Charles Kaufmann: Orchestra of The Longfellow Chorus Performs Coleridge-Taylor's 'Bamboula Rhapsodic Dance' (10:30)

[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]

Charles Kaufmann of The Longfellow Chorus of Portland, Maine writes:

Coleridge-Taylor's Bamboula Rhapsodic Dance:

On March 16, 2013, The Orchestra of The Longfellow Chorus performed Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's "Bamboula Rhapsodic Dance," a piece performed for the first time in June 1910 at the Norfolk (Connecticut) Music Festival. We played from the actual parts and full orchestral score used at Norfolk during the 1910 festival. The music was dedicated to Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Norfolk patrons, "Mr. and Mrs. Carl Stoeckel."

During rehearsal of Bamboula, in Portland, Maine, on March 15, 2013, as conductor, I was having trouble with the various tempo changes in the score. A member of our cello section, Jerome Wright, made his voice heard at this point in rehearsal. He stood up and told me that Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Bamboula was actually a cakewalk, and that I should conduct it in this manner . . . he proceeded to demonstrate.

After that, I had no problem conducting this virtuosic and very wonderful Samuel Coleridge-Taylor opus.

Here is our concert recording from March 16, 2013. Many thanks to Jerome Wright, without whom I would not have gotten it right. I do not believe there are any other recent recordings of this piece available anywhere.

http://goo.gl/VNFjiQ

Charles Kaufmann