Saturday, May 20, 2017

Londonist.com: 25 May, Jeffrey Green, independent historian, will provide an insight into Coleridge-Taylor life, at the Black Cultural Archives, Brixton, 1pm [UK]


Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List and a Bibliography by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com.



Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Foundation Website: www.sctf.org.uk
 
Londonist.com: Last house of Samuel 
Coleridge-Taylor in Waddon 
(Photo: Mark Fresko)
 

Londonist.com: Cigarette card for
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
 
May 19, 2017 

Trained in the European concert music traditions, Coleridge-Taylor's compositions (he wrote for the theatre, an opera, choral works, and instrumental pieces) sometimes had black titles in his use of 'Negro' and 'African'. Exactly when he got to know black people in Britain is uncertain, but contacts had been made by 1897. There was another black resident in Croydon, a Mrs Mattie Thrift, an American married to a wealthy English businessman. She had been Miss Marion Louise Lawrance or Lawrence, a singer in an all-black choral group which toured to Australia and New Zealand in the 1880s. That choir was directed by Frederick Loudin, who is known to have returned to Britain in 1897. Coleridge-Taylor said that it was Loudin who introduced him to American spirituals. 

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Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) has been the subject of biographies, articles, web sites, CD booklet notes, a novel, and entries in encyclopaedias. Yet he remains elusive as a person, misunderstood as a musician, and a victim of the innocent prejudices of commentators. On 25 May, Jeffrey Green, independent historian, will provide an insight into Coleridge-Taylor life, at the Black Cultural Archives, Brixton, 1pm-2pm. Tickets £3

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