Sunday, February 3, 2013

'Samuel Coleridge-Taylor in America: The Unofficial Trailer'

[Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912)]


[Kamille Upshaw dances as tenor Rodrick Dixon sings "Onaway! Awake, beloved" in the film "Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and His Music in America, 1900-1912," which premiers in Portland on March 13 and 16, 2013.]

In April 2012, I had the idea that, because there existed no documentary about Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and because we have gotten into the habit of showing a film every year about our featured Longfellow masterwork composer, I ought to make my own. At first, just a few people agreed to participate and I had no idea if I would succeed in finding enough participants or material to make this happen.

Ten months later, The Longfellow Chorus is set to premiere this 120-minute film on March 13 (1 PM) and March 16 (1:30) PM in Nickelodeon Theater, 1 Temple Street, Portland, Maine.

What I am calling the 'unofficial' trailer -- for lack of an 'official' one for now -- will give you a 2-minute 15-second glimpse at a few of the "strong personalities" that have helped turn this film into an exciting and moving survey of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's American experience: Malcolm Sargent, Maud Powell, Rachel Barton Pine, the U. S. Marine Band, Rodrick Dixon, Kamille Upshaw -- to name just a few.

You can purchase tickets to both film showings on The Longfellow Chorus event web page. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and His Music in America is one of six events of the March 16 & 17, 2013, Longfellow Choral Festival. Ticket purchase information for each event is also available on our event page. Note that a $40 package ticket is available for purchase in person only or by phoning the PortTIX box office: 207-842-0800.

Charles Kaufmann, artistic director
The Longfellow Chorus
PO Box 5133
Portland, Maine 04101

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