Strings, Keyboard and Harp: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A record album with tracks composed by William Grant Still. The album consists of a single vinyl long-playing record (2015.195.54a), which features a label along a pink/white linear color gradient. In the bottom half of “Side A” of the label, the following tracks are printed in black letters [ 1. “The Suite for Violine and Piano” / a) African Dancer / b) Mother and Child / c) Gamin / 2. “Pastorela” / “Here Is One” / “Blues” / 5. “Summerland”]. “Side B” has a similar label, with the following tracks [ 1. “Ennanga” / a) Moderately fast / b) Moderately slow / c) Majestically; moderately fast / 2. “Danzas de Panama” / a) Tamborito / b) Mejorana y Socavon / c) Punto / d) Cumbia y Congo].

An album jacket (2015.195.54b) accompanies the vinyl record. The front has a photograph of William Still and Louis Kaufman reading sheet music; each wearing a jacket and tie. Still, who is closer to the camera, holds a pencil in his proper right hand. Kaufman stans to Williams’ proper left, holding a violin under his proper right arm. The back of the album jacket is white and has a biography about William Grant Still at the bottom. There is also a small photograph of two men and a woman reading. One of the men holds a violin.

Some of the individuals and/or organizations credited in the production and distribution of this album include: The Kaufman String Quartet, Alan Neiman, George Berres and Terry King.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1987
• Composed by: William Grant Still, American, 1895 - 1978
• Published by: William Grant Still Music (WGSM)
• Type: record covers
• Type: long-playing records
• Medium: vinyl , cardboard and ink
• Dimensions: Diameter (a. disc): 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W x D (b. album jacket): 12 3/8 × 12 3/8 × 1/8 in. (31.4 × 31.4 × 0.3 cm)
• Place made: United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Classical (Music)
• Topic: Music
• Object number: 2015.195.54ab
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © William Grant Still Music Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.