meeting of diverse musical traditions. Still described this as a ‘fusion of musical cultures in North America’.

His daughter, Judith Still, saw the symphony as a tribute to African-Americans who endured enslavement and oppression yet preserved ‘their unique songs, humour and distinctive, vibrant culture’. That heritage is central to the work’s vision of America: African-American music is not a separate strand of the national story, but one of the forces that has shaped it.

Across the four movements, Still offers a musical portrait of a country that is energetic and hopeful, tender-hearted, playful and deeply spiritual.

Here’s what to listen out for.

I. ‘Moderately’ : Optimism and energy

The symphony gets off to an energetic start, with a lively theme that Still associated with optimism, progress and the American ability to ‘get things done’. There’s an immediate sense of forward motion, with vibrant rhythms and a melody that seems to reach eagerly upwards.

Keep this opening theme in mind as you listen. Still brings it back at different points in the symphony, each time in a slightly different light. It’s a reminder that, for all the contrasts between the movements, they belong to the same musical world.

II. ‘Slowly’ : Soft-heartedness and generosity

The mood softens in the second movement, which opens with an expressive oboe solo. Still associated this music with the gentler side of the American character, describing it in terms of ‘soft-heartedness, sympathy, benevolence and generosity’. 

Listen to the oboe’s singing line and the way the orchestra gathers around it, creating a feeling of warmth and intimacy. The music takes its time, inviting you to settle into its more reflective mood, before bursting back into life with a sudden orchestral flourish that recalls the energy of the opening movement.

III. ‘With a graceful lilt’ : Humour and a hint of swing

The third movement has a lighter, more playful feel. The syncopated rhythms give it a hint of swing, while the brass bring a touch of swagger as the music gathers pace.

Listen out for familiar ideas from the opening movement, now given a cheekier twist. There’s a real sense of fun here, as Still brings the sounds of a jazz club into the concert hall, mixing the two worlds with an easy, infectious charm.

IV. ‘Slowly and reverently’ : Warmth and spirituality

The finale brings the symphony into a more contemplative space. The music unfolds with a sense of reverence, drawing on the warmth and spiritual feeling that Still saw as another defining aspect of American life.

Listen for the way the music builds, and for the sense of accumulated weight as the orchestra comes together. After the energy, tenderness and playfulness of the earlier movements, the finale offers a more searching conclusion – one that brings the symphony’s different moods into focus.

One symphony, many voices

Still’s Fourth Symphony is a reminder that orchestral music need not feel abstract or distant from everyday life. Its melodies, rhythms and contrasting moods draw on different musical traditions to explore what people share, as well as what makes their experiences distinct. Rather than offering a single answer to what America sounds like, Still gives us a symphony full of voices – each with its own character, all contributing to the bigger picture.

You can hear William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 4 live at Brighton Dome on Saturday 7 November 2026. Also on the programme: Florence Price’s glorious Violin Concerto No. 1, and an exuberant Dvořák overture. Tickets: My Homeland