Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
- field
- Composer, conductor
- nationality
- British
- known_for
- Cantatas on The Song of Hiawatha
Lore & Background
He was raised by his mother and grandfather, a farrier who taught him violin. He later used the hyphenated name 'Coleridge-Taylor' following a printer's error.
Reader's Guide
Coleridge-Taylor's case contributed to the formation of the Performing Right Society, as his lack of royalties from Hiawatha highlighted the need for performance-based revenue for composers.
Did You Know?
- Coleridge-Taylor sold the rights to his hugely popular Hiawatha's Wedding Feast for only 15 guineas, losing future royalties.
- His son was named Hiawatha after the poetic figure from Longfellow's poem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Samuel Coleridge-Taylor nicknamed the 'African Mahler'?
White musicians in New York City coined that label after he completed three successful American touring seasons in the early 1900s. The comparison to Gustav Mahler was meant to signal the grand scale and ambition of his choral-orchestral writing.
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