The passages from 22:12-24:06 and 24:32-25:21 are absolutely gorgeous. I love how the 3-3-2 rhythm is executed, made just different enough to avoid being stock. The orchestration is lovely, the flute eighth-notes are fantastic, and the melody is instantly catchy. As an aside, I believe the complete score for the Symphony is available to view online for free at Wise Music Classical.
I really like some of the unusual influences in her music, mostly due to her background and the songs she heard growing up. It's very "Americana" in a Dvořák way, but comes off more natural.
It's more natural because the African American Spirituals are Price's heritage. Dvorak was also inspired by African-American Spirituals although that was not his heritage.
Thank you for this, and especially, thank you so much for breaking out the individual movements... and also the biographical sketch ~ really nice work you've done, and SO appreciated!
It's true she was very conservative in her writing and this Symphony, her last, written in 1945 (32 years after The Rite of Spring) is proof. But that doesn't make it any less worthy. It's an enjoyable composition with lots of positive writing considering there had just been a World War!
Oui c'est vrai mais il m'arrive de me demander si une femme pouvait se permettre deux choses en même temps : écrire de la musique et qui plus est une symphonie et de plus être innovative....Écrire de la musique et surtout une symphonie était déjà un acte très fort et d'ailleurs on voit bien l'oubli dans lequel ces compositrices sont toutes tombées....même la merveilleuse Lili Boulanger ! Imaginez si en plus une femme s'était mise à écrire un Sacre du printemps ! On l'aurait lapidée à mort, je crois... J'ai souvent pensé à ce que écrire de la musique a représenté pour celles qui l'ont fait . Et puis, beaucoup de très belle musique a été écrite par d'excellents compositeurs sans rompre avec une écriture plus classique, en fait. Pour moi l'important c'est que lorsque j'écoute quelque chose je ne m'ennuie pas ...
The Philadelphia Orchestra has devoted some programming over these Covid seasons to Ms Price's work. They just played this one as part of their MLK Birthday concert. They pointed out in their broadcast that the manuscripts for this and other works were found in her abandoned home in 2010. The Orchestra Now's performance of Still's Afro-American Symphony should still be here. IMHO, the best yet.
@@sarikgoyal5390 Well, the main theme is played by an oboe, not an English horn, but since the English horn is basically an alto oboe, I can see your point. The English horn does have a very short solo passage a short time later (16:23).
@@sarikgoyal5390 They definitely sound similar. One reason could be because a character of black folk music, is to center a simple melody around one pitch. Dvorak was also a major influence on price. And both symphonies sought to use African-American folk material. They are both very different when you compare though.
Sorry, but I got bored by this symphony early on. It seemed to range the gamut from Dvorak (a much feebler attempt in utilizing the familiar "Goin' Home" tune), to Ferde Grofe, to pop music. Even the somewhat charming (but treacly) finale failed to raise my opinion of it. I think the greatest U.S. composers of this general era or European style were Chadwick, Paine, and Foote; I can refund this Price.
I don't think Price was writing intending to be the next Mahler or whoever. She was writing music she wanted to be heard, but music that meant the most to her and her culture, not to critics hyper-focused on the biggest, baddest ninth symphonies of Europe. The orchestration and thematic material is sublime, but I feel the beauty in this piece lies primarily in its meaning as a symphony incapsulating the composer's perspective on her culture, adapting melodies and sounds she grew up with into different mediums. The frequent quotes to the spiritual "Wade in the Water," for example, not only look forward, but back. Price's music doesn't possess as much surface level appeal as some other composers, not everyone can identify with her music, but as someone who's listened to plenty of her work, I find myself coming back. She wasn't the most flamboyant composer, but remarkable nonetheless, and a voice deserving of our ears.
you can hear "wade in the water" in the first movement =)
Fantastic, thank you for sharing!
Florence Price's symphonies are wonderful with originality that incorporates folk melody
along with jazz and ragtime
The passages from 22:12-24:06 and 24:32-25:21 are absolutely gorgeous. I love how the 3-3-2 rhythm is executed, made just different enough to avoid being stock. The orchestration is lovely, the flute eighth-notes are fantastic, and the melody is instantly catchy.
As an aside, I believe the complete score for the Symphony is available to view online for free at Wise Music Classical.
It is very instructive to read the biography of the authors of the music you upload. I am particularly grateful for that. It's a great cultural work.
Wonderful music that deserves to be heard more in our concert halls! Thanks for posting this!
Yes! That "Juba Dance" ROCKS! Brava from México!
I really like some of the unusual influences in her music, mostly due to her background and the songs she heard growing up. It's very "Americana" in a Dvořák way, but comes off more natural.
It's more natural because the African American Spirituals are Price's heritage. Dvorak was also inspired by African-American Spirituals although that was not his heritage.
Thank you for this, and especially, thank you so much for breaking out the individual movements... and also the biographical sketch ~ really nice work you've done, and SO appreciated!
Supremely under rated. Her symphonic works are about the best I've ever heard. So so beautiful. Thank you for posting :)
It's true she was very conservative in her writing and this Symphony, her last, written in 1945 (32 years after The Rite of Spring) is proof. But that doesn't make it any less worthy. It's an enjoyable composition with lots of positive writing considering there had just been a World War!
Oui c'est vrai mais il m'arrive de me demander si une femme pouvait se permettre deux choses en même temps : écrire de la musique et qui plus est une symphonie et de plus être innovative....Écrire de la musique et surtout une symphonie était déjà un acte très fort et d'ailleurs on voit bien l'oubli dans lequel ces compositrices sont toutes tombées....même la merveilleuse Lili Boulanger ! Imaginez si en plus une femme s'était mise à écrire un Sacre du printemps ! On l'aurait lapidée à mort, je crois... J'ai souvent pensé à ce que écrire de la musique a représenté pour celles qui l'ont fait . Et puis, beaucoup de très belle musique a été écrite par d'excellents compositeurs sans rompre avec une écriture plus classique, en fait. Pour moi l'important c'est que lorsque j'écoute quelque chose je ne m'ennuie pas ...
She would been great writing music for Hollywood.
Her best symphony, and favorite interpretation of Wade in the water!
Escrever uma sinfonia é um trabalho hercúleo. Fazê-la soar linda aos ouvidos humanos, como faz Florence, aí já é tarefa para os deuses da música.
Genius
Thank you for Upload. Wonderful.
The Wade in the Water quote in the beginning is freakin' crazy
yall iowa kids ready for all state 😌😌😌
What beautiful 💐❤️👍 music! Amazing it is never played. Musical racism and discrimination are the only logical explanation. Sadly.
The Philadelphia Orchestra has devoted some programming over these Covid seasons to Ms Price's work. They just played this one as part of their MLK Birthday concert. They pointed out in their broadcast that the manuscripts for this and other works were found in her abandoned home in 2010. The Orchestra Now's performance of Still's Afro-American Symphony should still be here. IMHO, the best yet.
NY Philharmonic is doing it this month! Oct '22
Wow the 2nd movement is almost identical to New World's 2nd movement
Thematically, perhaps there might be a relationship, but formally and in orchestration, I just don't hear it.
I was mainly referring to the main melody of the movement, but I do also believe that the way this theme is orchestrated has resemblance to Dvorak.
@@sarikgoyal5390 Well, the main theme is played by an oboe, not an English horn, but since the English horn is basically an alto oboe, I can see your point. The English horn does have a very short solo passage a short time later (16:23).
Ah thank you!
@@sarikgoyal5390 They definitely sound similar. One reason could be because a character of black folk music, is to center a simple melody around one pitch. Dvorak was also a major influence on price. And both symphonies sought to use African-American folk material. They are both very different when you compare though.
Sorry, but I got bored by this symphony early on. It seemed to range the gamut from Dvorak (a much feebler attempt in utilizing the familiar "Goin' Home" tune), to Ferde Grofe, to pop music. Even the somewhat charming (but treacly) finale failed to raise my opinion of it. I think the greatest U.S. composers of this general era or European style were Chadwick, Paine, and Foote; I can refund this Price.
I hear some Dvorak inspiration. But let's be real. This is not a great piece of music. It's ok.
Do you feel the same about Gershwin's works?
That's an open door you kicked in. It's well known that she drew inspiration from Dvorak, as you'd have read on Wikipedia.
I don't think Price was writing intending to be the next Mahler or whoever. She was writing music she wanted to be heard, but music that meant the most to her and her culture, not to critics hyper-focused on the biggest, baddest ninth symphonies of Europe. The orchestration and thematic material is sublime, but I feel the beauty in this piece lies primarily in its meaning as a symphony incapsulating the composer's perspective on her culture, adapting melodies and sounds she grew up with into different mediums. The frequent quotes to the spiritual "Wade in the Water," for example, not only look forward, but back. Price's music doesn't possess as much surface level appeal as some other composers, not everyone can identify with her music, but as someone who's listened to plenty of her work, I find myself coming back. She wasn't the most flamboyant composer, but remarkable nonetheless, and a voice deserving of our ears.