Belated premiere

A symphony written by a British composer more than 100 years ago is to be premiered in Cornwall on Monday. The work by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, who was born in Croydon, was written in 1896 but has only recently been found. . .

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was the son of an English mother and African father. He studied at the Royal College of Music and was encouraged by Sir Edward Elgar and Gustav Holst.

He is said to have been proud of his African descent and his works were popular in America, where he became one of the founders of the civil rights movement.

The 37-year-old composer died of pneumonia in 1912.

Posted by David on April 4, 2005 9:00 PM