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Tia Askew
Barnum
Women In Music
4/05/2015
Florence Price
Florence Beatrice Price is considered one of the most successful African
American composers. Due to her ethnic background and gender she had to go through
many obstacles to accomplish her goals. Florence was born on April 9th, 1887 in Little
Rock, Arkansas to a dentist named James Smith and her mother Florence who was a
music teacher. Florence was the youngest of three children that all practiced piano1. By
the age of four she made her first piano performance2. Florence was very educated and
advanced growing up, at age eleven she had her first composition in print. By age
fourteen she graduated as valedictorian at Capitol High School3. She then continued her
education at New England Conservatory of Music to study music.
During her education at New England Conservatory, she enrolled herself under
Mexican ethnicity due to the laws of segregation still being implemented in schools.
While studying music she took lessons on composition from George Whitefield
Chadwick who was famous for his works Symphony no.3 in F and Qaurlet no.4 in E.
Minor. During her lessons with George Whitefield Chadwick he often encouraged her to
incorporate African American influence in her music. Florence also performed twice as a
pianist while at the conservatory; she performed Opus 5 by Schumann and Allegro by
1
"Price, Florence Beatrice," in Encyclopedia of World Biography, 26:307.
"Florence Beatrice Price," The Biography.com website, http://www.biography.com/people/florencebeatrice-price-21120681 (accessed Apr 10 2015).
3
Barbara Garvey Jackson, "Florence Price, Composer," The Black Perspective in Music 5, no. 1 (1977):
33, accessed April 10, 2015, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1214357.
2
Reincke4. She soon graduated in 1906 with certificates in piano and organ and returned to
Arkansas to teach at Shorter College. Her major works began to be recognized by other
composers such as Neumon Leighton, a white composer that used her music for his
students to sing5.
After teaching at Shorter College for some time, Florence decided to make a big
move to Atlanta to become head of Clark’s University music department. She often gave
piano and organ lessons along with recitals and brought in international students to
perform. While holding her position there she was in charge of coordinating events and
often held lessons for organ and piano. During this time Florence ran into issues because
of the very ridged white power structure down south. Her and her students were excluded
from certain concert halls because of their race. Even though race was a big issue Clark’s
University embraced African American composers6.
Florence returned to Little Rock, Arkansas and got married to a lawyer named
Thomas Price. They had three kids two daughters and one son who was a stillborn.
Taking care of her family in Arkansas she often mailed her compositions to music
competitions. Florence even dedicated a song to her son called “To my little son” which
was an art song 7. She put her music studies aside to take care of her children but made
her own music studio teaching piano and violin. She was very serious about piano
technique and made beginner, intermediate and advance level lessons to emphasize the
4
5
Jackson, "Florence Price, Composer," 35.
"Price, Florence Beatrice," in Encyclopedia of World Biography, 26:307.
Rae Linda Brown and Wayne Shirley, eds., MUSA, vol. 19, Florence Price Symphonies Nos.1 and 3
(Middleton, WI: A-R Editions, n.d.),
7
Rae Linda Brown and Wayne Shirley, eds., MUSA, vol. 19, Florence Price Symphonies Nos.1 and 3
(Middleton, WI: A-R Editions, n.d.),
6
importance of piano technique8. She became one of the most wanted music teachers in
Arkansas. Living in Little Rock, Arkansas became very hard because of the consistent
news of lynching and social injustice. Florence had an obligation to follow “social
customs” which was take care of her family so this eventually led to Florence moving her
family out of Little Rock, Arkansas and to Chicago, Illinois9. While she was in Chicago
she studied music at various places and wrote educational pieces for children. After some
time because of financial issues Florence and Thomas decided to get a divorce. She
continued to write works during her lifetime and then died from a stroke in 1953.
During her career Florence won a lot of awards and wrote more than 300 musical
compositions10; this included “twenty orchestra works and over 100 art songs”11. Her
style of music was considered to be musical conservative and her works were romantic
with a hint of melodies from African American rituals. She had a “passion to incorporate
vernacular references into concert music12”. During her era race was a very big issue
especially living in the south. Even though Florence tried to avoid racial tensions she
knew that she would face discrimination not only being an African American but also
being a women. While seeking for name recognition she wrote to Serge Koussevitzky of
8
Brown and Shirley, MUSA, xxiii
9
Brown and Shirley, MUSA, xxiv
10
11
"Price, Florence Beatrice," in Encyclopedia of World Biography, 26:307.
Brown, Rae Linda. "SYMPHONY NO. 1 IN E MINOR (1932)." American Symphony
Orchestra. Accessed April 14, 2015. http://americansymphony.org/
symphony-no-1-in-e-minor/.
12 Dunbar, "Gender Integration in Twentieth-Century," in Women, Music, Culture An Introduction, 228.
the Boston Symphony Orchestra nine times before he acknowledged her13. In the letter to
him she said:
“My Dear Dr. Koussevitzky,
To begin with I have two handicaps-those of sex and race. I am a woman;
and I have some Negro blood in my veins… I should like to be judged on merit
alone14.”
Since her works were considered excellent American music, white composers often
recognized her works and even played them. She frequently submitted her piano
compositions to competitions and won for her work Land o’ Cotton. Around 1928, her
music was issued as piano music and more than twenty-five of her works were published
by Chicago’s McKinley Music Company15. While submitting music she also wrote for
radio stations and music commercials. She eventually hit financial hardships due to the
depression and worked on a symphony called Symphony No. 1 in E minor. She entered
the symphony into the Wanamaker music competition and won first place16.
Getting further into her career she made more symphonies such as the Symphony
in C minor and her famous Symphony No.1 in E minor. Chicago Symphony Orchestra,
WPA Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, the American Symphony, Bronx
Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony and Chicago Chamber Orchestra played her
13
Dunbar, "Gender Integration in Twentieth-Century," in Women, Music, Culture An Introduction, 229
14
Dunbar, "Gender Integration in Twentieth-Century," in Women, Music, Culture An Introduction, 225.
15
Brown and Shirley, MUSA, [xxvi]
16
"Price, Florence Beatrice," in Encyclopedia of World Biography, 26:308.
symphonies 17. Her Symphony No. 1 in E Minor along with two other African American
composers symphonies were the first African American symphonies performed by major
American orchestras18.
Florence started on her Piano Concerto in One Movement and performed in
Orchestra Hall and played for NANM (National Association of Negro Musicians).
According to J.Fred Lissfelt of the Sun Telegraph he wrote:
“Florence Price’s contribution in the form of a piano concerto was by far the most
important feature of the concert for here we see what the Negro has taken from
his own idom and with good technique is begging to develop alone. There is real
American music and Mrs. Price is speaking a language she knows19.”
Her performance was recognized by Women’s Symphony Orchestra of Chicago and was
noted to be the best contribution of a piano concerto20. After her recognition she made
even more popular works such as Sonata in E Minor and Dances in the Canebrakes. Her
Sonata in E minor was described as “conservatively structured in romantic tradition”.
Dance in the Canebrakes is described to be an “authentic Negro rhythm” 21.
As time progressed Florence became a member of the ASCAP (American Society
of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and often encouraged Marion Anderson, a very
accomplished gospel singer to sing her songs. Marion sang two of her works called “My
Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord” and “Songs to a Dark Virgin” which was described as
17
Jackson, "Florence Price, Composer," 40.
18
Bone and Courage, "Birthing the Blues and Other," in The Muse in Bronzeville, 96.
19
Brown, "The Woman's Symphony Orchestra," 187.
20
Brown and Shirley, MUSA, xxix.
21
Brown and Shirley, MUSA, [xxx].
“one of the greatest successes ever won by an American song” in Chicago Daily News22.
By 1953 Florence’s career suddenly came to an end. On June 3rd Florence was
hospitalized with a stroke and died at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago23. Florence did
leave a legacy and still recognized as one of the greatest female African American
composers of her time. In Chicago and elementary school was named after her called
Price Elementary School24.
A composer that shared similar hardships and accomplishments was William
Grant Still. He was an African American composer/conductor born May 11th 1895 in
Woodville, Mississippi. When he was younger he moved to Little Rock, Arkansas after
his father passed away25. Due to financial struggles he could not pursue his dreams of
studying music instead he took a job at W.C Handy’s Music Publishing Company in
Memphis, Tennessee. After some time he received an inheritance from his father and was
able to pursue the study of music composition26. He studied composition at Ohio’s
Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Just like Florence he later studied music at New England
Conservatory of Music with George Whitefield Chadwick and Edgar Verèse. His college
career was interrupted because of World War I and he had to enlist but was only able to
be a server because it was the only job African Americans could have27.
22
Jackson, "Florence Price, Composer," 39.
23
Jackson, "Florence Price, Composer," 41
24
Dykema, "Florence Beatrice Smith Price," The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture.
"William Grant Still," The Biography.com website, http://www.biography.com/people/william-grantstill-9495333 (accessed Apr 14 2015).
26 Widell, Harvey. "Still the best composer." American Visions 10, no. 4 (August
1995): 14. MAS Ultra - School Edition, EBSCOhost (accessed April 14, 2015).
27 Widell, Harvey. "Still the best composer." American Visions 10, no. 4 (August
1995): 14. MAS Ultra - School Edition, EBSCOhost (accessed April 14, 2015).
25
Throughout William’s career he produced over 100 compositions including six
symphonies, six operas and eight ballets. In the beginning of his career he began to
compose art songs but not until later in his career his works began to be recognized.
When he moved to New York he played with various music groups and was the musical
director for the Pace Phonography Company. He later moved to Los Angeles, California
and continued to write commercial music for films and television shows28.
Similar to Florence Price, William Grant Still broke barriers of racial power
structures and tension. He started off organizing band music for Paul Whiteman a white
bandleader, composer and orchestral director; which concluded to him to make the works
Darker America and From the Black Belt. From those works he received Rosewald and
Guggenhein fellowships29. His works were also known to be conservative, melodious and
frequently based on spirituals. William experienced huge success when the Rochester
Philharmonic Orchestra gave a performance of Afro-American Symphony. When he
conducted Los Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl he made history being the first
African American to conduct an American Orchestra. According to Biography, William
was also awarded any honorary degrees from Howard University, Oberlin College, The
University of Arkansas, Pepperdine University and University of Southern California30.
William was also called the “Dean of Afro-American Composers” because he was the
first African American to have his opera performed by a major company and symphony
28
William Grant Still," 283
29
"William Grant Still." The Musical Times, March 1979, 244. Accessed April 14,
30
2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/961800.
William Grant Still," The Biography.com website, http://www.biography.com/
people/william-grant-still-9495333 (accessed Apr 14 2015).
performed by a major orchestra31. His career came to an end when he passed away at the
age of 83 on December 3rd, 1978.
Some differences between Florence and William were gender. Gender played a
significant role in both of their lives. Even though both had similar upbringings, it was a
lot easier for a male to get recognized for something than a female. A lot of articles about
William said that he was the first African American composer to have his compositional
works performed however, Florence Price piece was performed by a major Orchestra yet
William gets the title of “Dean of Afro-American Composers”. Florence Price also was
older than him yet he gets more recognition for being the first successful African
American composer. Another difference in their career was William wrote a little over
100 compositional works and Florence wrote over 300 compositional works. Most of
Williams works were kept and Florence compositional works were lost. Florence being a
female composer did not receive as much respect and attention as she deserved. Williams
on the other hand still received a lot more respect and attention during and after his
musical career. Another difference between their careers is that William did not have to
submit his compositional works to contest or write letters begging for name recognition.
Overall Florence Price has left a significant mark on history being one of the first
African American women composers that made an impact on classical music.
31
William Grant Still." The Black Perspective in Music 7, no. 2 (1979): 283.
Accessed April 14, 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1214350.