Wedding Feast

Donald Macleod follows the twists and turns of Coleridge-Taylor’s wedding story.

At the turn of the 20th century, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor could have been described as the most famous Black person in Britain. His cantata trilogy, the Song of Hiawatha, was an overnight success, and by the age of 25 he had packed out the Royal Albert Hall with a thousand performers, let alone the audience. His fame took him all around Britain and America as choral societies from Worcester to Washington DC all wanted to sing his music, and Coleridge-Taylor became a role-model, especially for African Americans. But tragically, just over a decade later, he would be dead. He remained a household name into the 1930s, only for his flame to flicker out much sooner than he deserved. All this week, Donald re-visits his fascinating story, with recordings predominantly released in the last five years, showing how excited today's performers are to rediscover his delightful music.

Today, life imitates art as Coleridge-Taylor faces obstacles whilst trying to marry his beloved Jessie Walmisley. Her family vehemently disapproves of the match. And during this period of turmoil, he’s writing a piece all about a wedding… Can he write his own “happy-ever-after”?

Petite Suite de Concert, Op 77 (iii. Un sonnet d’amour)
Chineke! Orchestra
Anthony Parnther, conductor

Nonet (ii. Andante con moto)
Kaleidoscope Chamber Ensemble

African Romances, Op 17 (An African Love Song; Ballad; Over the Hills; How shall I woo thee?)
Elizabeth Llewellyn, soprano
Simon Lepper, piano

Hiawatha Overture
RTE Orchestra
Adrian Leaper, conductor

Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast (excerpt)
Arthur Davies, tenor
Welsh National Opera and Chorus
Kenneth Alwyn, conductor

Produced by Amelia Parker for BBC Audio Cardiff