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WILLIAM GRANT STILL AND VERNA ARVEY PAPERS

Manuscript Collection MC 1125
Group 3. William Grant Still and Verna Arvey Musical Scores and Audio Tapes, 1880-1973. Boxes 89-125.
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Series 1. Musical scores and index, 1927-1972. Boxes 89-100.

This series contains musical scores composed, arranged, and/or orchestrated by William Grant Still. Scores refer to manuscripts, photocopies or copies of manuscripts, published scores, or photocopies or copies of published scores. Authors of text, libretto, narration, or scenario are noted; many texts are by Verna Arvey.

The series is divided into scores for keyboard; voice or voices with piano; chamber music; band; orchestra with soloists or chorus; orchestra; the stage; and scores of arrangements, orchestrations, and miscellaneous drafts.

Subseries 1. Scores for keyboard, including accordion, organ, and piano, 1936-1963. Box 89.
Box 89
  1. Aria, manuscript, 10 pp.; published score, 6 pp.; 1960.
  2. Lilt, manuscript, 5 pp.; [1960].
  3. Elegy, manuscript, 4 pp.; [1963].
  4. Reverie, manuscript, 3 pp.; [1962].
  5. Summerland (from Three Visions), arrangement for organ from Still's original composition, manuscript, 7 pp.; [1963].
  6. Five Animal Sketches, manuscript, 18 pp.; [1951].
  7. Marionette, photocopy published score, 3 pp.; 1946.
  8. Quit Dat Fool'nish, manuscript, 10 pp.; photocopy published score, 3 pp.; 1938.
  9. Seven Traceries, manuscript, 44 pp.; photocopy manuscript score, 18 pp.; and photocopy published score, 24 pp.; 1940.
  10. Swanee River, arrangement, photocopy published score, 2 pp.; 1939.
  11. Three Visions, published score, 12 pp.; photocopy manuscript score, 9 pp.; 1936.
    Subseries 2. Scores for voice or voices with piano, 1928-1971. Boxes 89-90.
    Box 89
  12. All That I Am, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 14 pp.; photocopy manuscript score, 6 pp.; 1965.
  13. Bayou Home, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 19 pp.; copy manuscript score, 5 pp.; 1944.
  14. The Breath Of A Rose, text by Langston Hughes, published score, 4 pp.; 1928.
  15. Caribbean Melodies, text collected from several West Indian Islands by Zora Neale Hurston, manuscript, 57 pp.; [1941].
  16. Carry Him Along, arrangement, photocopy published score, 6 pp.; 1945.
  17. Citadel, text by Virginia Brasier, manuscript, 11 pp.; photocopy manuscript score, 3 pp.; 1956.
  18. Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit, arrangement, manuscript, 4 pp.; n.d.
  19. From The Hearts Of Women, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 35 pp.; photocopy manuscript score, 13 pp.; 1961.
  20. God's Goin' To Set This World On Fire, arrangement, photocopy published score, 2 pp.; 1968.
  21. Great Day, arrangement, photocopy published score, 2 pp.; n.d.
  22. Grief, text by LeRoy V. Brant, published score, 2 pp.; 1955.
  23. Gwine To Sing All Along De Way, arrangement, photocopy published score, 6 pp.; 1938.
  24. Halleluiah 'Tis Done, arrangement, manuscript, 4 pp.; n.d.
  25. Hard Trail, arrangement, manuscript, 3 pp.; n.d.
  26. Here's One, arrangement, photocopy published score, 1 p.; photocopy transposed manuscript score, 3 pp.; 1941.
  27. Holy Spirit Don't You Leave Me, arrangement, manuscript, 8 pp.; n.d.
  28. I Feel Like My Time Ain't Long, arrangement, photocopy manuscript, 5 pp.; n.d.
  29. Igama Lo Kusina, manuscript, 12 pp; n.d.
  30. Is There Anybody Here? arrangement, photocopy published score, 3 pp.; 1956.
Box 90
  1. Keep Me From Sinkin' Down, arrangement, photocopy published score, 4 pp.; 1938.
  2. Lament, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 4 pp.; [1950].
  3. Lawd, Ah Wants To Be A Christian, arrangement, published score, 4 pp.; 1938.
  4. Little David, Play On Your Harp, arrangement, photocopy manuscript score, 5 pp.; n.d.
  5. Men Of The Army, text by Verna Arvey, photocopy manuscript score, 7 pp.; n.d.
  6. Minorities, text by Verna Arvey, photocopy manuscript score, 5 pp.; n.d.
  7. Mississippi, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 20 pp.; photocopy manuscript score, 7 pp.; [1948].
  8. My Brother American, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 3 pp.; photocopy manuscript score, 2 pp.; [1948].
  9. Nigeria, We Hail Thee, manuscript, 11 pp.; n.d.
  10. [Ohio, Ohio: Your Beacon Burns Brightly], manuscript, 4 pp.; n.d.
  11. Rising Tide (also known as Victory Tide), text by Albert Stillman, manuscript, 20 pp.; published score (SATB), 7 pp.; published score (solo voice), 4 pp.; 1942.
  12. Song For The Lonely, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 5 pp.; photocopy manuscript score, 2 pp.; [1953].
  13. Song For The Valiant, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 26 pp.; published score, 6 pp.; 1952.
  14. Song Of The Hunter, text by Verna Arvey, photocopy published score, 2 pp.; [1968].
  15. Songs Of Separation, text by Arna Bontemps (Idolatry), Philippe-Thoby Marcelin (Poeme), Paul Laurence Dunbar (Parted), Countee Cullen (If You Should Go), Langston Hughes (A Black Pierrot), manuscript, 38 pp.; [1949].
  16. Three Rhythmic Spirituals, arrangement, published score of Hard Trails, 6 pp.; photocopy published score of Holy Spirit, Don't You Leave Me and Lord I Looked Down The Road, 16 pp.; 1961.
  17. Toward Distant Shores, text by Judith Anne Headlee, published score, 5 pp.; 1977.
  18. Twelve Negro Spirituals, arrangement, published score (2 volumes), 101 pp.; 1937.
  19. Up There, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 3 pp.; [1950].
  20. The Voice Of The Lord, setting of Psalm 29, manuscript, 27 pp.; [1946].
  21. We Sang Our Songs, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 29 pp.; photocopy manuscript score, 9 pp.; [1971].
  22. Were You There, with Paul Hamill, arrangement, photocopy manuscript score, 6 pp.; n.d.
  23. Your World, text by Georgia Douglas Johnson, manuscript, 15 pp.; photocopy published score, 7 pp.; [1968].
    Subseries 3. Scores for chamber music, 1941-1968. Box 91 and OV-Box 2.
    Box 90
  24. Danzas De Panama, based on Panamanian folk themes collected by Elizabeth Waldo, string quartet or string orchestra, manuscript, 34 pp.; published score, 31 pp.; 1953.
  25. Folk Suite No. 1, flute, piano, and string quartet, manuscript, 11 pp.; [1962].
  26. Folk Suite No. 2, flute, clarinet, cello, and harp, manuscript, 20 pp.; photocopy manuscript score and instrumental parts, 17 pp.; [1962].
  27. Folk Suite No. 3, flute, oboe, bassoon, and piano, manuscript, 12 pp.; [1962].
  28. Folk Suite No. 4, flute, clarinet, cello, and piano, manuscript, 15 pp.; photocopy manuscript score and instrumental parts, 14 pp.; [1962].
  29. Four Indigenous Portraits, string quartet and flute, manuscript, 10 pp.; photocopy parts, 46 pp.; [1957] (OV-Box 2).
  30. Incantation And Dance, oboe and piano, manuscript, 13 pp.; 1941.
  31. Little Folk Suite From The Western Hemisphere, brass quintet, manuscript, 4 pp.; photocopy manuscript score and instrumental parts, 9 pp.; [1968].
  32. Little Folk Suite From The Western Hemisphere No. 1, string quartet, manuscript, 3 pp.; 1968.
  33. Little Folk Suite From The Western Hemisphere No. 2, string quartet, manuscript, 8 pp.; 1968.
  34. Little Folk Suite From The Western Hemisphere No. 3, string quartet, manuscript, 4 pp.; 1968.
  35. Lyric Quartette, string quartet, manuscript, 33 pp.; photocopy manuscript score and instrumental parts, 33 pp.; 1960.
Box 91
  1. Miniatures, based on folk tunes of the Western Hemisphere, flute, oboe, and piano, manuscript, 48 pp.; published score and instrumental parts, 26 pp.; 1963.
  2. Pastorella, violin and piano, manuscript, 40 pp.; photocopy manuscript score and violin part, 19 pp.; 1966.
  3. Romance, saxophone and piano, manuscript, 10 pp.; published score and saxophone part, 7 pp.; 1966.
  4. Suite For Violin And Piano, manuscript, 39 pp.; published score and violin part, 38 pp.; 1945.
  5. Vignettes, based on folk songs of the Americas, oboe, bassoon, and piano, manuscript, 29 pp.; [1962].
Subseries 4. Scores for band, 1945, 1956. Box 92.
Box 92
  1. From The Delta, manuscript, 21 pp.; [1945].
  2. To You, America, manuscript, 38 pp.; published score, 36 pp.; 1956.
    Subseries 5. Scores for orchestra with soloists and/or chorus, 1935-1967. Boxes 92-93.
    Box 92
  3. And They Lynched Him On A Tree, text by Katherine Garrison Chapin, published score, 46 pp.; 1941.
  4. The Black Man Dances, text by Bruce Forsythe, manuscript, 27 pp.; ca. 1935.
  5. Christmas In The Western World (Las Pascuas), text and text adaptations by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 5 pp.; published score, 32 pp.; 1967.
  6. Ennanga, manuscript, 66 pp.; [1956].
  7. From A Lost Continent, manuscript, 61 pp.; [1948].
  8. Gateway To The Temple, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 20 pp.; choral episode text, 4 pp.; n.d.
  9. Kaintuck', manuscript, 36 pp.; photocopy manuscript score (two-piano version), 32 pp.; 1935.
  10. The Little Song That Wanted To Be A Symphony, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 86 pp.; narration, 4 pp.; published scores (piano), 26 pp.; (full score), 37 pp.; 1954.
Box 93
  1. The Path Of Glory, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 107 pp.; [1962].
  2. Plain Chant For America, text by Katherine Garrison Chapin, manuscript, 56 pp.; published score, 14 pp.; 1941.
  3. Rhapsody, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 50 pp.; [1955].
  4. Song Of A City (also known as Rising Tide and Victory Tide), text by Albert Stillman, photocopy instrumental parts:
  5. Those Who Wait, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 65 pp.; narration text, 2 pp.; 1943.
  6. Wailing Woman, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 31 pp.; copied manuscript score, 19 pp.; 1946.
    Subseries 6. Scores for orchestra, 1928-1970. Boxes 93-95 and OV-Box 2.
    Box 93
  7. Africa, manuscript, 65 pp.; manuscript (piano solo arrangement), 26 pp.; [1928].
  8. Afro-American Symphony, text by Paul Laurence Dunbar, manuscript, 13 pp.; published score, 71 pp.; [1930].
  9. Afro-American Symphony, "Scherzo," text by Paul Laurence Dunbar, photocopy manuscript (two-piano score arranged by Verna Arvey), 17 pp.; published score (piano-conductor), 7 pp.
  10. Afro-American Symphony, "Scherzo," text by Paul Laurence Dunbar, published instrument parts:
Box 94
  1. The American Scene, manuscript, 66 pp.; [1957].
  2. Archaic Ritual, manuscript, 42 pp.; 1946.
  3. Bells, manuscript 18 pp.; published score, 21 pp.; 1944.
  4. Can't You Line 'Em, based on a Negro folk melody from the collection of John A. and Alan Lomax, manuscript 15 pp.; [1940].
  5. Choreographic Prelude, manuscript, 15 pp.; [1970].
  6. Dismal Swamp, manuscript, 24 pp.; 1935.
  7. Ebon Chronicle, manuscript, 13 pp.; manuscript score, 23 pp.; 1934.
  8. Fanfare For American War Heroes, manuscript, 6 pp.; [1943].
  9. Fanfare For The 99th Fighter Squadron, photocopy manuscript score and instrumental parts, 8 pp.; 1945.
  10. Festive Overture, manuscript, 35 pp.; 1944.
  11. In Memoriam: The Colored Soldiers Who Died For Democracy, manuscript, 14 pp.; published score, 16 pp.; 1943.
  12. Legend, manuscript, 24 pp.; 1959.
  13. Little Red Schoolhouse, adapted from Pages From A Mother's Diary, manuscript, 42 pp.; 1953, [1957].
  14. Miniature Overture, manuscript, 6 pp.; [1965].
  15. Old California, manuscript for orchestra, 20 pp.; manuscript for band, 25 pp.; [1941].
  16. Pages From Negro History, manuscript, 34 pp.; 1943.
Box 95
  1. Patterns, manuscript, 16 pp.; [1960].
  2. The Peaceful Land, manuscript, 10 pp.; [1960].
  3. Poem For Orchestra, manuscript, 32 pp.; [1944].
  4. Preludes, manuscript, 66 pp.; orchestral and piano part, 30 pp.; piano score, 20 pp.; [1962].
  5. A Psalm For The Living, manuscript, 20 pp.; [1954].
  6. Symphony No. 2 In G Minor (Song Of A New Race), manuscript, 82 pp.; [1937].
  7. Symphony No. 2 In G Minor (Song Of A New Race), revised version, photocopy manuscript score, 101 pp.; [1937] (OV- Box 2).
  8. Symphony No. 2 In G Minor (Song Of A New Race), revised version, photocopy manuscript parts, [1937] (OV-Box 2).
  9. Symphony No. 3 (The Sunday Symphony), photocopy orchestral score, [1958], 52 pp. (OV-Box 2).
  10. Symphony No. 4 (Autochthonous), manuscript, 59 pp.; 1947.
  11. Symphony No. 5 (Western Hemisphere), manuscript, 12 pp.; [1945].
  12. Threnody: In Memory Of Jan Sibelius, manuscript, 12 pp.; 1965.
  13. Woodnotes, suggested by text by J. Mitchell Pilcher, manuscript, 46 pp.; [1947].
Subseries 7. Scores for the stage, 1927-1965. Boxes 96-99.
Box 96
  1. A Bayou Legend, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 180 pp.; [1941].
  2. Costaso, text by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 352 pp.; [1950].
  3. Costaso, continued.
  4. La Guiablesse, scenario by Ruth Page, manuscript, 143 pp.; revised 1944 manuscript, 50 pp.; copied piano score, 38 pp.; [1927].
  5. La Guiablesse, continued.
Box 97
  1. Lenox Avenue, scenario by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 156 pp.; scenario text and choreographic diagrams, 28 pp.; published score, 41 pp.; "Blues" score and instrumental parts, 22 pp.; "Blues" arranged for piano and violin by Louis Kaufman, 5 pp.; [1937].
  2. Lenox Avenue, continued.
  3. Minette Fontaine, libretto by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 220 pp.; [1958].
  4. Minette Fontaine, continued.
  5. Miss Sally's Party, scenario by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 33 pp.; [1940].
Box 98
  1. Mota, libretto by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 420 pp.; [1951].
  2. Mota, continued.
  3. The Negro In America (A Revue of The Race), (also known as From The Furnace Of The Sun), libretto by Sherwood Trask, manuscript, 32 pp.; libretto, 200 pp.
  4. The Pillar, libretto by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 219 pp.; [1956].
Box 99
  1. The Prince And The Mermaid (incidental music), play by Carol Stone, manuscript, 16 pp.; libretto, 64 pp.; [1965].
  2. Sahdji, scenario by Alain Locke and Richard Bruce, manuscript, 241 pp.; scenario text and choreographic diagrams, 10 pp.; "final revision" manuscript, 82 pp.; [1930].
  3. Sahdji, continued.
  4. The Sorcerer (Fantastic Scene For Pantomimists And Dancers), scenario by Bruce Forsythe, manuscript, 28 pp.; manuscript score, 17 pp.
  5. A Southern Interlude (also known as Highway I, U.S.A.), libretto by Verna Arvey, manuscript, 252 pp.; libretto synopsis, 12 pp.; [1943].
  6. A Southern Interlude, continued.
  7. Troubled Island, libretto by Langston Hughes with additional text by Verna Arvey, manuscript 29 pp.; scenario, 4 pp.; [1941].
Subseries 8. Scores of arrangements, orchestrations, and miscellaneous drafts, n.d. Box 100.
Box 100
  1. Arrangements of popular songs and spirituals, manuscript list of songs and fragments, 10 pp.; arrangements:
  2. Arrangement, notations for Dances In The Canebrakes, by Florence B. Price, photocopy published score, 13 pp.; n.d.
  3. Orchestration of Yamekraw by James P. Johnson, photocopy published score and instrumental parts, 64 pp.; n.d.
  4. University Music Books (two books), manuscript sketch books, 87 pp.; n.d.
  5. Themes, drafts, and sketches, manuscript, 61 pp.; n.d.
Musical Scores Index.
(Shown as subseries-box-folder.)
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Series 2. Musical scores of others, 1880-1973. Boxes 101-104.

The series contains musical scores composed by composers other than William Grant Still. Scores refer to published compositions unless otherwise noted. The scores are listed by composers in alphabetical order. Other information given is lyricist, title, and date of publication. Arrangements and transcriptions are noted as well as autographed copies. Most of the compositions are popular songs in the sheet music format.
Box 101
Box 102
Box 103
Box 104

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Series 3. Bibliography of sheet music (separated from the papers).


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Series 4. Discography of phonograph records (separated from the papers).


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Series 5. Audio tapes. Boxes 105- 125.

This series is closed until the audio tapes are processed.
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