FATE OF THE COMPOSER

Radio Record, 8 July 1938, Page 21

FATE OF THE COMPOSER

UNDERPAID SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE LITERALLY WORKED HIMSELF TO DEATH

‘A. BOY that was born of @ runaway, mapcap match between a young West-African doctor and a pretty English girl was to grow up and become a brilliant composer. The son’s name was Satnuel Coleridge Taylor. Deserted by het waster of a husband, the young wife was left to battle for her son and herself, but, thanks to the help and sympathy of the poor for the poor, she was enabled to bring up her son in respectability and spur hitn on in his musical studies. At the age of 23 he composed the first part of "Scenes from the Song of Hiawatha," which is known as "Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast." Although a college composition, it tevealed 4 master hand. Coleridge Taylor’s copy of Longfellow, a cheap, vilély-printed edition, such as in those days were common in drapery stores, is scored with underlinings and suggestions which show that the plan of the cantata was completed in his mind before composition began. He then, as was his wont, committed

the poem to memory and lived with the words until they became part of him-« seli. . The work, in spite of its imperfect first performance was a great sticcess and came in for much praise from num-~ erous critics who heard it. Novello’s had undertaken its publication ‘1 -° which the composer received the m est sum of 15 guineas, and later, when the score was at the height of its popularity and was selling by hundreds of thottsands, he was given a further £25. In later years, when Coleridge Taylor completed the remaining two parts (for which he was paid £250 in all), he had no more money from "Hida watha" with the exception of occasional small unsolicited gifts. All Coleridge Taylor’s composing had to be done at night after work. The living came first. He to give music lessons ail his life. Coleridge Taylor died at the age of 8%, having literally worked himself to death. Listeners to 4YA will hear Coleridge Taylor’s "Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast" performed by the Royal Choral Society under Dr. Malcolm Sargent, on Sunday, July 10. s