Verna Arvey
librettist · lyricist · songwriter · music journalist · pianist · journalist
- February 16, 1910 · Los Angeles
- November 22, 1987 · Los Angeles
- 77 years
About Verna Arvey
Verna Arvey, 77, American librettist, pianist and writer.
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Full Biography
|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 William Grant Still, a musician and composer.
Early life and education
Verna Arvey was born in Los Angeles, the daughter of Bessie (Tark) and David Arvey. Her parents were Russian Jewish immigrants. She attended local schools and the Manual Arts High School. She had started playing piano as a child. 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.
Arvey met William Grant Still in 1930, when Still travelled to Los Angeles to revive his friendship with the composer Harold Bruce Forsythe. Forsythe likely asked her to read some of his piano music. Still tried twice to get her to perform his pieces, first Africa, then Four Negro Dances. The two became more acquainted, but as Forsythe and Arvey had been friends for many years (since they had both gone to Manual Arts High School), some jealousy ensued.
Marriage and family
Arvey married Still in 1939. She was of Russian Jewish heritage and Still was African American, but their interracial union (unusual for a high-profile couple of the era) did not appear to damage their careers. The couple had two children. They were married until Still's death in 1978.
Arvey's granddaughter is journalist Celeste Headlee.
Musical career
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 on music, Arvey published 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.
Works
She also wrote books, including the following:
- 1939 monograph, Studies of Contemporary American Composers: William Grant Still
- 1941, Choreographic Music
- 1984, biography of her late husband, In One Lifetime (Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press).
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verna_Arvey
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 22, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Verna Arvey's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Verna Arvey born?
- A.Fayetteville
- B.Los Angelescorrect
- C.New York City
- D.Chicago
Verna Arvey was born in Los Angeles to Bessie and David Arvey.
Source: Early life and education
2.What was the date of Verna Arvey's birth?
- A.January 1, 1912
- B.February 16, 1910correct
- C.March 15, 1905
- D.November 22, 1987
The biography states Verna Arvey was born on February 16, 1910.
Source: Biography introduction
3.Which instrument did Verna Arvey play as a child?
- A.Violin
- B.Pianocorrect
- C.Flute
- D.Clarinet
Verna Arvey started playing the piano as a child and later became a concert pianist.
Source: Early life and education
4.What was the name of the high school Verna Arvey attended?
- A.Los Angeles High
- B.Central Academy
- C.Lincoln High School
- D.Manual Arts High Schoolcorrect
Verna Arvey attended local schools and graduated from Manual Arts High School.
Source: Early life and education
5.In what year did Verna Arvey marry William Grant Still?
- A.1945
- B.1930
- C.1978
- D.1939correct
Verna Arvey married William Grant Still in 1939.
Source: Marriage and family
6.Who was the original librettist for the opera Troubled Island before Verna Arvey took over?
- A.Harold Bruce Forsythe
- B.Celeste Headlee
- C.Raymond Paige
- D.Langston Hughescorrect
Langston Hughes was the original librettist for Troubled Island before leaving the country.
Source: Musical career
7.What is the name of the granddaughter of Verna Arvey?
- A.Celeste Headleecorrect
- B.Bessie Tark
- C.Mota Arvey
- D.Verna Still
Verna Arvey's granddaughter is the journalist Celeste Headlee.
Source: Marriage and family
8.With which orchestra did Verna Arvey perform as a soloist during her career as a concert pianist?
- A.Los Angeles Philharmoniccorrect
- B.CBS Choir
- C.New York Philharmonic
- D.London Symphony
Verna Arvey performed as a soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
Source: Early life and education
9.Which of these works was written by Verna Arvey in 1941?
- A.In One Lifetime
- B.Costaso
- C.Choreographic Musiccorrect
- D.Four Negro Dances
Verna Arvey published the book Choreographic Music in 1941.
Source: Works
10.When did William Grant Still pass away?
- A.1939
- B.1978correct
- C.1987
- D.1984
Verna Arvey was married to William Grant Still until his death in 1978.
Source: Marriage and family
11.For which publication did Verna Arvey write articles outside of the United States?
- A.Chesteriancorrect
- B.Etude
- C.Musical Digest
- D.American Mercury
Verna Arvey published articles in several publications including Chesterian, which was based in London.
Source: Musical career
12.What was the name of the composer who introduced Verna Arvey to William Grant Still?
- A.Raymond Paige
- B.Langston Hughes
- C.David Arvey
- D.Harold Bruce Forsythecorrect
Verna Arvey met William Grant Still in 1930 when he traveled to visit Harold Bruce Forsythe.
Source: Early life and education
13.What is the title of the biography Verna Arvey wrote about William Grant Still?
- A.Costaso
- B.In One Lifetimecorrect
- C.Troubled Island
- D.A Bayou Legend
Verna Arvey wrote a biography of her husband titled In One Lifetime, published in 1984.
Source: Works
14.What was the ethnic background of Verna Arvey's parents?
- A.Russian Jewishcorrect
- B.English
- C.Spanish
- D.African American
Verna Arvey's parents, Bessie and David Arvey, were Russian Jewish immigrants.
Source: Early life and education
15.Which of these is explicitly listed as a piece Verna Arvey was asked to perform by William Grant Still?
- A.Troubled Island
- B.A Southern Interlude
- C.Costaso
- D.Four Negro Dancescorrect
William Grant Still tried to get Verna Arvey to perform Africa and Four Negro Dances.
Source: Early life and education
16.In what year did Verna Arvey die?
- A.1984
- B.1978
- C.1990
- D.1987correct
The biography notes that Verna Arvey died on November 22, 1987.
Source: Biography introduction
People who died on November 22
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