Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, ca. 1905, photographer unknown (Public domain)
The name Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) often appears on lists of African-descended composers, but in truth I don’t know that I’d ever heard any of his compositions, certainly not in live performance. Have you, Reader?
A new CD has just appeared from Azica Records called
UNCOVERED Volume 1 that is entirely dedicated to his music, and at 79 minutes’ duration, it’s a generous sampling. It contains three early works for string quartet,
Fantasiestücke (Fantasy Pieces) op. 5 from 1895, and two quintets: one in G minor with the quartet and piano, op. 1 from 1893, and the other in F sharp minor with clarinet, op. 10 from 1906.