Dedicated to his race
Charles Elford | Whitstable, Kent | 08/24/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Other composers 'classicized' the folk music of their nations (e.g. Grieg, Dvorak) and here Coleridge-Taylor (a founding member of the Pan-African Movement) does the same for his race. Although he was born in England to a white English mother and black African father (in 1875) he was hugely inspired by African American Spiritual music. These melodies, and his earlier 'hit' - the magnificent choral trilogy The Song of Hiawatha - earnt him a very special place in the hearts of Americans, especially African Americans. It is wonderful to see such a revival of interest in the man and his evocative music. Charles Elford - Black Mahler The Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Story www.blackmahler.com"