​Florence Beatrice Price was a talented African-American music prodigy. She was a music teacher, organist, pianist, and a top-caliber classical music and symphonic composer.

Her raw talent was already evident at an early age. Although she had encountered bumps along the road; racial prejudice and discrimination, being looked down of her skills and expertise, abusive spouse, divorce, single motherhood and financial limitations, her deep love to music made her to conquer them all and to prove herself. 

With the aid of her talented student, Margaret Bonds, who was also another black composer and pianist, they started collaborating and soon received national recognition for their works. Florence won the first prize for her “Symphony in E minor” and the third prize for her "Piano Sonata". 

This led her "Symphony in “E minor” to be premiered with the help of Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1933 and she became the first black woman to have her music performed by a major orchestra!

Learn more about her life and works at: https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/florence-beatrice-price-black-american-female-classical-composer

​“Rhapsody in Blue” is a popular jazz composition created by George Gershwin in 1924.

It was Paul Whiteman, an equally talented bandleader who nudged Gershwin to compose a jazz “concerto piece”. There were hesitations at first but after turn of events, Whiteman was able to finally persuade Gershwin. 

“Rhapsody in Blue” thus premiered at the Aeolian Hall in Manhattan, New York City. Gershwin was accompanied by Whiteman and the Palais Royal Orchestra. It was attended by well-known opera society and talented musicians. 

The program had an interesting story as it started in a sour note. Unfortunately, the earlier parts failed to impress the audience. But George Gershwin with his wit and signature style, partly improvised his solo piano piece and "Rhapsody in Blue" with its great flair of haunting yet relatively ease of flow of melody and rhythm had captured the hearts of the audience. It was highly-praised and became an instantaneous hit,  a critical coup de grâce for that matter. 

Learn more about the story of creation at: https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/rhapsody-in-blue-the-best-composition-by-george-gershwin

Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) was a celebrated German conductor, composer and violinist known for his “new objective” approach to music.

Hindemith had a "love-hate" relationship with The Nazi party as his music was widely banned, mocked as "degenerating” and heavily criticized as an “atonal noisemaker”

Nevertheless, Hindemith continued his passion with music and took the chance to show that when he played a vital role in the reorganization of musical education in the Turkey and his efforts bore fruit as the inauguration and re-organization of the Turkish State Ballet took place under his leadership. He was highly-respected by the Turkish musicians and eventually his fame was unstoppable.

His penchant in contemporary music and his notable works including several chamber masterpieces, symphonies, and opera music had earned him several significant awards and citations.

Learn more about this prolific composer at: https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/paul-hindemith-conductor-violinist-composer-of-modern-germany