The Hiawatha Phenomenon

Uchenna Ngwe uncovers the story of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s stratospheric concert hit, The Song of Hiawatha, 150 years after the composer's birth, examining how this now obscure cantata became one the most popular musical works of the early twentieth century. Uchenna's contributors help her evaluate how Hiawatha's Native American themes contributed to its enormous success, and the questions these now present for modern audiences. She visits the Royal Albert Hall in London to find evidence of the elaborate staged and costumed performances that drew gigantic audiences between the wars, and she hears from Native American advocates about ways we can engage with this music today.