Three Visions Explained

Three Visions is a 1935 suite in three parts for solo piano, and later, the second part, Summerland, for chamber orchestra, by American composer William Grant Still.[1] According to Judith Anne Still, the composer's daughter, "The three segments of the suite, Dark Horsemen, Summerland, and Radiant Pinnacle, tell the story of the human soul after death: the body expires, and the soul goes on to an apocalyptic judgment. If it is seen that the past life has been a good one, the soul may enter “heaven,” or “Summerland”. After a period of time, the soul may reincarnate to learn additional earthly lessons on the human plane. Some souls reincarnate many times in a constant circular progress toward Godly perfection." Three Visions was composed by Still for his wife, Verna Arvey, who first played the composition in Los Angeles in 1936.[2] The suite is about eleven minutes long.

Overview

A description of Three Visions is presented as follows:

Parts

Three Visions is in three parts as follows:Still created a version of Summerland for violin and orchestra.[3]

See also

Further reading

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. Web site: Still . Judith Anne . William Grant Still (1895-1978) - Piano Music . 2004 . . December 26, 2023 .
  3. Still: Summerland - Violin Suite - Pastorela - American Suite . May 2022 . CD . Naxos . Naxos Catalog No. 8.559867.