From the Archives: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (London 15 August 1875 – London 1 September 1912) 

Annotated proof sheets of the vocal score of no.4, Hiawatha’s departure.  This section of the Scenes was written for the Royal Choral Society and first performed by them at the Royal Albert Hall on 22 February 1900. 

Stamped by the publisher Novello and Co., dated 28 November 1899, with annotations and corrections by the composer and others.

Annotations include: 

in black ink the numbering of the movement on p.1 and the text on p.2 “Came the Spring with all its splendour” by the composer.  The change to Longfellow’s text did not happen; 

in red ink “Something more than sf is wanted – expressing the amount of tone required during the 1st few bars”.  In the published vocal score this is found as “sff”; 

in blue crayon “More directions & expression marks wanted – especially where there is a change of [?] or [?]”; 

in brown ink the rehearsal numbering; 

in pencil the date at the foot of the page.

Scenes from The Song of Hiawatha.  By H.W. Longfellow.  Set to music for Soprano, Tenor, and Baritone Soli, Chorus, and Orchestra, Op.30.  London: Novello and Company. 1900. 

These manuscripts were presented to the RSM by Avril Coleridge-Taylor (1903-1998), daughter of the composer, who was a composer and conductor.  She had composition lessons from Gordon Jacob and Alec Rowley and made her conducting début in 1933 at the Royal Albert Hall, later being guest conductor with the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.