February 21, 2025/Midnight
Erie, PA. — The Presbyterian Church of the Covenant welcomed the entire Erie community for a celebration of Black History Month. The focus of the event gave insight into Florence Price, a female composer who went through many hardships in hopes to have her music make an impact.
Every single pew in the cathedral was full of passionate history seekers and those there to feel the music and of course the occasional bonus point class attenders.
Greetings and introductions from Reverend Brittany L.V. Knight started off the night of music and history. Dr. Lori Lindley thanked those who made the night possible, highlighting students, faculty, and staff who had put in countless hours and effort to make the night possible.
Brian Hannah the host of Classics with Brian Hannah read a brief background on Price before allowing the Erie Community Choir to serenade the crowd with “Wade in the Water.” This song is an African American jubilee song with roots in the era of slavery. To many it had served as a beacon of hope and a signal for enslaved individuals who were seeking freedom. Their voices filled the cathedral and gave a segway to the entire event.
Students from Gannon University and Fairview narrated the event giving not only the history of Black History Month but a deeper discussion of Florence Price. Rajih Mpanga, Layla Albasti, and Robert Deal sat at the very front and spoke of the rich history. Displaying her passion for Price, Michelle Cann played for the audience “The Piano Sonata in E Minor, I. Andante-Allegro-Allegretto, II. Andante, and III. Scherzo-Allegro. She gave the audience an insight into her passion for Price and her composures.
“Florence Price wrote with these fantasies and a style that is very much reminiscent of spiritual…spiritual that were essentially elaborated on the word.”
Cann elaborated stating that the ongoing themes that include backgrounds on slavery and the hardships of the African American population during her time and how her music was an outlet for this. She highlighted that a lot of her works have a spiritual structure sound to the piece, but there were also folk songs and rhythms included from African American culture. Stating that Price took everything that was a part of her life a pushed it into her music.
“It comes in a way from completely the death, her soul, from her heart. It really is such a storytelling through music.”
