Description

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1887, Florence Beatrice Price was one of the most active musicians of her generation. Her musical prowess extended beyond composing; she was also a renowned organist, pianist, and teacher. Price won first prize in the Wanamaker Competition with her Symphony in E minor in 1932. The work was premiered by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and made history as a result, with Price becoming the first female composer of African descent to have a symphonic piece performed by a major national symphony orchestra. In 2009, a substantial catalogue of Price’s compositions were discovered in an abandoned house set to be demolished, sparking a long overdue revival of her work.

Little Melody comes from Florence Price’s collection of short organ works, many of which have been published posthumously in recent decades. Price was trained in the organ at the New England Conservatory under George Whitefield Chadwick and wrote extensively for the instrument throughout her life.