Coleridge-Taylor death centenary remembered with a walk and cemetery visit

Coleridge-Taylor death centenary remembered with a walk and cemetery visit

Sept 4 2012

The centenary of the death of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, one of Britain’s most famous classical music composers in the early 20th century, who died on 1st September 1912, was remembered with a walk through Croydon, where he lived and died.

Coleridge-Taylor was born on 15th August 1875 in Holborn to an English mother and a Sierra Leonean father who was a doctor. He moved to Croydon as an infant.

The walk on September 1 visited the numerous homes Coleridge-Taylor lived, churches where he sung and was married, his school and other local connections.

The walk ended with a picnic and an optional visit to Coleridge-Taylor’s grave at Bandon Hill cemetery in Sutton, where respects were paid and one of the composer’s songs was sung as a tribute to his contribution to British choral music.

Best known for his choral composition, ‘Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast’, Coleridge-Taylor was also a pan-Africanist who introduced African sensibilities into classical music.

The walk was led by Croydon Festival artistic director Jonathan Butcher, with additional commentary by Coleridge-Taylor biographer Jeff Green. In addition to Croydon Festival, the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 100PM Collective and the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Network are some of the organisations behind a number of Coleridge-Taylor centenary events.


Kwaku

ENDS

Remembering Samuel Coleridge-Taylor  (15 Aug 1875 - 1 Sept 1912) - an African British musical genius & pan-Africanist
History consultant Kwaku will provide a synopsis of SC-T’s life, work, and legacy, and enable the audience to hear some of SC-T's music and find out a bit more about this once global superstar! This will be followed by a Q & A. Organised on behalf of Presented by BTWSC in association with BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress, and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 100PM Collective
Thursday Sept 20 2012, 2-3pm. Free. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/events/samuel-coleridge-taylor.htm. For more info: editor@britishblackmusic.com
National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU. 020 8876 3444.
 
Remembering Samuel Coleridge-Taylor  (15 Aug 1875 - 1 Sept 1912) - an African British musical genius & pan-Africanist
History consultant Kwaku will provide a synopsis of SC-T’s life, work, and legacy, and enable the audience to hear some of SC-T's music and find out a bit more about this once global superstar! This will be followed by a Q & A. Host: Cllr James Allie. Presented by BTWSC in association with BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress, and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 100PM Collective. There will be books and cakes on sale
Friday Sept 21 2012, 6-8.30pm. Free. RSVP: btwsc@hotmail.com,  www.SCT2012Brent.eventbrite.com
Brent Town Hall (Committee Rooms 2/3), Forty Lane, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 9HD

Remembering Samuel Coleridge-Taylor  (15 Aug 1875 - 1 Sept 1912) - an African British musical genius & pan-Africanist also on:
Wednesday Oct 31 2012, 2.30-4pm. Streatham Library for Lambeth schools
Wednesday Oct 31 2012, 6.30-8.30pm. Putney Library, 5-7 Disraeli Road, SW15 2DR. 020 8871 7090
Thursday Nov 1 2012, 2.30-4pm. Brixton Library for Lambeth schools
For more information: Awula Serwah  btwsc@hotmail.com
www.SCT100PMCollective.blogspot.com

Centenary Of The Death Of Global African Music Personality Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Marked In Accra

The life and work of a British-born musical genius of African heritage who died a century ago was the subject of a presentation at the WEB Du Bois Centre in Accra on Thursday. Entitled ‘Remembering Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’, the presentation, which was organised by UK-based voluntary organisation BTWSC and led by music industry and history consultant Kwaku, highlighted some of the achievements in Coleridge-Taylor’s short life.

Coleridge-Taylor was born in London in 1875 to a British mother and a Sierra Leonean father. He died in 1912, aged 37. Within his short life, he made a great impression within music, both in Britain and internationally, especially in the US, where he successfully toured three times. Within a year of completing his studies at London’s Royal College Of Music, he created two popular compositions in 1898 – ‘A Ballade In A Minor’, and ‘Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast’. The latter, a choral and orchestral piece which vied with earlier choral classics such as ‘Messiah’ and Elijah’, was the composition that brought him to global prominence.

In addition to composing and touring, Coleridge-Taylor spent his time adjudicating competitions, conducting, and teaching – he held a number of professorships in composition. In spite of his fame, he prided himself in being African, and incorporated African themes within the classical music genre. He was also a pan-Africanist - he was he a member of the African Association, which organised the 1900 Pan-African Conference in London, where he was in charge of the music programme.

The presentation, which is being delivered in London schools and libraries, was adapted to take cognisance of the venue. It ended with an insight into the enduring relationship between the Coleridge-Taylor family and Du Bois.

The links with Du Bois and other African-American leaders such as the educationalist Booker T Washingtion, were highlighted in the opening speech by Mr BS Ato Keelson, director of the WEB Du Bois Centre. Other speakers included His Excellency Mr KB Asante, who spoke of his colonial education at Achimota College, where his British music mistress did not only teach about Coleridge-Taylor’s compositions such as ‘Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast’, but also tried to widen their horizons by stressing the fact that the composer was African.

Dr DEK Baku, head of history at the University Of Ghana, spoke about his discovery of Coleridge-Taylor in a book during the research stages for his PhD, which also highlighted other leading pan-African thinkers such as Mensah Sarbah and Kobina Sekyi, both Gold Coasters.

During the Q&A session, some of the members of the audience gave personal accounts. A member of the audience talked about  her grandfather who had come to work in the Gold Coast from Dominica, and had attended the 1990 Pan-African Conference. She is researching on any correspondence there may have been between her grandfather and Coleridge-Taylor.

Members of the Sierra Leonean community spoke of the daughters of the Smith family of Freetown who knew Coleridge-Taylor, and had extended the link to Ghana, having married Gold Coasters such as the lawyer and politician Mr JE Casely-Hayford, and Dr William Awoonor Renner. Professor Kwabena Nketia, who experienced performances of  Coleridge-Taylor’s music whilst studying in London, was on hand to fill in the gaps regarding Sierra Leonean musicians who had some connection to Coleridge-Taylor.

The event was produced by BTWSC in association with WEB Du Bois Memorial Centre For Pan African Culture, BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress, and the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 100PM Collective. There was sponsorship by La Community Bank.

BTWSC is planning to organise a workshop in September entitled ‘What Does It Mean To Be A Global African?’

Ends

Awula Serwah

BTWSC Co-ordinator
info@btwsc.com

020 024 0338 (Accra)

020 8450 5987 (London)

www.BTWSC.com

Photos top to bottom

Audience
HE Mr KB Asante

Kwaku

Group shot left to right: Kwaku, KB Asante, Dr DEK Baku, Prof Kabena Nketia, and BS Ato Keelson

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor is one of those highlighted in the ‘NARM (Naming And Role Models): Highlighting African British Male Role Models 1907 – 2007’ book written by Kwaku and published by BTWSC. A free electronic version can be downloaded from www.BTWSC.com/NARM.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 100PM Related Events

BBMM2013 Unveiling Of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Image @ PRS HQ

As part of BBMM2013, BBM/BMC associated organisation the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 100 PM Collective (aka Collective click for background) and PRS (Peforming Right Society)  are organising a short ceremony on Wednesday June 19 2013 to mark the unveiling of an image of African British classical composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) in the collection society's London boardroom. This is a by invitation event aimed at music industry and the media.

The image is donated by the Collective courtesy of Collective member BTWSC. It was commissioned by pan-London voluntary group BTWSC for its 'NARM (Naming And Role Model) Highlighting African British Male Role Models 1907-2007' (BTWSC 2010) book. Coleridge-Taylor is one of 50 NARM role models featured in the book.
For more information: editor@BritishBlackMusic.com.
 
 For details of the Collective's events, click on http://sct100pmcollective.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/remembering-samuel-coleridge-taylor.html.

PLEASE NOTE: We use African or African-British to describe SC-T, and not 'black'. And we'll use those words where we find 'black' has been used by other organisations.




Click to hear Kwaku's SC-T presentation @ the National Archives

BTWSC in association with
BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress,
and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 100PM Collective
cordially invite you
to a family-friendly 2012 African History Season event
hosted by Cllr James Allie

Remembering Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
(15 Aug 1875 - 1 Sept 1912) - an African British musical genius & pan-Africanist

An audio-visual presentation
on African British history & music*

What: A power point assisted presentation on Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, (SC-T) the African British classical music composer and Pan-Africanist, by Kwaku.  The presentation will provide a synopsis of SC-T’s life, work, and legacy, and enable the audience to hear bits of his work. This will be followed by a Q & A

When: Friday September 21 2012, 6-8.30pm

Where: Brent Town Hall (Committee Rooms 2/3), Forty Lane, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 9HD 

Cost: Free

To RVSP, book or for more information: Awula Serwah, btwsc@hotmail.com
http://sctbrent-es2.eventbrite.co.uk/
 

*UK-based music industry and history consultant Kwaku will lead a Powerpoint-assisted presentation on the life of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (SC-T), one of Britain’s favourite composers of the early 20^th century, and introduce some of his works, including ‘Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast’, which at one time vied with ‘Messiah’ and ‘Elijah’ as one of Britain’s most popular choral composition.

SC-T, born of Sierra Leonean/English parentage, was feted internationally. He made three successful tours in the US, where he became the first African to conduct an all European orchestra and was invited to meet President Theodore Roosevelt in the White House. SC-T was proud of his African roots, and tried incorporating African themes within classical music. He was a member of the African Association, which organised the 1900 Pan-African Conference in London, where SC-T met WEB Du Bois, who had an influence on the composer. The dire circumstances of  SC-T’s estate partly led to the formation in 1914 of Britain’s Performing Right Society (PRS), which collects royalties for composers and music publishers.

The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session during which SC-T’s life as an African living in England at the turn of the 20^th century, a pan-Africanist, and his relationship with Du Bois, will be explored.  The event will be introduced by Cllr James Allie.

SC-T History Talk by Kwaku @ National Archives

BTWSC/BBM/BMC heralds African/black history month with this presentation, which will reference some of the Archives resources. Thursday September 20 2012, 2-3pm at the National Archives (map) Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU. Tel: +44 (0) 20 8876 3444. For more details, click here. For more info: editor@BritishblackMusic.com. Click to listen to podcast.

Remembering Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
(15 Aug 1875 - 1 Sept 1912) - an African British musical genius & pan-Africanist

        An audio-visual presentation
    on African British history & music*

When: Sunday June 23 2012, 2.30-4.30pm

Where: Gayton Library, 5 St John's Road,
Harrow On The Hill, Middx HA1 2EE

Cost: Free

To book or for more information: editor@BritishBlackMusic.com
 

*UK-based music industry and history consultant Kwaku will lead an audio-visual presentation on the life of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (SC-T), one of Britain’s favourite composers of the early 20^th century, and introduce some of his works, including ‘Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast’, which at one time vied with ‘Messiah’ and ‘Elijah’ as one of Britain’s most popular choral composition.

SC-T, born of Sierra Leonean/English parentage, was feted internationally. He made three successful tours in the US, where he became the first African to conduct an all European orchestra and was invited to meet President Theodore Roosevelt in the White House. SC-T was proud of his African roots, and tried incorporating African themes within classical music. He was a member of the African Association, which organised the 1900 Pan-African Conference in London, where SC-T met WEB Du Bois, who had an influence on the composer. The dire circumstances of  SC-T’s estate partly led to the formation in 1914 of Britain’s Performing Right Society (PRS), which collects royalties for composers and music publishers.

The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session during which SC-T’s life as an African living in England at the turn of the 20^th century, a pan-Africanist, and his relationship with Du Bois, will be explored.

SC-T History Talk by Kwaku @ National Archives

BTWSC/BBM/BMC heralds African/black history month with this presentation. Thursday September 20 2012, 1-2.30pm at the National Archives, Kew (map). Booking and further details to be confirmed. Free, For more info: editor@BritishblackMusic.com.

BTWSC (UK) in association with WEB Du Bois Memorial Centre For Pan African Culture (GH), BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 100PM Collective
and H.E. Mr KB Asante cordially invite you

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Remembering Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
(15 Aug 1875 - 1 Sept 1912) - an African British musical genius

        An audio-visual presentation
    on African British history & music*

When: Thursday March 29 2012, 3-5pm

Where: WEB Du Bois Memorial Centre, Off First Circular Road, Cantonment, Accra (near the American Embassy)

Cost: Free

To RVSP, book or for more information: Awula Serwah, info@btwsc.com, 020 024 0338, www.btwsc.eventbrite.com

*UK-based music industry and history consultant Kwaku will lead a Powerpoint-assisted presentation on the life of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (SC-T), one of Britain’s favourite composers of the early 20^th century, and introduce some of his works, including ‘Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast’, which at one time vied with ‘Messiah’ and ‘Elijah’ as one of Britain’s most popular choral composition.

SC-T, born of Sierra Leonean/English parentage, was feted internationally. He made three successful tours in the US, where he became the first African to conduct an all European orchestra and was invited to meet President Theodore Roosevelt in the White House. SC-T was proud of his African roots, and tried incorporating African themes within classical music. He was a member of the African Association, which organised the 1900 Pan-African Conference in London, where SC-T met WEB Du Bois, who had an influence on the composer. The dire circumstances of  SC-T’s estate partly led to the formation in 1914 of Britain’s Performing Right Society (PRS), which collects royalties for composers and music publishers.

The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session during which SC-T’s life as an African living in England at the turn of the 20^th century, a pan-Africanist, and his relationship with Du Bois, will be explored.  The event will be introduced by WEB Du Bois Memorial Centre acting executive director Mr BS Ato Keelson, and the Q&A preceded by an introduction by SC-T fan H.E. Mr KB Asante.

BTWSC is a Brent-based, pan-London not-for-profit voluntary organisation. It uses the creative arts to develop the potential of youth and adults. It is also engaged in raising aspirations and promoting social inclusion. BTWSC's core projects are centred around music industry, event planning, and music technology courses; writing workshops and writing competitions; ceremonies recognising unsung people; and family and community cohesion projects. For more details: www.BTWSC.com  in association with:

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 100 PM Collective(SCT100PM Collective or just the Collective; ^Post Mortem) is a London, UK based initiative.  You can contact us viaeditor@BritishBlackmusic.com. The SCT10PM Collective is a BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress initiative, led by Kwaku, and supported by Kienda Hoji, Commercial Music BA director Kienda Hoji at University Of Westminster, plus various Collective members. For more details: http://www.sct100pmcollective.blogspot.com/p/about-uscontact.html

BritishBlackMusic.com (BBM) is an online resource providing information about music, music business, and music business education with a bias towards British and black music. Its off-line activities include cultural industries research, consultancy, music business courses, and it organises seminars, conferences, and the Black Music Congress (BMC) debates. For more details: http://www.britishblackmusic.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=36

W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture is a national historic monument of Ghana, under the umbrella of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture.

Remembering Samuel Coleridge-Taylor  (15 Aug 1875 - 1 Sept 1912) - an African British musical genius
History consultant Kwaku leads on an audio-visual presentation on the life and work of the composer and pan-Africanist for students and staff on behalf of BTWSC/SCT100PM Collective
Claremont High School, Kenton, Middx
Thursday February 23 2012.

Event: Music Of Black Origin Versus Music Of British Origin

All Saints Church Notting Hill

Cordially request the pleasure of your company at an evening of wine and music to celebrate the 150th anniversary of All Saints Notting Hill.

Music of Black Origin versus Music of British Origin

Saturday 28th January: Andrew Tait & Friends Presents music by Samuel Coleridge Taylor;

1875 – 1912

Samuel Coleridge Taylor was, at the turn of the Century one of Britain's most outstanding Composers who achieved such success that he was once called the "African Mahler".

Venue: All Saints Church, Clydesdale Road, W11

Performance starts 7pm Dress code: Smart Casual Ticket £10

Tickets at the door

N.B. Donations in aid of the continuous maintenance work at All Saints Notting Hill will be much appreciated on the evening.

Welcome to the SCT100PM Collective Blog

Welcome to the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 100 PM Collective (SCT100PM Collective or just the Collective; ^Post Mortem) blog. The SCT10PM Collective is a BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress initiative, led by Kwaku, and supported by Kienda Hoji, Commercial Music BA director Kienda Hoji at University Of Westminster, plus various Collective members.

1. The Collective is to be an unconstituted collection of individuals and organisations drawn from educators, historians, musicians, and media/music industry practitioners because of their knowledge, interest, contacts, and influence that can have a positive impact on the aims of the Collective. Membership is free - simply email: editor@BritishBlackMusic.com.

2. The aims of the Collective are generally to improve the awareness of SC-T as a notable African British composer, raise awareness of his works, and to circulate information of SC-T related activities in 2012/13 among

a) the general public

b) contemporary and classical music audiences

c) young people

d) music students, and

e) persons of African and ethnic minority backgrounds; and

specifically, to have a

f) SC-T grant awarded by PRS For Music* to British composers or writers of African heritage to create either i) new classical works ii) innovative classical/contemporary hybrid works or iii) an essay that highlights SC-T’s biography and/or his works in an accessible manner for non classical music aficionados or musicologists

g) SC-T works to be included in the repertoire of the 2012 BBC Proms (if planning deadlines make this impossible, then campaign for a commitment to include it in 2013)

h) SC-T legacy – a programme which works with the BBC Proms and a music educational institution to bring in young African British composers & music students to investigate and perform traditional and modern classical works by Africans from Britain and overseas, as part of the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall or Hyde Park

i) SC-T and his work to be introduced into the music curriculum

j) partner venues where works developed from SC-T grant or SC-T legacy can be performed

k) to act as a conduit through which information of SC-T related activities and events can be publicised

l) to be a networking forum (on and offline) for improving knowledge about SC-T and other African classical music composers, promoting SC-T events organised by Collective members, and the encouragement of collaborative events among by Collective members

* PRS is the UK public performance collection society for songwriters and music publishers. Founded in 1914, it is believed to have been formed as a consequence of the revelation that one of Britain’s most popular composers, SC-T, had died in 1912 almost penniless