Classical Music Review: A Choral Farewell
By ArtsFuse on May 27, 2009 in Music
By Caldwell Titcomb
“The Cambridge Community Chorus (CCC) was founded in 1990, and has in the past 18 years grown in size and skill under the leadership of William Ethaniel Thomas. Thomas is retiring from his post and led his farewell concert in Sanders Theatre on May 25 before an enthusiastic audience. For his final program Thomas chose two large works: one by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), and one by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912).”
“Following intermission, Thomas turned to Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast by the remarkably gifted Afro-British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Conductor Thomas, who is black, has for years championed the music of Coleridge-Taylor. Wearing his other hat as a cellist, Thomas founded the Coleridge Ensemble and has performed and recorded the composer’s chamber music.
Coleridge-Taylor learned the violin and piano early, and exhibited unusual compositional talent already as a teenager, soon drawing praise from Sir Edward Elgar and Sir Arthur Sullivan. At the age of 23 he became a celebrity with the 1898 premiere of Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast for chorus, tenor soloist and a sizeable orchestra including three trombones, tuba, tambourine, cymbals, bass drum, and harp. For many years the piece was, except for Handel’s Messiah, the most frequently performed choral work.” Full Post
William Ethaniel Thomas
African American Conductor
African American Cellist
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Afro-British Composer
Hiawatha's Wedding Feast
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