But Not My Soul

In ‘But Not My Soul’, Ragazze Quartet stands up for Florence Price, an American composer from the first half of the 20th century. She was the first African-American woman to be recognized for her symphonies and the first to have her compositions played by a renowned orchestra. Yet her music was forgotten for years. Unjustified, we think! Her work is a pleasant mix of European romanticism, her ‘Southern’ roots, the emerging blues and African-American spirituals. Thankfully, her name has become more and more known in recent years (there is even a street in Amsterdam named after her!) and we want to contribute to her fame.

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At the purchaser’s option

We combine the music of Florence Price with the always beautiful ‘American quartet’ by Antonín Dvořák, a great inspiration to Price, and with a new work by singer-songwriter Rhiannon Giddens. She wrote a song in response to an advertisement she saw from the time of slavery, in which a young woman was offered for sale with her nine-month-old baby ‘at the purchaser’s option’. This song was arranged for the Kronos Quartet for their 50 For the Future project. The title of this programme is derived from one of the lines from this song: ‘You can take my body, but not my soul.’

The album ‘But Not My Soul’ by the Ragazze Quartet has been released by Outhere/Channel Classics on 8 March (International Women’s Day) 2024 and was accompanied by a concert tour in The Netherlands. Check out our YouTube channel for several videos of this album.

Kronos’ 50 For the Future YouTube

No concerts or performances are scheduled

Repertoire

Florence Price

String Quartet No. 2

Antonín Dvořák

String Quartet in F major, opus 96 ‘American’

Rhiannon Giddens

At the purchaser’s option (arr. for string quartet by Jacob Garchik)

Reviews

Apple Music

'Featuring superb, electric performances captured in terrific close detail, this album is an important step in our continued rediscovery of Florence Price’s music. Price’s Quartet … is brilliantly showcased by the Ragazze Quartet, who nurture its every detail, and relish its rhythmic and harmonic colors.'

BBC 3

'Excellent performances from this challenging and always engaging ensemble.'

De Standaard

'They translate their intention most strongly in the swinging ’Juba. Allegro', an Afro-American dance that did inspire Price many times, and in the “Molto vivace” from Dvořák's “American” string quartet. Despite much suffering, they remain cheerful, positive and lively.'

Diskotabel

‘Executed with great taste and feeling.’

Luister Magazine

‘Ragazze Quartet plays Price's work with conviction and tremendous urgency, rating 9.’

Opus Klassiek

‘Nothing but good words about the Ragazze: a great ensemble we should really be proud of, technically and stylistically optimally equipped for even the most difficult pieces […]. The recording made by Jared Sacks in the church in Renswoude is gorgeous: christal clear, but at the same time warm and sonorous.’

Trouw

‘Extraordinary quartet by Florence Price is played with great dedication’.

Listen to But Not My Soul

Listen to Price, Dvořák and Giddens and order our CD via the button below.

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