Music major Lyman Hinson presented the lost works of composer Florence Price at the annual student symposium today at Berry College.
Hinson, a sophomore, is researching the choral and vocal music of the composer, Florence Price (1887-1953). She was the first African-American woman to have a composition played by a major symphony orchestra. Her choral and vocal music is virtually unknown to most classical musicians, and he was able to study and collect several of her compositions at the University of Arkansas special collections library. In fact, Hinson was one of the first musicians to review a recent discovery of many undocumented manuscripts and scores. They had been sitting in an attic in Chicago for almost 50 years.
After three days and reviewing almost 100 manuscripts and scores, he has now collected around 20 scores that he will now edit and prepare for performance. In addition to his presentation April 4, he is working towards a recital in 2018 of the choral and vocal music of Price.
“What a great opportunity for a young scholar, and how exciting to bring these pieces to life again!” said Berry College Associate Music Professor and Director of Choral Activities Paul Neal.
Hinson is part of the Synovus Grant program, which gives rising sophomores the opportunity to do research associated with their major or an interest.
###
Written by Student Public Relations Assistant Victoria Mashburn
