Florence Price: Songs

Known as a symphonic composer, Florence Price was the first African-American female to have one of her composition performed by a major orchestra in the US. Her music was rediscovered in 2009 in her old summer home, which has led to many of her works being recently published and premiered. Also an excellent pianist, her art songs include some virtuostic playing for the pianist, along with melodies that capture the text in a way that feels very immediate and can work anywhere in a recital.

Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Ricky L. Owens, Jr., countertenor, Gracyn Blu Louis, mezzo-soprano, Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:

• Hold Fast to Dreams (sung by Ricky)
• Night (sung by Gracyn)
• The Heart of a Woman (sung by Toni Marie)
• Dawn's Awakening (sung by Gracyn)
• An April Day (sung by Toni Marie)

Score are available from Classical Vocal Reprints:

• 44 Art Songs and Spirituals
• The Heart of a Woman

We also mentioned our CSI colleague Karen Slack, soprano, who has the video podcast KikiConversations on YouTube--she has a new CD out of unpublished Florence Price songs with pianist Michelle Cann entitled Beyond the Years.

Recorded at The Church Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon School of Music Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA, and Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.

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So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.

You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook and at www.dictionpolice.com.

You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertree

For more information on Ricky L. Owens, Jr., countertenor, visit his website.

For more information on Gracyn Blu Louis, visit their website, or you can follow them on Instagram @gracynblu

This episode is sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University. Learn more about CMU and apply today.