New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-09
MUSICAL COMMENT.
AN ANGLO-AFRICAN COMPOSERS. COLE
RIDGE-TAYLOR AND HIS COMPOST
TTONs - CONSERvATORIES - MUSIC

TIONS - CONSERNATORlES - M tSlC
IN BERLIN - ANNOUNCEMENTS
The September number OF ''The Musical Times
OF London. introduces an interesting personality
TO its readers I'M s. Coleridge-Taylor. who was
hopsred with a commission to compose work
Cor the Three Chors Festival. held last week In
Gloucester The name OF Mr Taylor has been
known to English catalogues for Ave or six years,
but the world has not heard much about him. nor
was II widely known outside OF England that he
Is what We here call mulatto. Though born IN
London. he Is the son OF native OF Sierra Leone
on the west coast Of Africa. and an English wom-
an. The circumstance makes him interesting. now
that the question OF the degree Of musical gi1ts
possessed by African peoples has been so much
discussed; and the readers Of the journal which has
done nore than any other newspaper In the worid
TO direct study toward music OF African origin
viii scarcely demand apology for the devotion
Of little space to him to-day. For the facts
OF his history The Tribune IL indebted TO The
Musical Tines
Mr.. Taylor born in London August H.
1875. Hs father a physician. native Afr-
can and especially musical. though he pro-
vided instruction the violin for his son when
he was six years old At ten years OF age he be-
came a chorister In ST. Georges Church. and he Is
stu singing In church. being an alto In the Church
OF st. Mary Maedalene Croydon. In 1890 he found
a patron. through whose aid he became a violin
pupil OF the Royal College or MUSIC. In 1888 ne
won a composition scholarship in the college, and
thereafter for four years devoted himself almost
exclusively to composition under Professor C.. VII
liers Stanford. He is himself professor Of
the violin At the Croydon Conservatory and con-
ductor OF a string orchestra. At sixteen years OF
age Mr.. Taylor his first composition in print
1t anthem. "In Thee Lord, Have Put
My Trust" which Novello Ever Co published
In 1892 The composition is 10 wise remarkable
but like hundreds of the service pieces put out in
England every year. Nor We find evidences
OF marked originality In the anthems. Break
Forth Into JOY" THE Lord Is Ny Strength" 20
Ye That Love the Lord and Lift Up Your
Heads" which the Novelties have published since.
They all melodious direct but solid and stolid
like most English church music. Individuality OF
a pronounced kind is TO be seem however In his
later works. especially in an orchestral ballade IN
minor which was his contribution to the Glouces
ter Festival list, and a cantata for tenor solo.
chorus and orchestra, entitled "Hiawatha's We'd
ding Feast" A set Of four walzes. which the
composer describes in his title as characteristics.
originally written for orchestra and arranged by
him for the pianoforte though composed some
years earlier than the ballade and cantata. also
give glimpses Of a musical personality with dis
,inguishing traits They tuneful and interest
ingly harmonized. but less noticeable for work.
been consorted in this mention. These show the
influence Of the modern school in having melodic
phrases at their foundation. from which springs
the principal thema tic material Of the works. One
such germ Is that shown in fac-simile herewith.