Florence Beatrice Price (April 9, 1887 - June 3, 1953) was an African-American pianist and composer, and the first African-American woman to have a piece played by a major symphony orchestra. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Price's first piano teacher was her mother, a music educator, and Price's first recital was at the age of 4. After high school (which she graduated top of her class), she studied piano and organ at the New England Conservatory, and pretended to be Mexican, due to the stigma that African-Americans faced during that era. She also studied composition and counterpoint with George Chadwick and Frederick Converse, and graduated in 1906 with honors.   Price wrote for many various genres---symphonies, sonatas, choral works and more.  She wrote Adoration, a work for organ, in 1951. This piece, which is just under four minutes, is tender and hymn-like. It's rather straightforward harmonies and melody don't make this work uninteresting; quite the opposite. This composition has a sweet, simple beauty about it.

Unfortunately we couldn't find a recording of this---hopefully that will change soon!