Short bio Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Full biography Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was a British composer of Afro-Caribbean descent who lived from 1875 to 1912. He was born in London to a white English mother and a Sierra Leonean father who had met in the United States. Coleridge-Taylor's father left the family before he was born, leaving his mother to raise him as a single parent.
Despite their limited means, Coleridge-Taylor's mother recognized her son's talent for music and encouraged him to pursue it. He began studying violin at an early age, and later took up other instruments as well. He eventually enrolled at the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied composition under Charles Villiers Stanford.
Coleridge-Taylor became well-known for his choral works, which often featured African-American spirituals and other musical influences from his African heritage. His most famous work is probably "Hiawatha's Wedding Feast," a cantata based on the poem The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The piece was an enormous success when it premiered in 1898, and was performed frequently in Coleridge-Taylor's lifetime and beyond.
Despite his success, Coleridge-Taylor struggled with racial prejudice throughout his life. He was often referred to as "the black Mahler," a comparison he found frustrating and limiting. He also faced financial difficulties, in part due to his generosity towards other struggling musicians.
Coleridge-Taylor unfortunately died at the young age of 37 from pneumonia, leaving behind a wife and two young children. Despite his brief life, he made a significant impact on the music world and remains a respected composer to this day.
Compositions featuring Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonata for violin & piano in D minor, Op. 28 | 25:36 min | Chamber Music | 1912 |
| 2 | Violin Concerto in G minor, Op. 80 | 32:08 min | Concerto | 1912 |
| 3 | The Evening Star, for chorus | 3:19 min | Choral | 1911 |
| 4 | This Is the Island of Gardens, for voice & piano (Songs of Sun and Shade, No. 5) | Vocal Music | 1911 | |
| 5 | Thou Art Risen, My Beloved, for voice & piano (Songs of Sun and Shade, No. 4) | 2:30 min | Vocal Music | 1911 |
| 6 | Thou Hast Bewitched Me, Beloved, for voice & piano (Songs of Sun and Shade, No. 2) | 1:32 min | Vocal Music | 1911 |
| 7 | You Lay So Still in the Sunshine, for voice & piano (Songs of Sun and Shade, No. 1) | 2:52 min | Vocal Music | 1911 |
| 8 | A Lament, for voice & piano | 2:46 min | Vocal Music | 1910 |
| 9 | Petite Suite de Concert, for orchestra (or piano), Op. 77 | 10:08 min | Orchestral | 1910 |
| 10 | Sons of the Sea | 3:28 min | Vocal Music | 1909 |
| 11 | A King There Lived in Thule, for voice & piano | 3:47 min | Vocal Music | 1908 |
| 12 | Forest Scenes, characteristic pieces for piano, Op. 66 | 18:14 min | Keyboard | 1907 |
| 13 | Sorrow Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 57 | 16:15 min | Vocal Music | 1906 |
| 14 | Five Negro Melodies for piano trio (from Op. 59/1) | 17:24 min | Chamber Music | 1906 |
| 15 | Variations for cello in B minor | 12:50 min | Chamber Music | 1905 |
| 16 | The Angels Changed My Name, for piano, Op. 59/1/9 | 4:54 min | Keyboard | 1905 |
| 17 | I'm Troubled in Mind, for piano, Op. 59/1/14 | 5:48 min | Keyboard | 1905 |
| 18 | Cameos, for piano, Op. 56 | 13:06 min | Keyboard | 1904 |
| 19 | African Dances (4), for violin & piano, Op. 58 | 17:28 min | Chamber Music | 1904 |
| 20 | Negro Melodies (24) for piano, Op. 59/1 | 8:09 min | Keyboard | 1904 |
| 21 | Moorish Dance, for piano, Op. 55 | 10:20 min | Keyboard | 1904 |
| 22 | Novelletten (4), for string orchestra, Op. 52 | 21:40 min | Orchestral | 1903 |
| 23 | Elegy | 2:05 min | Choral | 1902 |
| 24 | By the Waters of Babylon, for soloists, chorus & organ | 6:00 min | Choral | 1899 |
| 25 | Ballade for orchestra in A minor, Op. 33 | 11:26 min | Orchestral | 1898 |
| 26 | Scenes from "The Song of Hiawatha" for chorus & orchestra, Op 30 | Choral | 1898 | |
| 27 | African Suite, for orchestra | 19:39 min | Orchestral | 1898 |
| 28 | African Romances (7), for voice & piano, Op. 17 | 12:48 min | Vocal Music | 1897 |
| 29 | Legend (Conzertstück), for violin & orchestra, Op. 14 | 7:12 min | Concerto | 1897 |
| 30 | Hiawathan Sketches, for violin & piano, Op. 16 | 10:53 min | Chamber Music | 1896 |
| 31 | Southern Love Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 12 | Vocal Music | 1896 | |
| 32 | Quintet for clarinet & strings in F sharp minor, Op 10 | 29:34 min | Chamber Music | 1895 |
| 33 | Fantasiestücke, for string quartet, Op.5 | 20:14 min | Chamber Music | 1895 |
| 34 | Ballade for violin and piano (or orchestra) in D Minor, Op 4 | 12:49 min | Orchestral | 1895 |
| 35 | Nonet in F minor, Op.2 | 26:19 min | Chamber Music | 1894 |
| 36 | Suite de pièces, for violin & organ, Op. 3 | 10:33 min | Chamber Music | 1893 |
| 37 | Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 1 | 27:40 min | Chamber Music | 1893 |
| 38 | Piano Trio in E minor | 8:54 min | Chamber Music | 1893 |
| 39 | The Lord Is My Strength, for chorus & organ | 3:41 min | Choral | 1892 |
| 40 | Song of Proserpine, for 4 voices & piano | 2:51 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 41 | Whispers of Summer, for chorus & piano | 5:27 min | Choral | - |
| 42 | You'll Love Me Yet, for voice & piano, Op. 37/1 | 2:32 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 43 | Three-Fours, valse suite for piano, Op 71 | 19:18 min | Keyboard | - |
| 44 | Short Pieces (3) for organ | 10:03 min | Keyboard | - |
| 45 | Summer is Gone | 3:31 min | Choral | - |
| 46 | Symphonic Variations on an African Air, Op. 63, for orchestra | 20:16 min | Orchestral | - |
| 47 | Viking Song, for 2 voices & piano | 2:42 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 48 | Symphony in A minor | 36:35 min | Symphony | - |
| 49 | The Lee Shore, for chorus | 3:22 min | Choral | - |
| 50 | Unmindful of the roses | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - | |
| 51 | A Christmas Overture | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - | |
| 52 | Intermezzo | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - | |
| 53 | Ballade in C minor, Op. 73 | 13:06 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 54 | Big Lady Moon, song for voice & piano | 2:28 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 55 | By the Lone Sea Shore, for chorus | 3:19 min | Choral | - |
| 56 | Canoe Song, for voice & piano, Op. 37/2 | 1:40 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 57 | Characteristic Waltzes (4) for orchestra, Op 22 | 13:47 min | Orchestral | - |
| 58 | Deep River, for piano, Op. 59/1/10 | 5:19 min | Keyboard | - |
| 59 | Forest of Wild Thyme, incidental music, Op 74 | Orchestral | - | |
| 60 | Gipsy Suite Op.20 | 12:44 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 61 | Hiawatha's Wedding Feast | 119:10 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 62 | Impromptu for piano No. 2 in B minor | 4:36 min | Keyboard | - |
| 63 | Impromptus (3) for organ, Op. 78 | Keyboard | - | |
| 64 | In Thee, O Lord, for chorus & organ | 4:44 min | Choral | - |
| 65 | She rested by the broken brook | 3:27 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 66 | Life and Death, for voice & piano | 1:48 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 67 | Lift Up Your Heads, for chorus | 2:24 min | Choral | - |
| 68 | Morning & Evening Service, for chorus & organ in F major, Op. 18 | 22:05 min | Choral | - |
| 69 | Now Late on the Sabbath Day, for chorus & organ | 7:10 min | Choral | - |
| 70 | O Ye That Love the Lord, for chorus | 3:54 min | Choral | - |
| 71 | Othello, suite for orchestra, Op 79 | 13:30 min | Orchestral | - |
| 72 | Quintet for strings in A | 35:39 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 73 | Romance for violin & orchestra in G major, Op. 39 | 10:57 min | Concerto | - |
| 74 | Romance of the Prairie Lilies Op.39 | 9:54 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 75 | Scenes From an Imaginary Ballet | 9:48 min | Ballet | - |
| 76 | Sea Drift, rhapsody for double chorus, Op. 69 | 6:02 min | Choral | - |
Albums featuring Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Takács Quartet / Dvořák, Coleridge-Taylor – Dvořák, String Quartet Op. 106 - Coleridge-Taylor, Fantasiestücke(10×File, AAC, Album) | 2023 | Hyperion |
| 2 |  |
Chineke! Orchestra, Coleridge-Taylor – Coleridge-Taylor(2×CD, ) | 2022 | Decca |
| 3 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective – Nonet / Piano Trio / Piano Quintet(CD, ) | 2022 | Chandos |
| 4 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Catalyst Quartet, Stewart Goodyear, Anthony McGill – Uncovered, Vol. 1(CD, Album) | 2021 | Azica |
| 5 |  |
Rochelle Sennet, Johann Sebastian Bach, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Jeffrey Mumford, R. Nathaniel Dett, H. Leslie Adams, Frederick Tillis – Bach To Black: Suites For Piano(3×CD, ) | 2021 | Albany Records |
| 6 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Elizabeth Llewellyn, Simon Lepper – Heart & Hereafter - Collected songs of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor(CD, Stereo) | 2021 | Orchid Classics |
| 7 |  |
Haydn Wood, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Frederick Delius - Tasmin Little, BBC Philharmonic, Sir Andrew Davis – British Violin Concertos(CD, Album) | 2015 | Chandos |
| 8 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Lewis (3), The Royal Choral Society, The New Symphony Orchestra Of London, Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra, Dan Godfrey, The New Light Symphony Orchestra, J. Ainslie Murray – Th | 2013 | Héritage |
| 9 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor - Waka Hasegawa – Undiscovered Piano Works(CD, Album) | 2013 | Naxos |
| 10 |  |
Michael Balfe, Roger Quilter, Edgar Bainton, Rosalind Ellicott, Walter MacFarren, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Joseph Spooner, Michael Jones (72), Kathryn Mosley – Romantics In England. Music For Cello & Piano(CD, Compilation) | 2009 | Dutton Digital |
| 11 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Julius Harrison, Lorraine McAslan, Nicholas Braithwaite, The London Philharmonic Orchestra – Coleridge-Taylor Violin Concerto(CDr, Stereo) | 2007 | Lyrita Recorded Edition |
| 12 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, The Nash Ensemble – Piano Quintet / Clarinet Quintet | 2007 | Hyperion |
| 13 |  |
Frederick Cowen • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor -- Aarhus Symphony Orchestra / Douglas Bostock – Symphonies(CD, ) | 2006 | Classico |
| 14 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Frances Walker (2) – 24 Negro Melodies, Op. 59(CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered) | 2006 | Marquis |
| 15 |  |
Coleridge-Taylor, Somervell, Anthony Marwood, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins – Violin Concerto In G Minor, Op 80 / Violin Concerto In G Minor(CD, Album) | 2005 | Hyperion |
| 16 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor - Kelly Burke (3), John Fadial – Chamber Music(CD, Album) | 2004 | Centaur Records |
| 17 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor / Antonín Dvořák – Philippe Graffin, Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Hankinson – Violin Concertos(CD, Album) | 2004 | Avie Records |
| 18 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, William Grant Still, Fela Sowande, Chicago Sinfonietta, Paul Freeman (3) – African Heritage Symphonic Series • Vol I | 2000 | Cedille Records |
| 19 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Antonín Dvořák – Coleridge Taylor: Hiawatha's Wedding Feast Dvorak:Synphonic Variations Op.78(CD, CD-ROM) | 1995 | Theorema |
| 20 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, RTE Concert Orchestra, Dublin, Adrian Leaper – British Light Music: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor | 1995 | Marco Polo |
| 21 |  |
Sir Malcolm Sargent - Holst, Britten, Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Coleridge Taylor, Bax – Sir Malcolm Sargent Conducts British Music(CD, Album, Compilation) | 1995 | Beulah |
| 22 |  |
Coleridge Taylor, Butterworth, MacCunn, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Grant Llewellyn – Coleridge Taylor · Butterworth · Taylor | 1993 | Argo (2) |
| 23 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor - Harold Wright, Virginia Eskin, The Hawthorne String Quartet, Michael Ludwig – Clarinet Quintet / Petite Suite / Ballade / Spirituals(CD, Album) | 1992 | Koch International Classics |
| 24 |  |
Hiawatha - Excerpt • Othello Suite • Christmas Overture • Suite De Concert • Forest Of Wild Thyme - Incidental Music(CD, Compilation, Mono) | 1992 | Pearl |
| 25 |  |
Coleridge Taylor, Field • Davies • Terfel, Welsh National Opera, Kenneth Alwyn – Hiawatha | 1991 | Argo (2) |
| 26 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor - Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Bournemouth Symphony Chorus & Orchestra, Kenneth Alwyn – Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast / The Bamboula | 1984 | Angel Records |
| 27 |  |
Coleridge-Taylor, Sir Malcolm Sargent, George Weldon, Royal Choral Society, Richard Lewis (3), Philharmonia Orchestra – Hiawatha's Wedding Feast / Petite Suite De Concert | 1982 | His Master's Voice |
| 28 |  |
Arthur Bliss, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Ramon Kireilis, Lamont String Quartet – Two British Quintets | 1980 | Spectrum Records (5) |
| 29 |  |
Frances Walker (2), Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, William Grant Still – Coleridge-Taylor: 24 Negro Melodies / Still: Seven Traceries(2×LP, Album, Stereo) | 1978 | Orion |
| 30 |  |
William Grant Still / Samuel Coleridge-Taylor – Afro-American Symphony / Two Arias From "Highway 1, U.S.A." / Danse Nègre / Onaway! Awake, Beloved From "Hiawatha's Wedding Feast" | 1974 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 31 |  |
Petite Suite De Concert(7", EP) | 1963 | His Master's Voice |
| 32 |  |
Coleridge-Taylor, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Royal Choral Society, Richard Lewis (3), Philharmonia Orchestra – Hiawatha's Wedding Feast | 1962 | His Master's Voice |
| 33 |  |
Royal Choral Society Conducted By Dr. Malcolm Sargent - Coleridge-Taylor – Hiawatha's Wedding Feast(4×Shellac, 12", 78 RPM) | 1930 | His Master's Voice |
| 34 |  |
Coleridge-Taylor, New Symphony Orchestra Conducted By Dr. Malcolm Sargent – Otello - Suite(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | - | His Master's Voice |
| 35 |  |
Chevalier de Meude-Monpas, Chevalier De Saint-Georges, Joseph White, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Rachel Barton, Encore Chamber Orchestra, Daniel Hege – Violin Concertos By Black Composers Of The 18th & 19th Centuries(CD, ) | - | Cedille Records |
| 36 |  |
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Alexandre Luigini, George Weldon, Sidney Torch – Ballet Egyptien, Petite Suite De Concert(LP, 10", Album) | - | Columbia Masterworks |
| 37 |  |
The Music Of Coleridge-Taylor(LP, Compilation, Mono) | - | Rare Recorded Editions |
Videos featuring Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
V. Akinla: Allegro non troppo
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
V. Akinla: Allegro non troppo · Chicago Sinfonietta
African Heritage Symphonic Series, Vol. 1
℗ 2000 Cedille
Released on: 2000-01-01
Orchestra: Chicago Sinfonietta
Composer: Fela Sowande
Conductor: Paul Free
Deep River
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
Deep River · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Samuel Coleridge Taylor: Quintet for clarinet & strings, Op 10: I. Allegro energico
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Samuel Coleridge Taylor: Quintet for clarinet & strings, Op 10: I. Allegro energico · Harold Wright & Hawthorne String Quartet
Big Chamber Music Box, Vol 2
℗ Vanguard Classics
Released on: 2016-
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor : The Song of Hiawatha, Overture to the cantata Op. 30 No. 3 (1899)
Performed by the RTE Concert Orchestra conducted by Adrian Leaper.
Wade In The Water
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
Wade In The Water · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Samuel Coleridge Taylor: Quintet for clarinet & strings, Op 10: II. Larghetto affettuoso
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Samuel Coleridge Taylor: Quintet for clarinet & strings, Op 10: II. Larghetto affettuoso · Harold Wright & Hawthorne String Quartet
Big Chamber Music Box, Vol 2
℗ Vanguard Classics
Released on:
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTu
Samuel Coleridge Taylor: Quintet for clarinet & strings, Op 10: III. Allegro leggiero
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Samuel Coleridge Taylor: Quintet for clarinet & strings, Op 10: III. Allegro leggiero · Harold Wright & Hawthorne String Quartet
Big Chamber Music Box, Vol 2
℗ Vanguard Classics
Released on: 201
Going Up
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
Going Up · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Samuel Coleridge Taylor: Quintet for clarinet & strings, Op 10: IV. Allegro agitato
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Samuel Coleridge Taylor: Quintet for clarinet & strings, Op 10: IV. Allegro agitato · Harold Wright & Hawthorne String Quartet
Big Chamber Music Box, Vol 2
℗ Vanguard Classics
Released on: 2016-
Pilgrim's Song
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
Pilgrim's Song · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Oloba
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
Oloba · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
The Stones Are Very Hard
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
The Stones Are Very Hard · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Steal Away
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
Steal Away · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
At The Dawn Of Day
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
At The Dawn Of Day · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
They Will Not Lend Me A Child
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
They Will Not Lend Me A Child · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Warrior's Song
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
Warrior's Song · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Oh, He Raise A Poor Lazarus
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
Oh, He Raise A Poor Lazarus · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Take Nabandji
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
Take Nabandji · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Let Us Cheer The Weary Traveller
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
Let Us Cheer The Weary Traveller · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
My Lord Delivered Daniel
Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music Group
My Lord Delivered Daniel · Frances Walker
Samuel Coleridge-taylor - 24 Negro Spirituals
℗ 2006 Marquis Classics
Released on: 2006-01-24
Composer: Samuel Coleridge-taylor
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Leave a Reply