William Grant Still, the “Dean of Afro-American Composers”, was part of the Harlem Renaissance and wrote nearly 200 works including nine operas and five symphonies. Still’s many awards included three Guggenheim Fellowships and eight honorary doctorates. His work combines Classical forms with jazz and blues idioms and was inspired by the rich tradition of African American spirituals. Still hoped that his music would serve a larger purpose of interracial understanding, and this joyous, moving and hauntingly beautiful programme – featuring all world-premiere recordings – is infused with Still’s love of God, country, heritage, and even his mischievous dog Shep.

Naxos already has several recordings of the music of William Grant Still, and this new programme of world premieres, is a notable addition to an already fine catalogue. This is certainly a release that will attract a great deal of attention for this always popular but by no means over-represented composer.

Award-winning American violinist Zina Schiff is a Heifetz protégée who has made acclaimed appearances throughout North America, Eastern and Western Europe, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand. Her distinguished discography includes albums for Naxos such as Ernst Bloch’s Violin Concerto (8557757) which was considered ‘a wonderful disc’ by ClassicsToday.com. She has also recorded works for violin and piano by Cecil Burleigh (8559061).

Avlana Eisenberg has conducted orchestras throughout the United States and in France, Germany, Austria, Scotland, Spain, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. Her extensive experience spans the orchestral and operatic repertoire as well as ballet, operetta, and musical theatre productions, and her discography includes recordings with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra MÁV.

Formed in 1891, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) is one of Europe’s leading symphony orchestras. Many renowned conductors have contributed to its success, including Sir John Barbirolli, Sir Alexander Gibson and Neeme Järvi. Thomas Søndergård has been the orchestra’s music director since 2018. The RSNO performs across Scotland and appears regularly at the Edinburgh International Festival and the BBC Proms in addition to international tours. Its numerous recordings for Naxos include acclaimed volumes of Samuel Barber’s orchestral works, the complete symphonies of Sir Arnold Bax, and a significant contribution to Georg Tintner’s much admired cycle of symphonies by Anton Bruckner (8501205).