Composer of the Week: Coleridge-Taylor

Original version

BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

Migrated podcast image for: Composer Of The Week

Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

Composer of the Week - Brand

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912): Wedding Feast

Wedding Feast

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912)

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912), Wedding Feast

Donald Macleod follows the twists and turns of Coleridge-Taylor’s wedding story.

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Today, life imitates art as he faces obstacles getting married, whilst writing a piece all about a wedding!

Donald Macleod follows the twists and turns of Coleridge-Taylor’s wedding story.

At the turn of the 20th century, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor could have been described as the most famous Black person in Britain. His cantata trilogy, the Song of Hiawatha, was an overnight success, and by the age of 25 he had packed out the Royal Albert Hall with a thousand performers, let alone the audience. His fame took him all around Britain and America as choral societies from Worcester to Washington DC all wanted to sing his music, and Coleridge-Taylor became a role-model, especially for African Americans. But tragically, just over a decade later, he would be dead. He remained a household name into the 1930s, only for his flame to flicker out much sooner than he deserved. All this week, Donald re-visits his fascinating story, with recordings predominantly released in the last five years, showing how excited today's performers are to rediscover his delightful music. 

Today, life imitates art as Coleridge-Taylor faces obstacles whilst trying to marry his beloved Jessie Walmisley. Her family vehemently disapproves of the match. And during this period of turmoil, he’s writing a piece all about a wedding… Can he write his own “happy-ever-after”?

Petite Suite de Concert, Op 77 (iii. Un sonnet d’amour)
Chineke! Orchestra
Anthony Parnther, conductor

Nonet (ii. Andante con moto)
Kaleidoscope Chamber Ensemble

African Romances, Op 17 (An African Love Song; Ballad; Over the Hills; How shall I woo thee?)
Elizabeth Llewellyn, soprano
Simon Lepper, piano

Hiawatha Overture
RTE Orchestra
Adrian Leaper, conductor

Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast (excerpt)
Arthur Davies, tenor
Welsh National Opera and Chorus
Kenneth Alwyn, conductor


Produced by Amelia Parker for BBC Audio Cardiff

Composer of the Week: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912)

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Donald Macleod presents an in-depth survey of the life and work of this week's composer.

Donald Macleod presents an in-depth survey of the life and work of this week's composer, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Composer of the Week

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912)

Wedding Feast

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 3

About BBC Radio 3