Lauren Alcindor English/Linguistics, CC ’21

I paired “Almost There” from Princess and the Frog with William Grant Still’s “Afro-American Symphony” because the two share a number of similarities. Firstly, similar time periods: Princess and the Frog is set in the mid 1920’s, and Still’s symphony was completed in 1930. Also, Still wrote the first symphony to feature the banjo and this movie also showcases the banjo throughout the score. Lastly, both works emphasize hope for African-Americans. The song “Almost There” is about the protagonist’s dream of running a restaurant. It’s idealistic in the same way Part III of the symphony feels optimistic.