Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875–1912) was a prodigiously talented English composer and conductor of mixed race birth. In 1902 a group of African-American music lovers formed the Coleridge-Taylor Society to perform and promote his music in America, and eventually brought Coleridge-Taylor over for three successful tours—in 1904, 1906, and 1910. During the first tour, Coleridge-Taylor conducted the Marine Band along with the Coleridge-Taylor Society Chorus and met with President Teddy Roosevelt at the White House. He composed his Symphony in A Minor at age 20, and was particularly known for his three cantatas on the epic poem Song of Hiawatha by American Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Coleridge-Taylor premiered the first section, “Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast”, in 1898, when he was 22. The work would go on to become one of the most popular English choral works of the twentieth century.
Alto is pleased to bring back to international availability the world premiere of Coleridge-Taylor’s Symphony in A Minor conducted by tireless British music champion Douglas Bostock, coupled with the landmark recording of Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast conducted by the mid-twentieth century’s undisputed and inimitable master of grand choral music, Sir Malcolm Sargent.
“[Coleridge-Taylor’s] Symphony is a very likeable discovery. Both middle movements display a disarming melodic felicity and assurance, to say nothing of admiring glances towards Dvořák, although Stanford (his teacher) was never happy with the finale. It was first played by RCM students in 1896 (participants included Holst and Vaughan Williams!). Although it went down well, it gathered dust for over a century. Bostock’s alert and affectionate lead enjoy making its acquaintance. … Crisp and clear sound for this world premiere recording. In every respect, a solid thumbs-up.”
– Gramophone
“The much-loved ‘Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast’ recalls the extraordinary excitement of its first performance. Coleridge-Taylor was then 23 and the work an immediate and wild success. Parry analysed the reasons with insight. He suggested that because of the composer’s West African father, ‘he loved plenty of sound, plenty of colour, simple and definite rhythms and, above all things, plenty of tune’. All these qualities kept it popular, and are admirably captured here: the Philharmonia provide the orchestral colour, and Sir Malcolm keeps the admirable Royal Choral Society on their rhythmic toes. Richard Lewis gives a suitably romantic ‘Onaway! Awake, beloved!’ Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast has been done proud in every way.” [Gramophone]
