COMPOSER 1875-1912
illustration/design Michael simpson
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Samuel Coleridge Taylor was born in London on 15th August,1875. His father was an African from sierra Leone and his mother was an Englishwomen. Both parents were keenly interested in music and Samuel statted to study the violin at the age of 6.
He made extraodinary progress and was affered a place at the Royal Academy of Music when he was only 15 . His talent as a composer won him a prize in his third year at the Acadeemy. He graduated with honours in 1894 In many of his compositions Samual used African American folk melodies and poetry by black American writers.He became best known in England for his composition of the cantata 'Hiawatha'. In later years he became famous all over Europe as a conductor and an adjudicator. He was invited to conduct at festivals of his music in North America an three occasions. From 1903 until his death in 1912, Samual was Professor of Composition at Trinity Collage, london. |