This four-part virtual lecture series, in collaboration with The International Florence Price Festival, explores representation in classical music. It highlights overlooked diverse voices, educating participants on underrepresented composers and performers. The series aims to spark a broader conversation about inclusivity in the classical music canon.
This lecture on African Romances highlights Dunbar's poetic voice and his use of paradox, as well as how Coleridge-Taylor drew upon these to compose a song cycle that reflects themes of Black love, resistance, and resilience following the 1865 Emancipation from American slavery.
Attendees will learn about Philadelphia's own Evelyn Simpson Curenton, explore her work as a composer, her approach to performing spirituals and hymns in keeping with their traditions, and the relevance of her music in the 21st century, and enjoy a 25-minute recital of selected pieces from her repertoire.
This presentation, based on archival material primarily from the University of Pennsylvania, chronicles the two-decade professional and personal bond between composer Florence B. Price and contralto Marian Anderson, starting in 1935 until Price's passing. It explores their relationship, highlighting triumphs and trials, and underscores the foundation of mutual artistic respect, humor, and love.