Randall Goosby Plays Florence Price and Max Bruch's Violin Concerti

Released on Decca Classics, the album presents the first commercial recording of Florence Price's two violin concerti

Violinist Randall Goosby recently released his second album on the Decca Classics label. The disc, which was recorded with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra, pairs two recently-discovered violin concerti by Florence Price with the well-known Bruch violin concerto.

The disc is Goosby's second album, a follow-up to the 2021 disc Roots — which explored repertoire by Black composers.

The two Price concerti, which were only unearthed this century, are complemented on the album by her short piece Adoration. Originally written for the organ, the work has been arranged for at least eleven different combinations — with Goosby opting to perform Jim Gray's arrangement for violin and strings on his album.

You can find and listen to the new album, here.

"I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to record three stunning concertos with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra," Goosby said. "I fell in love with Bruch Concerto No. 1 when I was a kid, and it’s one of those pieces that just doesn’t get old. It is loaded with drama, excitement, heartbreak, and everything in between. What a joy it was to record this all-time favorite with the lush and expressive sound of the Philadelphia Orchestra behind me!"

"It was only a little more than a decade ago that Florence Price’s Violin Concertos were discovered in what used to be her summer home," he added. "Since the discovery, Florence Price’s unique musical language and style has enjoyed widespread recognition and appreciation, thanks in large part to Philadelphia’s incredible recordings of her orchestral works."

"Our recording of the violin concertos was incredibly special, not only because it was taken from live performances, but also because of the tangible energy and passion we share for Price’s music and legacy. Her music is an important part of American History, and it tells a story that I bet you haven’t heard before."

You can hear Goosby's earlier recording of Florence Price's Adoration in its violin-piano arrangement below.