The Talladega College Department of Music will host an insightful lecture entitled “Passing the Torch: An Exploration of the Parallel Yet Divergent Musical Languages of Florence Price and Her Prodigy, Margaret Bonds.” The event, featuring guest lecturer Dr. Yi Chang, will take place on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 10 a.m. in DeForest Chapel. The event is free and open to the public.
This lecture delves into two groundbreaking compositions—Spiritual Suite by Margaret Bonds and Fantasie Negre No. 1 by Florence Price—crafted by two trailblazing African American composers who reshaped the landscape of Western classical music. Florence Price (1887–1953) and her protégé, Margaret Bonds (1913–1972), broke barriers to integrate elements of African American culture into traditional classical forms, creating music that is both innovative and deeply rooted in African American spirituals.
The lecture will explore how these two works reflect the unique artistic identities of Price and Bonds, while highlighting their shared cultural inspirations. Bonds’ Spiritual Suite draws from three spirituals—“Dry Bones,” “Peter, Go Ring Dem Bells,” and “Wade in the Water”—showcasing her bold exploration of harmony and rhythm. Meanwhile, Price’s Fantasie Negre No. 1, inspired by the spiritual “Sinner, Please Don’t Let This Harvest Pass,” adheres more closely to late Romantic traditions but remains profoundly expressive.
The mentorship between Price and Bonds will be a key focus, illustrating how their relationship fostered a “passing of the torch” as Bonds built upon Price’s legacy to craft her own adventurous compositional voice. Through musical examples and demonstrations, Dr. Chang will provide a nuanced analysis of their contributions, inviting the audience to gain a deeper appreciation of their roles in redefining American classical music.
Dr. Chang, a distinguished Taiwanese pianist, brings a wealth of expertise and acclaim to thispresentation. A prizewinner in numerous national and international competitions, including the 2023 IPPA Conero International Piano Competition and the 2022 International Young Artist Piano Competition, Chang has graced prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Steinway Hall.
He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Kansas and has been celebrated for his pedagogical and performance contributions at conferences and festivals worldwide. He currently serves as a faculty member at Tuskegee University and is an active advocate for the integration of multicultural elements in classical piano performance.
Join us for this engaging lecture celebrating the music of Florence Price and Margaret Bonds, two transformative figures in American classical music. Discover the enduring impact of their work and their contributions to the richness of African American musical traditions.
For more information about this event, please contact Dr. Huixian Wu, Assistant Professor of Music, at hwu@talladega.edu.
