Classical Composers A-Z: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Peter Wintersgill introduces us to Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, the composer of Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast.
Born
15th August, 1875, in London
Father
Doctor from Sierra Leone
Mother
English
Adolescence
Studied composition at Royal College of Music with Stanford. Wrote clarinet quintet and other chamber works, anthems and songs.
Adult Life
Main claim to fame was as the composer of Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast (1898) from Longfellow’s poem, followed by Death of Minnehaha (1899) and Hiawatha’s Departure (1900).
Other works were in demand after this and included Meg Blane (1902), The Atonement (1903), Kubla Khan (1906) and A Tale of Old Japan (1911). He made three visits to USA studying Negro folk music.
He died 1st September, 1912, in London, aged 37.
