Florence Price: String Quartet No. 2 in A minor
Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in D major, Op. 64 No. 5 “The Lark”
Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet in C major, Op. 59 No. 3
Florence Price survived persecution and domestic violence to become the first Black woman to write a symphony that was premiered by a major American orchestra. Brooding and lyrical, her A minor string quartet perfectly showcases how this masterful composer incorporates traditional African and African-American dance idioms with her own rich harmonic language. Cheerful springtime voices sing out in Haydn’s famous “Lark” quartet, and Beethoven’s powerful C major quartet, sometimes referred to as “Eroica” because of its heroic finale, shows the composer boldly reaching for new artistic greatness after the realization of his encroaching deafness.
An exhibition of sculpture by Henry Jock Walker, Kyle Johns, Sara Coffin, Gabriel John Poucher, and Sara Robison is on display inside the space. Each ticket purchase includes a glass of wine and light snacks. Mask and proof of vaccination are required for entry.
SMCO String Quartet
Pamela Liu, violin
Robert Kwesi Murphy, violin
Tricia Wu, viola
Mary Riles, cello