C
Samuel
oleridgeTaylor
BORN: August 15, 1875, London, England DIED: September 1, 1912, Croydon, England
BIOGRAPHY Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was born in London, England in 1875. His mother was also born in England, and his father in Sierra Leone. Coleridge-Taylor began studying violin at a young age and was admitted into the Royal College of Music in 1890, at age 15. He rose to success as a composer despite the rampant racism of the time. In 1899, ColeridgeTaylor first heard African-American spirituals, and soon began incorporating them into his own compositions. He toured America three times, in 1904, 1906, and 1910, and there met a large community of Black musicians who both admired and inspired him.
FUN FACTS • At the Royal College of Music, ColeridgeTaylor studied music under Charles Villier Stanford, who also taught many other famous composers of the time, including Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams. • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was named after English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Many of his compositions were inspired by poetry, including poetry by his namesake. • During a visit to America, Coleridge-Taylor was invited to the White House to meet with President Theodore Roosevelt.
In addition to composing, Coleridge-Taylor was also an activist. He was a prominent figure in the first Pan-African Conference in London in 1900, which aimed to address the issues of racism and colonialism. Additionally, he sought to fight for respect for music of the African diaspora by featuring it prominently in his compositions.
Introduction Listen to all the different instruments!
F E AT U R E D W O R K
Othello Suite, Op. 79, Dance