Florence Price

Short bio Florence Price

Birthday: 1887 in Little Rock, AR

Died: 1953 in Chicago, IL

Active: 1920s - 1950s

Genre: Classical

Period: 20th Century, Modern

Full biography Florence Price

Florence Beatrice Price was a prominent American classical composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher. Born on April 9, 1887, in Little Rock, Arkansas, she was the first African-American woman to break into the mainstream classical music world and have her works performed by a major symphony orchestra. Despite being born into a middle-class family, Price experienced discrimination throughout her life, including being denied admission into the all-white music conservatory in 1904.

She began her musical career as an organist at a church in Little Rock before eventually moving to Chicago in 1927, where she became a well-known figure in the classical music scene. She wrote more than 300 works of music, including symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and vocal works. Her music reflects her diverse cultural background, with influences from both African-American spirituals and European classical music.

Price's career was at its peak during the 1930s and 1940s when she won numerous awards and accolades for her compositions. She was an active member of the National Association of Negro Musicians and was a passionate advocate for Black musicians' rights and representation.

Despite her incredible talent and contributions to the classical music world, Price's music was largely forgotten and overshadowed by her contemporaries after her death in 1953. It wasn't until the late 20th century when her work started to gain recognition, with several of her compositions being rediscovered and recorded.

Today, numerous organizations and festivals are dedicated to preserving and promoting Price's music, and she is recognized as a trailblazing figure in classical music history. Her legacy serves as an inspiration to many aspiring musicians, particularly those from marginalized communities.

Compositions featuring Florence Price

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Dances in the Canebrakes, for piano	9:18 min	Keyboard	1953
2	Violin Concerto No. 2	14:59 min	Concerto	1952
3	Adoration, for organ	3:40 min	Keyboard	1951
4	The Goblin and the Mosquito, for piano	1:01 min	Keyboard	1951
5	Suite of Dances, for orchestra	3:53 min	Orchestral	1951
6	Folksongs in Counterpoint (5), for string quartet	19:03 min	Chamber Music	1951
7	Whirl Away Waltz, for piano	2:03 min	Keyboard	1949
8	Snapshots, for piano	9:41 min	Keyboard	1949
9	Placid Lake, for piano	2:43 min	Keyboard	1949
10	Memory Mist, for piano	2:40 min	Keyboard	1949
11	Hold Fast to Dreams, for voice & piano	1:52 min	Vocal Music	1945
12	Symphony No. 4 in D minor	32:43 min	Symphony	1945
13	Songs of the Oak, for orchestra	16:29 min	Orchestral	1943
14	Cherry Blossoms in Her Hair, for piano ("Debutante Waltz")	4:34 min	Keyboard	1943
15	Concert Overture No. 2	13:40 min	Orchestral	1943
16	Village Scenes, for piano	9:35 min	Keyboard	1942
17	Honeysuckle at Dusk, for piano	3:35 min	Keyboard	1941
18	Symphony No. 3 in C minor	29:42 min	Symphony	1940
19	Fantasy for violin & piano No. 2 in F sharp minor	5:28 min	Chamber Music	1940
20	A Hillside, for piano	5:12 min	Keyboard	1940
21	Clouds, for piano	5:47 min	Keyboard	194?
22	Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major	26:31 min	Concerto	1939
23	Concert Overture No. 1	11:45 min	Orchestral	1939
24	Rainbow Waltz, for piano	3:12 min	Keyboard	1939
25	On a Summer's Eve, for piano	3:46 min	Keyboard	1939
26	Memory Mist, for piano	3:32 min	Keyboard	1939
27	Honeysuckle, for piano ("A Southern Sky")	2:53 min	Keyboard	1939
28	Thumbnail Sketches of a Day in the Life of a Washerwoman, for piano	7:13 min	Keyboard	1938
29	Summer Moon, for piano	3:11 min	Keyboard	1938
30	Bayou Dance, for piano	2:01 min	Keyboard	1938
31	Piano Quintet in E minor (possibly unfinished)	8:38 min	Chamber Music	1936
32	Piano Quintet in A minor	27:20 min	Chamber Music	1935
33	Little Negro Dances (3), for piano		Keyboard	1933
34	Fantasy for violin & piano No. 1 in G minor	4:44 min	Chamber Music	1933
35	Fantasie Nègre, for piano No. 4 in B minor	8:49 min	Keyboard	1932
36	Fantasie Nègre, for piano No. 3 in F minor	9:13 min	Keyboard	1932
37	Symphony No. 1 in E minor	39:38 min	Symphony	1932
38	Fantasie Nègre, for piano No. 2 in G minor	7:54 min	Keyboard	1932
39	Miniature Portraits (3) of Uncle Ned, for piano	4:10 min	Keyboard	1932
40	Song Without Words for piano in A major	3:16 min	Keyboard	1932
41	Piano Sonata in E minor	23:39 min	Keyboard	1932
42	Cotton Dance, for piano	2:42 min	Keyboard	1931
43	Song for Snow, for chorus & piano	1:59 min	Choral	1930
44	Moon Bridge, for 3-part women's chorus & piano	2:27 min	Choral	1930
45	On a Quiet Lake, for piano	3:14 min	Keyboard	1929
46	Barcarolle for piano	4:31 min	Keyboard	1929
47	String Quartet in G major (unfinished)	16:16 min	Chamber Music	1929
48	Ethiopia's Shadow in America, for orchestra	9:39 min	Orchestral	1929
49	Fantasie Nègre, for piano No. 1 in E minor	9:10 min	Keyboard	1929
50	Scenes in Tin Can Alley, for piano	11:13 min	Keyboard	1928
51	Preludes for piano	10:53 min	Keyboard	1926
52	Tobacco, for voice & piano	0:50 min	Vocal Music	-
53	Jig Jog, for piano	2:27 min	Keyboard	-
54	Dream Boat, for piano	2:32 min	Keyboard	-
55	Dark Pool, for piano ("Sea Murmurs")	3:11 min	Keyboard	-
56	The Deserted Garden, for violin & piano	2:08 min	Chamber Music	-
57	The Glory of the day was in her face	2:58 min	Vocal Music	-
58	At Our House, for piano	4:49 min	Keyboard	-
59	The Oak, for orchestra	12:05 min	Orchestral	-
60	The Old Boatman, for piano	1:57 min	Keyboard	-
61	The White Rose, for voice & piano	1:29 min	Vocal Music	-
62	In the Land O' Cotton, for piano	9:29 min	Keyboard	-
63	To a Certain Pair of Newlyweds, for piano	1:54 min	Keyboard	-
64	Sunset, for medium/high voice & piano	2:16 min	Vocal Music	-
65	Tropical Noon, for piano	3:20 min	Keyboard	-
66	Untitled Sketch (Allegro molto) for piano No. 2	1:25 min	Keyboard	-
67	Untitled Sketch (Allegro), for piano No. 3	2:26 min	Keyboard	-
68	Untitled Sketch (Andantino cantabile), for piano No. 1	2:42 min	Keyboard	-
69	Variations (8) on a Folksong (Peter, Go Ring Dem Bells), for organ	9:57 min	Keyboard	-
70	I'm Workin' on My Buildin', spiritual for voice & piano	2:23 min	Vocal Music	-
71	Coquette, for piano	4:07 min	Keyboard	-
72	Andante, for piano	2:43 min	Keyboard	-
73	Colonial Dance, for orchestra	4:19 min	Orchestral	-
74	Out of the South Blew a Wind, for voice & piano	1:49 min	Vocal Music	-
75	Negro Folksongs in Counterpoint, for string quartet	13:06 min	Chamber Music	-
76	My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord for voice & piano	2:06 min	Vocal Music	-
77	Because, for medium/high voice & piano	1:58 min	Vocal Music	-
78	Piano Concerto in One Movement	17:57 min	Concerto	-
79	Resignation, for voice, violin & piano	2:51 min	Vocal Music	-
80	Resignation, for voice, violin & piano	2:51 min	Vocal Music	-
81	Retrospection, for organ ("An Elf on a Moonbeam")	3:47 min	Keyboard	-
82	Reverie, for piano	4:42 min	Keyboard	-
83	My dream	2:06 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
84	Some o' These Days, for voice & piano	2:40 min	Vocal Music	-
85	Symphony in E minor	38:38 min	Symphony	-
86	Song Without Words for piano ("Pleading")	3:45 min	Keyboard	-
87	Mississippi River Suite for orchestra	27:20 min	Orchestral	-
88	Elfentanz, for violin & piano	4:15 min	Chamber Music	-
89	Songs to the Dark Virgin, for voice & piano	2:04 min	Vocal Music	-
90	String Quartet in A minor	31:51 min	Chamber Music	-
91	Suite for organ No. 1	11:57 min	Keyboard	-
92	Nimble feet, for piano	2:11 min	Keyboard	-
93	Cabin Capers, for piano	2:58 min	Keyboard	-
94	Night	2:05 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
95	Sympathy, for voice & piano	2:49 min	Vocal Music	-

Albums featuring Florence Price

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Florence Beatrice Price, Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen, John Jeter – Songs Of The Oak(CDr, Album)	2022	Naxos
2	New York Youth Symphony, Florence Price, Valerie Coleman (2), Jessie Montgomery, Michelle Cann, Michael Repper – New York Youth Symphony(CD, )	2022	Avie Records
3	Rochelle Sennet, Johann Sebastian Bach, Harry Burleigh, Ulysses Kay, George Walker (4), Florence Price, Montague Ring, Joyce Solomon Moorman – Bach To Black: Suites For Piano, Volume II(3×CD, )	2022	Albany Records
4	Florence Beatrice Price, Ric'key Pageot, Lady Jess – Andante Con Espressione(File, MP3, Single)	2022	Steinway & Sons
5	Florence Beatrice Price, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, John Jeter – Symphony No. 3 In C Minor • The Mississippi River • Ethiopia's Shadow In America	2021	Naxos
6	Amy Beach, Florence Price, Samuel Barber - Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective – American Quintets(CD, Album)	2021	Chandos
7	Florence Price, Yannick Nézet-Séguin & The Philadelphia Orchestra – Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3	2021	Deutsche Grammophon
8	Florence Price, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Michael Seal, Valentina Peleggi, Nicholas Collon, Marin Alsop – Symphony No. 3 In C Minor, Concert Overture No. 1(CD, )	2020	BBC Music Magazine
9	Steven Bryant, John Hilliard (5), Florence Price, Conlon Nancarrow, Cole Burger – Beyond The Traveler(CD, Album)	2019	MSR Classics
10	Florence Beatrice Price, John Jeter, Fort Smith Symphony – Symphonies Nos. 1 And 4	2019	Naxos
11	Florence Price, Ryan Cockerham, Er-Gene Kahng, Janáček Philharmonic – Violin Concertos(CD, Album)	2018	Albany Records
12	Florence B. Price, New Black Music Repertory Ensemble, Leslie B. Dunner, Karen Walwyn – Concerto In One Movement / Symphony In E Minor(CD, Album)	2011	Albany Records
13	Amy Beach, Lili Boulanger, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Florence B. Price, Margaret Bonds, Agathe Backer Grøndahl, Germaine Tailleferre – Charlotte Mueller – Woman's Work(CD, Stereo)	2006	MSR Classics
14	Florence Price - The Women's Philharmonic - Apo Hsu – The Oak - Mississippi River Suite - Symphony No. 3(CD, Album)	2001	Koch International Classics
15	Florence B. Price, Kirsten Johnson (4) – Piano Music(2×CD, )	-	Guild Music Company