This paper examines the Quintet in A Minor for Piano and Strings by Florence B. Price (1887-1953). One of Price's latest compositions (with final revisions dated January 21, 1952), the Quintet is a masterful example of what is possible when using a multicultural lens to approach the making of American music. This paper exposes the insufficiency of examining (and assessing) multicultural composers and their works only with traditional Western European analytical views, when an expanded approach is needed to explain many of the non-European musical influences and phenomena. While more complex and challenging, this expanded analytical approach sheds added light and understanding on all compositional techniques used within this work. This analysis of the Quintet in A Minor shows that Price often self-quotes from some of her own earlier works; specifically works from her organ, art song, and symphonic oeuvres. The findings also show that Price's understanding of both Western Classical traditions and African-American musical traditions enabled her to intertwine multiple cultures, creating novel forms that are authentic to the American experience she lived. Price created what she referred to as a "very beautiful and very American" sound.

Florence Price (1887–1953) was one of the most important African American woman composers of the early twentieth century. Price's music is known for combining techniques of Western art music with elements of the African American musical heritage. Although Price composed many works for piano, from large virtuoso pieces to characteristic miniatures, this study will address only her Piano Sonata in E minor. The purpose of this study is to analyze this sonata and discuss her compositional techniques and musical style as a combination of African American elements and Classical European procedures, combined and coordinated yet remaining in tension. Traditional European harmony, tonality, and form are successfully combined with African American characteristics: pentatonic scale, spirituals, syncopations, repetition, and dance rhythms. Indeed, Price's work is a considerable achievement, and she is one of the important African American women composers who should be better recognized today.

The aim of this work is to understand the historic process which achieved the construction of the Latin American contemporary music movement in Belo Horizonte, more specifically, the Latin American Composer s Gatherings of Belo Horizonte, held in the years 1986-1988-1992-2002 sponsored by the Fundação de Educação Artística. It was also possible to get knowledge of their artistic cultural programs (works, composers, performers) in which one can found included the production of Brazilian music and music of Minas Gerais, as well as the theoretical questions presented in form of Thematic Panels. As for their importance not only in local, but national and international levels, the Latin American Composer s Gatherings have had a strong social impact in the city of Belo Horizonte in the decades of 1980-90, mainly through the academic scene, contributing to the musical formation of young composers and performers and for the structure of the musical composition area at the Escola de Música da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. As far as the common problems facing Brazil and Latin America on the above decades are concerned, a changing in favor of the Latin American contemporary music passed necessarily by the understanding that the politic and economic aspects were strongly connected with the cultural one. As for their production and musical diffusion, a major participation of all professionals - composers, performers, educators and musicologists - in the sense of interfering in the current teaching musical model practiced in institutions of fundamental, median and college levels. / O objetivo deste trabalho é compreender o processo histórico que levou à construção do movimento de música contemporânea latino-americana em Belo Horizonte, mais especificamente, os Encontros de Compositores Latino-americanos de Belo Horizonte, realizados nos anos 1986-1988-1992-2002, por meio da Fundação de Educação Artística. Buscou-se tomar conhecimento acerca de sua programação artístico-cultural (obras, compositores, intérpretes), na qual se encontram naturalmente incluídas a produção de música brasileira e mineira, bem como as questões teóricas apresentadas em forma de painéis temáticos. Diante da sua importância, não só em nível local, mas nacional e internacional, os Encontros de Compositores Latino-americanos tiveram um forte impacto social na cidade de Belo Horizonte nas décadas de 1980-90, principalmente no meio acadêmico, contribuindo para a formação musical de jovens compositores e intérpretes e para a estruturação da área de composição da Escola de Música da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Considerando os problemas comuns ao Brasil e à América Latina nas referidas décadas, uma mudança no quadro em favor da música contemporânea latino-americana passava necessariamente pela compreensão de que os aspectos político e econômico estavam intimamente relacionados ao cultural. Quanto à sua produção e difusão musical, conclamava-se uma maior participação de todos profissionais compositores, intérpretes, educadores musicais e musicólogos no sentido de interferir no modelo de ensino de música praticado nas instituições de nível fundamental, médio e universitário. / Doutor em História