When an important composer's papers, including dozens of her best works, are lost and then later found, an entire cottage industry must necessarily grow up around bringing these works to life. Thankfully, the University of Arkansas has begun to create exactly that, and many of Price's works are seeing their very first performances and recordings. For instance, her fourth symphony received its world premiere just two weeks ago.
Last month, I posted a general resource roundup of the music of Florence Price. This month, I'll narrow the focus down to just a listing of her symphonic works with notes on each as to their current status. I have listed the symphonies, concertos and other works, and have endeavored to provide information about composition date, premiere, awards, movements, and duration, as available.
I suspect that a large amount of additional information will become available over the coming months and years and I will continue to update this guide to reflect new insights as they become available, not to mention recordings, published scores, and other research. If you are reading this and have additional information you think I should add, please contact me.
Symphonies
Symphony No. 1 in E Minor
Symphony No. 2 in G Minor
Florence Price's second symphony is incomplete and/or lost. However, there are some signs that the Fort Smith Symphony, the University of Arkansas Libraries Special Collections, and Naxos International are working together to restore, perform, and record this Symphony.
Symphony No. 3 in C Minor
Symphony No. 4 in D Minor
Concertos
Violin Concerto No. 1 in D M
Violin Concerto No. 2 in d mi
Original violin 2 part for Price's Violin Concerto No. 2.
Piano Concerto in One Movement
Composed: 1932-34
Premiered: 1934, Chicago; 2011; Chicago (Reconstructed Score. Source.), Florence Price (Piano).
Awards: 1932, Honorable Mention, Rodman Wanamaker Competition
Recordings: See above, under Symphony No. 1. Karen Walwyn (Piano), New Black Music Repertory Ensemble of Columbia College, Chicago, Leslie B. Dunner (Conductor)
Other Symphonic Works
Ethiopia's Shadow in America
Composed: 1929-1932
Premiered: First known performance in 2015, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Daniel Blendulf
Awards: 1932, Honorable Mention, Rodman Wanamaker Competition
Movements:
I. Introduction and Allegretto
II. Andante: "His Resignation and Faith"
III. Allegro: "His Adaptation. A fusion of his native and acquired impulses."
Mississippi River Suite
Composed: 1934
Premiered:
Duration: 28 minutes.
Dedication: Arthur Olaf Anderson
Notes: Solo instrument voices play quotations of “Get Down, Moses” or “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” that fade in and out of listening range as if on the banks of the shore. (Ricky O’Bannon). Also contains "Deep River".
The Oak
Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight
Lyrics by Vachel Lindsay
Chicago Suite
Colonial Dance
Concert Overture No. 1
Concert Overture No. 2
Dances in the Canebrakes (1953)
Originally for Piano. Orchestrated by William Grant Still. Ed. Michael Kibbe.
Every Dream
Lyrics by Sal Janeway Carroll and Florence Price.
My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord
Arranged for contralto and orchestra by Florence B. Price.
Overture: "Sinner please don't let this harvest pass"
Suite of Dances (Learn More)
Three Negro Dances
Originally for Piano. Arranged for Orchestra. Arranged for Band by Erik Leidzen in 1939.
Scores for Sale
It's hard to believe, but there are very few mainstream publications containing Price's music at this time. Clar-Nan Editions has long been the best source for those Price works that are available, but to my knowledge, none of the symphonic works were published by Clar-Nan. We hope many additional scores will become available for purchase, now that Schirmer acquired the rights to her catalog.
More on Florence Price
Upcoming Performances