Kaintuck' (Still) Explained

Kaintuck (Kentucky) is a 1935 symphonic poem for piano and orchestra by American composer William Grant Still.^[1]

Background

The work, written after being inspired by a train trip to Kentucky^[2] and commissioned by the League of Composers, and originally scored for piano and symphony orchestra, was first performed on two pianos, with the composer's wife, Verna Arvey, as soloist, in Los Angeles on October 28, 1935 at a Pro Musica concert. Since then, the work has been played in a full orchestra version by Howard Hanson at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. The work, dedicated to Still's wife ("To my wife, Verna Arvey"),^[3] is about eleven minutes long.

Overview

A description of the symphonic poem is as follows:

The sound of the steam locomotive can be heard in the piece.^{[4] [5]}

Reviews

Music reviewer Mary Carr Moore considered Kaintuck a work of "real power and splendid proportions". James Manheim of AllMusic writes that the work features "impressionist harmonies" and is "a gem".^[6]

See also

• List of jazz-influenced classical compositions
• List of symphonic poems
• Bluegrass music

Further reading

• Book: Still, Judith Anne . William Grant Still: A Voice High-Sounding . 1990 . The Master-Player Library . Flagstaff, Arizona . 1-877873-15-2 . 1.

Notes and References

1. Book: Soll, Beverly . I Dream a World: The Operas of William Grant Still . 2005 . University of Arkansas Press . 978-1-55728-789-2 . en.
2. https://www.npr.org/2006/02/28/5236349/kaintuck-william-grant-stills-ode-to-kentucky 'Kaintuck': William Grant Still's Ode to Kentucky - NPR
3. News: Zick . William J. . William Grant Still (1895-1978) - African American Composer, Arranger, Conductor & Oboist - Dean of African American Composers . 2021 . AfriClassical.com . April 27, 2021 .
4. https://celesteheadlee.medium.com/why-ride-the-train-452051ee3d7a Why Ride the Train - Celeste Headlee (posted by granddaughter of late composer)
5. https://www.amazon.com/William-Grant-Still-Afro-American-1997-09-01/dp/B01KBIFG9U/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?crid=24K1WA9ICB4KA&keywords=william+grant+still+cd&pscroll=1&qid=1660403777&sprefix=william+gra%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-16&wIndexMainSlot=24 William Grant Still: Afro-American Symphony, Kaintuck, Dismal Swamp by Richard Fields (1997-09-01)
6. News: Manheim . James . William Grant Still: Afro American Symphony; Kaintuck'; Dismal Swamp; Olly Wilson: Expansions 3 . September 1, 1997 . . April 27, 2021 .