Verna Arvey
Encyclopedia
Verna Arvey was an American
librettist, pianist and writer who is best known for her musical collaborations with her husband, composer William Grant Still
.
Born in Los Angeles
, she grew up to attend the Manual Arts High School
. After graduating, Arvey enjoyed a brief career as a concert pianist, including performances as a soloist with Raymond Paige's CBS
Network orchestra and the Los 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. 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.
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.
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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
librettist, pianist and writer who is best known for her musical collaborations with her husband, composer William Grant Still
William Grant Still
William Grant Still was an African-American classical composer who wrote more than 150 compositions. He was the first African American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony performed by a leading orchestra, the first to have an opera performed by a major...
.
Born in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, she grew up to attend the Manual Arts High School
Manual Arts High School
Manual Arts High School is a secondary school in Los Angeles, California. When founded, Manual Arts was a vocational high school, but later converted to a traditional curriculum.-History:...
. After graduating, Arvey enjoyed a brief career as a concert pianist, including performances as a soloist with Raymond Paige's CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
Network orchestra and the Los 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. 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
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 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.
Arvey’s first collaboration with Still came in 1939 when Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes
James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance...
, the original librettist for his opera Troubled Island
Troubled Island
Troubled Island is an American opera in three acts composed by William Grant Still , with a libretto begun by poet Langston Hughes and completed by Verna Arvey...
, 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 Bayou Legend
A Bayou Legend is an American opera composed by William Grant Still , with a libretto by his wife and frequent collaborator, Verna Arvey...
, A Southern Interlude, Costaso and Mota.
As a writer, Arvey produced articles for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
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.
External links
- William Grant Still Music, site with comprehensive information about him and his music
- Interview, Transcript, African American Music Collection, University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
- William Grant Still; Composer, Arranger, Conductor & Oboist Extensive info at AfriClassical.com