- Verna Arvey
Verna Arvey (
February 16 ,1910 –November 22 ,1987 ) was an American librettist, pianist and writer who is best known for her musical collaborations with her husband, composerWilliam Grant Still .Born in
Los Angeles , she grew up to attend theManual Arts High School . After graduating, Arvey enjoyed a brief career as a concert pianist, including performances as a soloist with Raymond Paige'sCBS Network orchestra and theLos Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra .During a trip to Los Angeles in 1930 to revive a friendship with the composer Harold Bruce Forsythe, Still met Arvey, probably when Forsythe asked her to read some of Still's piano music.cite book|title=William Grant Still: A Study in Contradictions|last=Smith|first=Catherine Parsons|publisher=
University of California Press |isbn=978-0520215436|date=2000] Still tried twice to get her to perform his pieces, first "Africa", then "Four Negro Dances". The two became more acqainted, but as Forsythe and Arvey had been friends for many years (since they had both gone to Manual Arts High School) some jealousy ensued.Arvey married Still in 1939. Although Arvey was of Russian-Jewish heritage and Still was
African American , their interracial union (unusual for a high-profile couple of the era) did not appear to damage their careers. The couple had two children and were married until Still’s death in 1978. cite web|url=http://www.troubledisland.com/vernaarvey/|title=Verna Avery|publisher=William Grant Still Music & The Master-Player Library|accessdate=2008-05-13]Arvey’s first collaboration with Still came in 1939 when
Langston Hughes , the original librettist for his opera "Troubled Island ," left the country before the project was completed. Arvey wrote the lyrics for three arias. She became the librettist for his subsequent operatic work, most notably "A Bayou Legend ," "A Southern Interlude," "Costaso" and "Mota." cite web|url=http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/sgo/exhibit/captions/caption9a.html|title=William Grant Still Exhibition|publisher=Duke University |date=1995|accessdate=2008-05-13]As a writer, Arvey produced articles for "
The New York Times " and several music industry publications including Etude, Musical Courier, Opera, Concert and Symphony, Musical America,Chesterian (London), American Dancer, Ritmo (Madrid), Musical Digest and American Mercury. She wrote the 1939 monograph "Studies of Contemporary American Composers: William Grant Still," the 1941 book "Choreographic Music," and the 1984 biography of her late husband, "In One Lifetime."cite web|url=http://www.troubledisland.com/vernaarvey/|title=Verna Avery|publisher=William Grant Still Music & The Master-Player Library|accessdate=2008-05-13]References
External links
* [http://williamgrantstill.com/ William Grant Still Music] , site with comprehensive information about him and his music
* [http://www.umich.edu/~afroammu/standifer/still.html Interview] , Transcript, African American Music Collection,University of Michigan
* [http://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/Still.html William Grant Still; Composer, Arranger, Conductor & Oboist] Extensive info at AfriClassical.com
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