Thursday, April 25, 2019

AndoverTownsman.com: 'Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight' by Florence Price, May 4

Florence B. Price (1887-1953)


Andover, Massachusetts

April 25, 2019

The Andover Choral Society, directed by Dr. Michael Driscoll, is delighted to present the premiere performance of Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight by African-American classical composer Florence Price on Saturday, May 4 at 3 p.m. in the auditorium of North Andover High School.

Chicago-based composer Florence Price was the first African-American woman to have a composition performed by a major orchestra when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed her Symphony in E Minor in 1933. Price composed over 300 works, and her songs and arrangements were performed by some of the most admired voices of her day, including Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price.

In 2009, a substantial collection of Price’s works and papers was found in an abandoned house on the outskirts of Chicago. The collection included her choral composition entitled Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight. No evidence has yet been discovered indicating that her setting of this piece for chorus, soloists, and piano has been performed publicly. The chorus will sing from a new performing edition of this work, prepared by Dr. Driscoll, from Price’s unpublished manuscript.

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