early intermediate

Absence in F major

Florence Price

What's this piece like?
Florence Price wrote several pedagogical gems for pianists, and this piece stands out as a fine example. It balances musical simplicity with quiet sophistication, offering clear textures that are accessible to developing players while still rich in nuance. The primary theme features a lyrical right-hand melody supported by transparent harmonies, encouraging students to focus on balance, phrasing, and voicing. The middle section provides striking contrast. The key shifts to the minor mode, introducing a darker, more introspective tone. Here, the melody moves into the left hand—an excellent opportunity for students to strengthen voicing and projection in the lower register. The texture becomes denser and more dramatic, requiring greater dynamic control and rhythmic steadiness. This shift not only develops expressive range but also reinforces structural awareness by highlighting the return to the main theme. Overall, this piece is a valuable study in contrast, color, and lyrical expression within a compact and accessible form.
Who's this piece for?
Ideal for intermediate pianists who like inspiring, relaxing and dreamy pieces.
1-2 pages
Romantic
F major

MOOD: Dreamy and melancholic.

TECHNIQUE: Voicing.

Ranking
Equivalent to RCM level 3
Equivalent to ABRSM level 4
Equivalent to Suzuki book 4
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1939

The World War II begins with German invasion of Poland.

1943

Sergey Rachmaninoff died.

1945

Béla Bartók died.

1947

The sound barrier is broken for the first time.

1950

Absence was composed by F. Price at the age of 63 years old.

1951

Arnold Schoenberg died.

1956

Elvis Presley's first album entitled "Elvis Presley Rock n' Roll" is released in the UK.

1961

First live television transmission from space from the Apollo 7 mission.

1963

"Please Please Me", the first Beatles studio album, is released in the UK.

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