Price, Florence Beatrice
Image obtained from Naxos USA.
Florence Beatrice Smith Price, born on April 9, 1887, in Little Rock, Arkansas, holds the distinction of being the first African American woman composer to have her symphonic work performed by a major American orchestra. Her Symphony in E Minor was premiered by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on June 15, 1933. This groundbreaking achievement marked a significant milestone in both classical music and African American cultural history.
Price's early life was steeped in music, guided by her pianist mother and dentist father. Her formal education began at Capital Hill School, where she graduated as valedictorian in 1902, and continued at the New England Conservatory of Music, earning degrees in organ and piano teaching in 1906. She initially taught at various institutions, including the Cotton Plant Academy and Clark University, before returning to Little Rock.
Marrying attorney Thomas Jewell Price in 1912, Florence Price later moved to Chicago in 1927 due to escalating racial tensions in Arkansas. In Chicago, she furthered her studies at the American Conservatory of Music and the Chicago Musical College. Her career flourished as she established herself as a composer, teacher, and performer, with works such as "At the Cotton Gin" published by G. Schirmer.
Price's Symphony in E Minor and Piano Sonata in E Minor won prestigious awards from the Rodman Wanamaker Foundation. Her compositions, performed by orchestras in Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Brooklyn, showcased a unique blend of classical European forms and African American spirituals, reflecting her Southern heritage.
Florence Price composed over 300 works, spanning symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and vocal pieces. Her legacy experienced a revival in 2009 when many of her lost manuscripts were rediscovered. Honored by the Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame and celebrated through events like PriceFest, her enduring influence continues to shape American music and cultural heritage.
Adoration. Arranged by Maryam Hajialigol. Contact arranger for price.
This is a video of Jordan Prescott performing Adoration by F. Price.
This is a recording of Emmanuel Lacopo performing M. Hajialigol's arrangement of Adoration by F. Price.
This is a video of Chelsea Prat and Connie Sheu performing C. Sheu's arrangement of Remembrance by F. Price.
