Recently adopted as an American national holiday, the Church of Satan celebrates independence, sovereignty, and emancipation from imposed servitude on this Juneteenth, 2021. Our unique banner design for this holiday includes 19 vertices between the two stars, to mark the date, while the central star is inverted to symbolize our carnal philosophy, which has always championed liberty and individualism.
To Self-Determination—Hail Freedom!
Florence Beatrice Price‘s Symphony No. 1 in E Minor (completed in 1932) was the first symphonic orchestral composition by an African-American female composer to be played by a prominent orchestra—the Chicago Symphony Orchestra—in 1933. The piece was awarded first prize in the Rodman Wanamaker Competition of 1932. It is a fine symphony that takes some inspiration from Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World.” The four movements of this substantial composition take about 40 minutes to perform, and it is full of tuneful music which deftly includes hymns as well as melodies and rhythms derived from African-American folk music. Price’s works had fallen into neglect after her passing in 1953, but recent years have brought a deserved revival of her music which includes further symphonies, concerti, overtures, suites, chamber works, and songs.
This is a captivating, charming, well-wrought symphony and it is sure to add to you’re celebrations on this holiday.
—Magus Peter H. Gilmore