Zanaida Robles
The multi-talented Zanaida Robles, DMA candidate in choral music at the
USC Thornton School of Music, presented a 10:30am workshop on July 22,
2014 during the NANM national convention in Culver City, Ca. titled
"Re-Igniting a Legacy: The Choral Music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor".
According to Zanaida Robles, "Coleridge-Taylor was one of the
earliest composers of African descent whose music was revered, not for
any Afro-centric novelty. but for being well crafted and wholly original
yet distinctly British. With this research on Samuel Coleridge-Taylor,
the compositional voices of past and contemporary composers of African
descent might also be more distinctly heard and appreciated, not just
for the novel inclusion of spirituals, popular style, and crossover
components, but for their genuinely fine craftsmanship and distinctly
classical character. To that end, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor can still lead
and inspire the American musical community, just as he did a century
ago."
Zanaida examined/discussed the construction, style,
character, historic value, and contemporary relevance of choral music by
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Through her research, she hope to accomplish
two purposes:
1. To help perpetuate the study and performance of the choral works of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor,
particularly the small choral works, which in many cases offer great
textual illumination, compositional potency, and practical performances
applications in both sacred and secular settings.
2. To help facilitate a higher standard for greater diversity in choral music
The
NANM workshop included live performances by Zanaida's church choral
with Zanida as conductor. Soprano Aleta Braxton, a member of Los Angeles
Opera Chorus, sang with the choral. Zanaida also demonstrated, with
solo voice, how Samuel Coleridge-Taylor gave unique interpretations to
spirituals. Zanaida has a beautiful soprano voice. She is also a member
of the Los Angeles Master Chorale as her husband, bass-baritone Vincent
Robles, who also sang with the choral during the workshop. Soprano Aleta
Braxton, a member of Los Angeles Opera Chorus also sang with the choral
during the NANM workshop.
The legendary choral director Dr.
Albert J. Neil posed the question of how to access Coleridge-Taylor's
music from a convenient comprehensive source. Zanaida acknowledged the
current difficulties but shared hope for the future with her forthcoming
thesis. Most, if not all, all of the music performed on the program was
published by Novello.
The very academic presentation and skillful live performances received a lengthy standing ovation.
Zanaida
recognized John Malveaux for introducing her to Coleridge-Taylor during
her early undergraduate years at California State University-Long Beach
and rehearsing with Professor/pianist Althea Waites.
Zanaida
also recognized numerous others in the academic community for offering
support and encouragement such as Dr. Dominique-René de Lerma and Charles Kaufman for his film 'Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and his music in America 1900-1912'.
Zanaida invited the audience to attend a music program dedicated to Coleridge-Taylor on Thursday, July 24, 2014. See
Comment by email:
Kelvin Page, who appears in the film Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and his music in America, 1900–1912, was also acknowledged by Zanaida after he identified himself following the presentation. [John Malveaux]
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