Composer

:

Florence Price

Genre

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1938 -
ca. 1940

Average_duration

:

07:13

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

"Thumbnail Sketches of a Day in the Life of a Washerwoman" is a composition by Florence Price, an African-American composer who was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1887. The piece was composed in 1951 and premiered on February 27, 1952, by the Women's Symphony Orchestra of Chicago, conducted by Henrietta Leaver. The composition is divided into four movements, each depicting a different aspect of the life of a washerwoman. The first movement, "Morning," begins with a slow and mournful melody, representing the washerwoman's exhaustion after a long night of work. The music gradually becomes more lively and energetic, as the washerwoman begins her day and prepares to start her work. The second movement, "Washing," is a lively and rhythmic piece, representing the physical labor of washing clothes. The music is characterized by syncopated rhythms and a driving beat, evoking the sound of water splashing and clothes being scrubbed. The third movement, "Ironing," is a slower and more contemplative piece, representing the quiet and meditative work of ironing clothes. The music is characterized by long, flowing melodies and a sense of calm and serenity. The final movement, "Evening," is a return to the mournful and melancholy mood of the first movement. The music represents the end of the washerwoman's day, as she finishes her work and prepares to rest. The piece ends with a sense of resignation and exhaustion, as the washerwoman prepares to do it all again the next day. Overall, "Thumbnail Sketches of a Day in the Life of a Washerwoman" is a powerful and evocative composition that captures the struggles and hardships of a working-class woman in mid-twentieth century America. Through its use of melody, rhythm, and mood, the piece paints a vivid picture of the daily life of a washerwoman, and serves as a testament to the resilience and strength of working-class women everywhere.

More....