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Welcome to Feature Fridays!ÌýEach Week, AU Music Library staff highlightÌýan item from our collection. While the music library is closed, we will feature items that are available for streaming. This week guestÌýwriterÌýAndrew BrownÌýreviewsÌýÌýby FlorenceÌýB. Price, available from Naxos Music Library with your AU credentials.Ìý

There is a secretÌýtoÌýmaking Thanksgiving aÌýmemorableÌýholiday.ÌýThanksgiving in the United StatesÌýtraditionally happensÌýwith family members visiting fromÌýout of town, orÌýfood graciouslyÌýspreadÌýoutÌýover a dining room table. I grew up withÌýsoÌýmany of these traditionsÌýas a kid, but when IÌýwasÌýa freshman in college,ÌýI found myself a thousand miles from home withoutÌýthe Thanksgiving traditions I cherished. I was forced into a situation of change, and as a result,ÌýI had to change what Thanksgiving meant to me. I remember sitting in my dorm, combing throughÌýthe music on my phone, andÌýdeveloping a real sense ofÌýThanksgivingÌýgratitude.ÌýMy family wasn’t in the dorm room with me, and the microwave meal I made for myself didn’t compare to anÌýoven-cookedÌýturkey, but I learned to appreciate the musicÌýthatÌýshapedÌýmeÌýover the years. Here is one ofÌýtheÌýpiecesÌýthatÌýhelps me appreciateÌýmyÌýThanksgiving:ÌýConcerto in One MovementÌýby Florence Beatrice Price.ÌýÌý

Price opensÌýtheÌýwork withÌýaÌýregal brass theme, as if she were a queen getting ready to speak to her audience.ÌýFlutesÌýmimicÌýthe brassÌýinÌýaÌýcall and responseÌýstyleÌýuntil bothÌýinstrumentsÌýfade away,Ìýand the pianoÌýarrives withÌýdarkÌýyetÌýoptimisticÌýcadenza.ÌýThe piano tells the story of a young and resilient American, fighting for its place in the world.ÌýBrass and strings overtake the pianoÌýto playÌýtheÌýmain theme.ÌýStrings, woodwinds, brass, and pianoÌýconstantly competeÌýwith one anotherÌýthroughout the first sectionÌýuntil theyÌýunifyÌýat the end with aÌýresoluteÌýd-minor chord.ÌýÌý

The second and third sections ofÌýConcertoÌýinÌýOne MovementÌýtell Florence Price’s personal story.ÌýA youngÌýAfrican-AmericanÌýwoman living in Chicago during the 1930s, Price reminisces onÌýnightsÌýinÌýLittle Rock,ÌýArkansas,ÌýforÌýtheÌýentireÌýsecond section.ÌýPiano andÌýwoodwindsÌýblendÌýfor a peaceful, nostalgicÌýrenditionÌýof southern life.ÌýBrassÌýinstrumentsÌýspill into the end of the second section and kick offÌýthe third section with a spirited Juba Dance. Juba DancesÌýdefinedÌýSouthern BlackÌýcultureÌýduringÌýthe early 20thÌýCentury;Ìýthe dance is a celebration of the new day. Strings andÌýbrass dance with the piano until a snare drumÌýcarriesÌýallÌýtheÌýinstruments into aÌýcaptivatingÌýfinale. PriceÌýneverÌýreturned toÌýlive inÌýher hometown ofÌýLittle Rock,ÌýArkansasÌýbutÌýConcerto in OneÌýMovement wasÌýher way ofÌýconnecting withÌýtheÌýpast while living near urban Chicago.Ìý

Price’sÌýConcerto in One MovementÌýremindsÌýusÌýtoÌýreflect onÌýwhat we have instead of wishing for what could be. Developing a sense of gratitude happens when we appreciate the past and how it broughtÌýus to the present. Family members may be distant this holidayÌýseason,ÌýbutÌýremembering old memories can help us feel connected with the ones we love.ÌýÌý

Florence Price’sÌýConcerto in One MovementÌýand other great music is available fromÌýÌýwith your AU credentials.ÌýIf you’d like to learn more about Florence Price and see some of her original papers and compositions, check out thisÌý.Ìý