TheDailyCougar.com: 'Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was a man who defied societal conventions and rose to prominence at the turn of the 20th century'

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912)

TheDailyCougar.com
University of Houston

Aaron Manuel
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was a man who defied societal conventions and rose to prominence at the turn of the 20th century.

After 100 years of his untimely passing at age 37, music faculty and students from the Moores Symphony Orchestra and Concert Chorale and Prairie View A&M University’s Concert Chorale on Friday and Saturday evening at the Moores Opera House to pay homage to his music.

John Snyder, professor of music theory at the Moores School of Music and chair of this weekend’s festivities, summed up the legacy of the composer at a preview lecture Friday evening.

“A name not well-known in English music, he would surpass (Edward) Elgar — not an easy feat,” Snyder said. “(Coleridge) was an icon in the African-American community because he made it big — he composed, he got things published, he taught and he conducted.”

Friday’s program consisted of Coleridge’s smaller works, beginning with three selections from his voice composition, “6 Sorrow Songs,” performed by Timothy Jones on bass-baritone and accompanied by Katherine Ciscon on piano.

The night ended with selections from a piano composition, “24 Negro Melodies,” by pianist Nancy Weems. Saturday’s performance by the Moores Symphony Orchestra consisted of Coleridge’s “Ballade in A Minor, Op. 33” and “Concerto in G Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 80.”

Members of the orchestra had nothing but praise for his music. “This is the first time I’ve heard his music, and it’s a pleasant mix of classical composition styles. A lot of it is up-tempo, really energetic and a lot of his melodies and harmonies are warm and pleasant,” said Leah Cables, percussionist and performance graduate student.  “Whether it’s major or minor, it’s beautiful music. It’s a nice blend of pretty, classical music with an exciting flare.”

[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. We are collaborating with the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Foundation of the U.K., www.SCTF.org.uk]