Donald Macleod looks at the early years of Florence Price and explores the impact racial prejudice had on her life and career.

Florence Price became a highly successful classical composer, organist, pianist and teacher of music during the 20th century in America. She was the first African-American woman to be recognised as a composer of symphonic music, and also the first African-American woman to have her works performed by one of the world’s leading orchestras. In collaboration with the Arts and Humanities Research Council, BBC Radio 3 launched the Forgotten Women Composers Project. Championed by the composer and educator Shirley Thompson, Florence Price became a particular focus for the project. Scores by Florence Price were located and recorded by BBC orchestras and choirs. It will be the first time Florence Price has been featured on Composer of the Week, and the series is supplemented by many specially recorded works.

Florence Price was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1887. She was baptised as Florence Beatrice Smith, and took the surname of Price once married. Her family were relatively well-off, and were seen as middleclass. Her mother would often host musicians in their house, and she encouraged her daughter Florence to play music, giving her first public recital as a pianist at the age of four. Racial tensions at this time were never far away, and when Florence was at university she changed her birthplace to Mexico. Her parents believed that her future career would be hampered when being identified as black, whereas it would be improved if she were considered of Spanish origin. Florence only perpetuated this myth regarding her birthplace for a year or so. Once she graduated Florence returned to Little Rock. She went on to teach at Shorter College in Argenta, going on to become Head of Music at Clark University in Atlanta. Despite rising so quickly to the position of Head of Music, black teachers at this time including Price, were often paid less than their white counterparts.

The Deserted Garden
Zina Schiff, violin
Cameron Grant, piano

Sonata in E minor (Andante – Allegro)
Althea Waites, piano

Suite for Organ No 1 (Fughetta and Air)
Kimberly Marshall, organ

The Oak
The Women’s Philharmonic
Apo Hsu, conductor

Violin Concerto No 2
Er-Gene Kahng, violin
Janacek Philharmonic
Ryan Cockerham, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Wales. Show less