Happy birthday Florence Price! Mount Vernon Virtuosi CelloGang performs String Quartet in G major

In celebration of Florence Price’s birthday this 9 April, the Mount Vernon Virtuosi CelloGang performs an arrangement of Price’s String Quartet in G major, II. Andante moderato - Allegretto, a work that gracefully bridges Romantic tradition and African American musical heritage.

Nowhere is her expressive voice more vivid than in the slow movement, where two distinct characters unfold: a hymn-like opening rooted in the gospel tradition, radiating warmth and quiet devotion, and a contrasting middle section – faster, restless, and charged with tension – often heard as an echo of the struggles and injustices of slavery. In this poignant dialogue between serenity and unrest, Price reveals her remarkable ability to infuse classical forms with deeply human storytelling.

This movement has been newly arranged for cello ensemble by Amit Peled, founder and artistic director of the Mount Vernon Virtuosi, for its CelloGang initiative – an effort dedicated to expanding the cello ensemble repertoire while championing historically significant works that deserve renewed attention.

The arrangement was performed by Amit Peled and his Peabody Institute students: Jiayi Chang, Adrian Bostian, Marlon Florez, Isaac Reynaga, and Geonhoon Theo Kim in a live concert on 21 March 2026, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in downtown Baltimore, part of the ensemble’s longstanding commitment to offering free concerts to the Maryland community.