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 Driscoll, from Price’s unpublished manuscript.
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