Oct. 23, 7 p.m. see the inspiring film 'The Caged Bird: The Life and Music of Florence B. Price' at Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall at U of Ark.

 

 Florence Beatrice Smith Price (1887-1953) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works Lists by Dr. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com.

In 1933 Arkansas native Florence Price made music history as the first African-American woman whose music was performed by a major symphony orchestra when the world famous Chicago Symphony performed her Symphony in E minor at the Chicago World's Fair.

On Oct. 23, at 7 p.m., learn about Florence Price in the inspiring film The Caged Bird: The Life and Music of Florence B. Price at Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall on the U of A campus. This documentary tells the story of a gifted woman's triumph over prejudice and preconceptions. The film includes performances of Price's beautiful music by gifted musicians from the University of Arkansas music department, as well as Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. Following the viewing, the film's writer, professor emeritus James Greeson, will discuss Price's music and the making of The Caged Bird.

This is Greeson's second documentary film about an Arkansas native composer. His first on Conlon Nancarrow, garnered an Emmy nomination and has been presented in London, San Francisco, Mexico City, Amsterdam and recently at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York City. Greeson is a two-time Emmy-winning composer of music who was on the faculty of the University of Arkansas music department for 36 years. Associate Producer Dale Carpenter has won numerous Emmy awards for his many documentary films over his long career. Carpenter is a professor in the U of A Lemke Department of Journalism.

Other special guests who were involved in the production will attend this on-campus screening, including professor emerita Barbara Jackson, who was the first musicologist to bring attention to Florence Price with her writings in the 1970s when she was a U of A music faculty member. The film also features the University of Arkansas Symphony orchestra, university vocalists, and a faculty/student string quartet performing Price's beautiful music.

The Caged Bird will have its broadcast premiere on AETN on Nov. 16 at 9 p.m. The DVD is distributed by the University of Arkansas Press.