While considering options for this program, I knew I had to include Florence Price’s Five Folksongs in Counterpoint for String Quartet. I have been captivated by this piece and it has been a dream to perform it since I first heard it. The movements I have chosen are intentional.

The second movement, based off of “Oh My Darlin’ Clementine,” reminds me of my mom singing the tune to me growing up. Listen for the way the tune gets passed around between the instruments and see if you can keep track of it. The fourth movement, based off of “Shortnin’ Bread,” is a tune I have always loved and Price’s interpretation of it fills me with joy. It is hard not to want to dance when you hear it!

All five folksongs used in this series come from Black American musical traditions, stemming from hymnals and work songs. Price, a Black American woman, was no stranger to both racism and misogyny in her life. Despite this, she became the first Black woman to be widely recognized for her symphonic music, making history with her Symphony No. 1 in E Minor. Her discography numbers over three hundred, with pieces still being discovered today. This set of folk songs in counterpoint is one of those recently discovered pieces. I hope you enjoy these pieces as much as I do.