Black History Month: 7 October 2020
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was an English composer, conductor and political activist who fought against race prejudice with his infamous compositions. He was born in Holborn in 1875 to an English mother and a father originally from Sierra Leone; he liked to be identified as Anglo-African. His family were all able musicians and Taylor's father taught him to play the violin at a young age. His talent was obvious, and he was accepted into the Royal College of Music when he was just 15 years old and it was here that he perfected his technique.
Conscious of his African descent, Taylor's classical compositions were heavily influenced by traditional African music and this made him one of the most progressive writers of his time. In fact, his work across music and politics was so well received that in 1904, he was invited by President Theodore Roosevelt to visit the White House. His music was widely performed, and he had great support among African Americans.
After Coleridge-Taylor's death in 1912, musicians were concerned that he and his family had received no royalties from his Song of Hiawatha, which was one of the most successful and popular works written in the previous 50 years. His case contributed to their formation of the Performing Rights Society, an effort to gain revenues for musicians through performance as well as publication and distribution of music. Hiawatha's Wedding Feast is still widely performed decades after his death and is occasionally revived for seasons at the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate his legacy.
Want to find out more about Samuel Coleridge-Taylor? Click here for more information, or here for more about his early life.
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