The Beautiful Music of African-American Composer Florence Price

African-American and Women Composers

Here at ‘Your Musical Baby”, we are celebrating the beautiful music of African-American composer, Florence Price. February is Black History month in the U.S., so it is right to turn our attention to the music of African-American composers.

In fact, “Your Musical Baby” has two goals for this blog in 2021. The first is to introduce you and your baby to both men and women African-American composers. The second is to bring you the music of women composers in general.

In the past, the music of both of these groups of composers have been shelved and collecting dust OR never published at all. Until very recently, European composers have dominated classical music. The racist and sexist ideas of the past have kept it that way.

However, we won’t belabor that point further. Our goal is to learn from those past errors and do better. Each of us can play a part in bringing the music of African-American composers into the mainstream of classical music.

You have the opportunity to introduce your baby to the music of these overlooked composers. YouTube has many videos of their music. Their compositions are being recorded and more readily available.

So, here is a quick guide to Florence Price and her music.

Florence Price-Quick Composer Facts

• Born on April 9, 1887 in Little Rock, Arkansas
• Hers was a mixed-race family. They were well respected in their community despite the racial issues of the time.
• Could not get a musical education locally because of the color of her skin. No teacher would accept her as student. Therefore, her mother taught her to play piano.
• Gave her first piano performance when she was four year old
• Published her first composition at age 11
• Graduated from high school at age 14 and was the class valedictorian.
• Could not continue her musical education near her home. Universities in the south would not accept African-American students during this time of Jim Crow segregation laws.
• Enrolled in the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston
• Successfully passed as Mexican and was not turned away from the Conservatory
• Studied piano, organ, and composition and graduated in 1906. By then, she had already composed a string trio and a symphony.
• Moved to Chicago and continued composing and teaching
• Won a competition in 1932 for her Symphony No. 1 in E Minor
• Symphony No. 1 in E Minor was performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• This performance made Price the first African-American woman to have a work performed by a major symphony orchestra
• Wrote four symphonies, four concertos, numerous orchestral, choral, vocal, and piano works
• Died June 3, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois

The Music of Florence Price

Price’s musical education was based in the European tradition. But, she incorporated the music of the African-American church and the rhythms of spirituals and dances. She also combined blues and traditional European composition techniques in her music.

She did enjoy success as a composer in her lifetime. However, after she died, much of her work was stored away in boxes.

But, in 2009, those boxes were discovered in an abandoned house in St. Anne, Illinois. It turns out that house had been the summer home of Florence Price.

Since then, Prices’ works have been performed and recorded. In 2018, G. Schirmer publishing company bought the rights to the entire music catalog of Florence Price’s music. This is exciting because performers will now have better access to her music.

I have included a few links to some of Florence Price’s music for you to sample. That way, you can get a feel for her musical style.

Here is a part of Price’s Sonata in E Minor for piano.

Next is a movement from her String Quartet in G Major.

Finally, this is one example of her choral works, “Moon Bridge”

“Bonus Musical Activity” for You and Your Baby

For this activity, you will need:

• a small soft ball
• enough floor space to roll the ball back and forth to each other
• another adult or older sibling
• a recording of Florence Price’s “Dance of the Cotton Blossoms”

This activity works best when one parent holds baby. Then, the other parent, adult, or older sibling can help roll the ball back and forth.

Play Dance of the Cotton Blossoms. Gently roll the ball back and forth using the back of your hand. Your baby may not be old enough yet to do this.

However, you are modeling the correct way to do it. As your baby gets older, you will help their little hand roll the ball. Eventually, they will do it on their own.

In this activity, your baby will learn the motor skill of rolling the ball. They will also learn self-control of gently rolling the ball and not throwing it.

Baby learns to share when they willingly roll the ball to someone else. They are also tracking the ball with their eyes.

All these things are happening with one simple activity. The best part is that it only takes a few minutes to do.

Read About a Young African-America Musician

Florence Price and her music have not enjoyed popularity until recently. Obviously, there isn’t much written about her. Certainly, there are no children’s books about Florence Price.

I have chosen instead to tell you about a board book called Ella Fitzgerald. It is part of the Little People, BIG DREAMS series. The pictures are very engaging.

There isn’t a storyline per se. It is more like a timeline of Ella Fitzgerald’s life in a narrative form. FYI, the story does tell about Ella’s mother dying in a car accident.

You may feel that is inappropriate for your child. If so, you can certainly skip over that part until your child is old enough to understand.

There is also a subtle reference to racism in a one of the illustrations. It shows Ella standing next to a sign that says, “Whites Only”.

Again, for a baby or a toddler, this will not immediately register. However, the conversation about race and inequality needs to begin sometime.

Enjoying This Guide to Florence Price and Her Music

Beginning that conversation sooner is better than later. Read these books to your baby. They approach the subject of racism at an appropriate level. Our children must learn how to be kind to and accepting of EVERYONE!

I do hope that this Guide to Florence Price will help you bring the beauty of her music into your home. Play any of the compositions linked in this post for your baby.

In particular, play The Dance of the Cotton Blossoms and do the ball rolling activity. Play the music many times during the day. Read the story of Ella many times as well.

Your baby will come to know and recognize the music and the story. Then they will be on their way to learning about how to live peacefully with others.

That is one of my goals in teaching Suzuki Early Childhood Education Baby Class. Through the musical activities in Baby Class, you will grow your parenting skills. Your baby will learn important life skills.

Most importantly, you and your baby can develop a deep relationship with each other. That was Dr Suzuki’s wish for all the children of the world. You and I can help make that come true for all children.

On the “Beautiful Heart Musical Journey” with you,

Susan

Comments and Share

In the Comments below, share which Florence Price composition mentioned in the blog or another that you found online that is your favorite. I am curious which ones you and your baby enjoyed.

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