Obscure Music Monday: Price's Adoration (arr. for Violin or Viola)

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. Adoration was written for organ in 1951, and since then has been arranged for violin or viola by Elaine Fine. Tender and hymn-like, this piece fits well for a violin or violist, and gives them a fantastic opportunity to capitalize on their lyricism and really focus on the melody, without having to worry about any fancy technical fireworks. It's rather straightforward, and the harmonies and melody have a simple yet profound beauty about them.