Florence Price

Hoe Cake, from Three Little Negro Dances. Florence Price

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2024 22:28:39 +0000

Hoe Cake, from Three Little Negro Dances. Florence Price Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/07/2024 - 16:28

Nadia Rodriguez

Born in 1887, Florence Beatrice Price is recognized as the pioneer of accomplishing many “firsts.” She was a pianist, composer, organist, and educator who broke through monumental barriers as an African American woman in classical music. She wrote hundreds of works including symphonies, concerti, choir works, chamber works, and an extensive amount of advanced and pedagogical compositions for the piano. While her training in music was steeped in European traditions, her music weaves the sounds palettes of African American spirituals, folk dances, and her Southern roots. For a full biography and list of completed works, visit the Florence Price website.

Hoe Cake by Florence Price is a mid-intermediate piece composed in 1933. It is one of three pieces from the dance suite Three Little Negro Dances which encompasses African-American folk styles and dance rhythms. The three dances were later turned into an orchestration titled Suite of Dances in the 1950s.

Hoe cake contains an energetic, syncopated melody played over jolly accompanimental patterns. The animated melody and accompaniment seem to evoke a sunny morning in a lively kitchen while someone bakes a “hoe cake”: a Southern style cake made of cornmeal, water, and salt. The syncopation in the piece lends itself to a carefree and exciting character. The sudden changes in dynamics add to the musical shaping and cheerful characters within the piece. Additionally, the A-B-A structure gives students the opportunity to contrast the sections by exploring different sounds and characters at the piano.

While the piece is in C Major and only two pages long, there are a few challenges the student might come across: difficulty with the legato and staccato articulation patterns between the hands, lining up the syncopated right hand with the open positioned, detached left hand accompaniment patterns, and using appropriate wrist movements to facilitate executing the latter.

Practice strategies for this piece include:

Observe the eighth rests and lean into ties to facilitate the swing in the syncopated rhythms.
First page: Block the left hand intervals to feel where the hand will be jumping throughout the phrases.
Second page: Using a down and up motion in the wrist to execute legato and staccato articulation appropriately.
Practice the hands separately to voice properly (especially in measures 69-76 where the melody jumps to the left hand).
Observe dynamics such as crescendos, sudden diminuendos, and forzandos which add to the shaping and characterization of the piece.

Sources

Opera Philadelphia: Florence Price
Jackson, Barbara Garvey. “Florence Price, Composer.” The Black Perspective in Music 5, no. 1 (1977): 31–43. https://doi.org/10.2307/1214357
Photo: The Perseverance of Florence Price. Modexto Symphony Orchestra

Hoe Cake, by Florence Price. Performed by Nadia Rodríguez.

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The Sea Swallow. Florence Price

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2024 03:33:06 +0000

The Sea Swallow. Florence Price Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 05/06/2024 - 21:33

Kimia Peykarzadeh

Florence Beatrice Price (1887-1953) was a remarkable African-American pianist, composer and educator. Florence Price's compositional output was extensive, comprising over 300 works across various genres. Among her compositions were four symphonies, four concertos, as well as choral works, art songs, chamber music, and solo instrumental pieces. In a remarkable discovery in 2009, a significant collection of her compositions and personal papers was unearthed in her deserted summer residence, shedding new light on her life and musical legacy. For more information, please visit the Florence Price website.

The Sea Swallow was composed in 1951 by Florence Price. It spans two pages and sets a tranquil and calm character that is well-matched with the title and the repetitive arpeggiation. The hand crossovers delicately illustrate the timeless allure of the sea waves.

The piece is in C major; however, throughout the piece, a few accidentals appear to enrich the harmonic palette. It provides a good opportunity for early intermediate learners to develop skills such as: voicing, shaping and listening to longer phrases and overlapping pedaling. Additionally, non-patterned arpeggiation, constant crossovers and contrasting dynamic marks add to the challenges of the piece.

Practice strategies:

Singing and shaping the half notes at the end of each two measure.
Blocking the split arpeggios with both hands.
Highlighting the dynamic marks especially the long crescendo at the first half of the second page.
Analyzing the harmonic progression and labeling chords.

Sources

Photo: The Perseverance of Florence Price. Modexto Symphony Orchestra
Florence Price. Wikipedia.com

The Sea Swallow, by Florence Price. Kimia Peykarzadeh, piano.

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Dance of the Cotton Blossoms (1938), by Florence Price

Anonymous — Sat, 13 May 2023 15:10:05 +0000

Dance of the Cotton Blossoms (1938), by Florence Price Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 05/13/2023 - 09:10

Max Warnock

Dance of the Cotton Blossoms is an early advanced piece written by Florence Price in 1938. This piece is not to be confused with another piece by Price which shares the same title, but was written in 1931. She also wrote a piece called “Cotton Dance (Presto)” ca. 1940. Price’s southern and African American heritage is reflected in the titles and musical content of these pieces.

The dance features an energetic and lyrical melody that floats above the thick texture underneath, similar to cotton blossoms floating through the air on a breezy summer day. Strong syncopated rhythms throughout the piece add excitement, suspense, and drive to the music. The lush harmonies are reminiscent of jazz while providing a uniquely rich sound quality. Additionally, the A-B-A structure gives opportunities for the performer to explore different moods between the sections.

Although the piece is only two pages long, there are several challenges. Large, fast, and thickly textured leaps are found in both hands and are especially difficult to play accurately. Depending on the hand size of the performer, some left hand chords will need to be broken, and these should be rolled quickly to maintain rhythmic integrity. The top voice in the right hand should sing clearly above the texture underneath while the performer may choose to bring out some of the lowest bass notes in the left hand. Observing the rests is important for emphasizing the syncopations and for building excitement and suspense. The pedal should be used lightly to support a sense of line and enhance the melody and harmonies while maintaining clarity. Dynamic pacing is important–especially during the piu mosso ending to create a dramatic effect. While the piece involves difficult technical challenges, it needs to sound easy, carefree, and lively.

Practice strategies:

Play the right hand melody (top voice) by itself to understand the voicing.
Practice the most difficult measures such as mm. 11-13 slowly in small chunks to develop comfort and technical fluency over the large leaps.
Practice slowly with the metronome without pedal to develop a strong understanding of the syncopation

Florence Beatrice Price (1887-1953) is perhaps the best known African American female composer in the US. She was active in the Chicago area, and was the first African-American woman to have a composition played by a major orchestra. For a full biography and information about her works, visit the Florence Price website.

Sources

Dance of the Cotton Blossoms, by Florence Price. Performed by Max Warnock.

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Rocking Chair, by Florence Price

Anonymous — Fri, 05 May 2023 17:58:32 +0000

Rocking Chair, by Florence Price Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/05/2023 - 11:58

Junran Cao

Rocking Chair, by Florence Price, is a gentle and nostalgic solo piano piece spanning approximately three pages. It effectively captures the sensation of lounging in a rocking chair on a lazy afternoon, while its steady rhythm and simple, lilting melody lend a soothing quality to the composition. With a 6/8 meter, the piece takes on a barcarolle style that evokes a rocking motion. The piece features an ABA - Coda structure. The A section (mm.3-10) begins with E-flat major, accompanied by a rocking rhythmic ostinato in the left hand that reinforces the swinging sensation and mirrors the rhythmic motion of a rocking chair. The right-hand part features a slow, extended melodic line with double notes. After two four-measure phrases (m.11), the accompaniment part switches to the right and. The B section (mm.19-26) modulates to G major and omits the “rocking” ostinato rhythms. Two hands basically move in a contrary motion with the same rhythmic pattern, as if sitting in a rocking chair and slumbering. The A’ section (mm.27-41) returns to the E-flat and then shifts to G-flat major, adding a more nostalgic atmosphere. The piece features mid-intermediate to late-intermediate levels for pedagogical purposes. One of the primary difficulties is playing more than one voice with one hand. The left hand typically includes both a bass line and a more active inner voice, which can feel challenging to execute. Additionally, the inner voice occasionally moves to the right hand, which requires playing double notes. To successfully perform the piece, it is necessary to have a a good sense of the “rocking” rhythms and possess good control when playing legato double notes over long musical phrases.

Practice Strategies:

Divide the double notes into two separate voices, and practice each voice with the accompaniment.
Use the same fingering that you would use when playing both notes together.
Once feeling more confident making long melodic phrases, try practicing all the notes together at a very slow tempo.
Focus on connecting every top note smoothly and playing with a legato touch.

Sources

Rocking Chair, by Florence Price. Performed by Junran Cao.

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Rabbit Foot, by Florence Price

Anonymous — Fri, 05 May 2023 17:48:17 +0000

Rabbit Foot, by Florence Price Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/05/2023 - 11:48

Arjun Novotny-Shandas

Rabbit Foot is a playful early intermediate piece by Florence Price. In a repetitive A-B-A'form, Rabbit Foot offers opportunities for discussion about keeping repeats musically interesting through dynamics and shaping. All three sections have tricky articulations that call for a significant level of control, plus ornamentation that is a challenge to fit in the phrase. Both A sections have a combination of slurs and staccatos that require practice and care. The B section’s left-hand part appears to be a simple ostinato, but actually splits the hand with the fourth and fifth fingers playing longer quarter notes while the rest of the hand plays short eighth notes. The most challenging part of Rabbit Foot is the second half of the last section where both hands have rapid jumps while still using the same tricky articulations as before. Additionally, the quick tempo and dynamic changes in the final section create further learning opportunities.

Practice ideas:

Practice the movement of the jumps in tempo before bringing the notes themselves in tempo.
Figure out what long-short pattern works in the left-hand of the B section before adding the right-hand melody.
Use the articulations to your advantage. For example, the slurs in measure four allow you to lift your hand and place it in the best location for the next section.

Sources

Rabbit Foot, by Florence Price. Performed by Arjun Novotny-Shandas.

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“Song Without Words (Pleading)”, by Florence Price

Anonymous — Tue, 24 May 2022 14:31:22 +0000

“Song Without Words (Pleading)”, by Florence Price Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/24/2022 - 08:31

Sharon Hui

“Song Without Words (Pleading)”, by Florence Price, is the sixth in a set of “Seven Miniatures” for piano.

Reminiscent of Mendelssohn’s own "Songs without Words," this piece opens with a few measures of solo introduction, setting the stage for the “singer” - a lovely, cantabile melody. As the “A” section progresses, virtuosic demands increase along with greater keyboard and dynamic ranges. There are double notes, full chords, and octaves amidst quite a bit of counterpoint. Voice layering is another challenge. The voices weave together, progressing from one main melody, to a question-and-answer dialogue, and then another in the middle register. With often three or more voices at the same time, the thick textures must be carefully balanced to maintain clarity or allow space for inner voices. Additionally, this piece is an opportunity for students to develop a natural sense of flexibility. Price has specific musical markings; the frequent changes in tempo may be confusing at first, but are key guidelines in determining how, when, and where to place rubato and timing. The overall complexity is tempered with a slower tempo, making it easier to approach for pianists at the late intermediate level.

The intensity of section A slowly fades, followed by a short, melancholic section. A glimpse of the more desperate side to pleading, section B is in the relative key, further contrasting section A with a thin texture and subdued dynamics. Section A returns with one final climax before peacefully dying away.

Sources

Song without Words, by Florence Price. Performed by Sharon Hui.

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Memory Mist, from Seven Miniatures. Florence Price

Anonymous — Tue, 10 May 2022 19:43:18 +0000

Memory Mist, from Seven Miniatures. Florence Price Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/10/2022 - 13:43

Lizzie French

“Memory Mist” is an early advanced piano piece by Florence Price, and was compiled as part of a set titled “Seven Miniatures.” The three-page piece is expressive and romantic in feeling, with the 20th century harmonic language that defines Price’s style. The A section is andante cantabile, with a tempo marking of quarter note=76. The contrasting B section is a quicker allegretto, with a return to the first tempo and some repeated material on the final page of the piece. The score is highly detailed, and provides lots of opportunity for expression and rubato. There are many chords spanning an octave or more, sometimes in quick succession, so a performer would need to make decisions about how to distribute notes between hands, as well as sometimes breaking chords in order to play all the notes. The first page contains a swell to an orchestral-sounding repetition of the first theme (mm. 7-12), which has left hand arpeggios in triplets and the melody in octaves in the right hand. The combination of the polyrhythm and technically challenging parts in both hands makes this one of the more difficult passages in the piece. The return to the A section on the final page could also be tricky, as the left hand must move quickly from the grace notes in the bass to the higher chords that accompany the final iteration of the main theme.

Sources

Memory Mist, from Seven Miniatures. Performed by Lizzie French.

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Little Melody in E-flat, from Seven Miniatures, by Florence Price

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 17:46:10 +0000

Little Melody in E-flat, from Seven Miniatures, by Florence Price Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/21/2022 - 11:46

Pearl Enssle

"Little Melody in E-flat major" is the fifth of the Seven Miniatures. These Miniatures comprise seven standalone pieces, published in An Album of Piano Pieces and Second Album of Piano Pieces, each of which revealing different facets of Price’s creative personality. "Little Melody," written in a Romantic and tonal style, often sounds like a boat floating on the water; it has moments of moving forward – the first few bars – and moments of pushing back, like in measures 18 – 22. The opening theme can be heard until the mood changes in measure 18 into a quiet, singing section before returning to the first melody in measure 26.

The most challenging aspects of this melody are the dynamic changes on the first page and interchanging voices in the right and left hand that can be voiced over the inner melodies. The layers of this melody can also pose a challenge, as there are often more than one layer in each hand. Because of Price’s expressiveness in this piece, there are many opportunities to work on subtle timing, flexibility, and rubato, as well as pedaling. This is a lovely piece, and a great introduction to Price’s piano works.

Sources

Melody in E-flat Major, by Florence Price. Performed by Pearl Enssle.

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Florence Price

Hoe Cake, from Three Little Negro Dances. Florence Price

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The Sea Swallow. Florence Price

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Dance of the Cotton Blossoms (1938), by Florence Price

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