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Black Mahler: The Samuel Coleridge-Taylor StoryBlack Mahler brings to life the true story of all but forgotten English composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912). Born to a white mother and black father, Coleridge’s titanic choral trilogy ‘Hiawatha’ makes him a worldwide sensation overnight. A cultural icon to African-Americans, he struggles against financial ruin and personal tragedy throughout his short life. But along the way, he unites a world... ‘If it was fiction you wouldn’t believe this stirring story. A mixed race gifted composer, with the most English of names, makes his mark against the odds and yet, like so many other such geniuses, is brought down, too, too soon. All should know the legend that was Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Most don’t and that’s the greatest pity of all.’ Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (journalist, broadcaster and leading commentator on multiculturalism). ‘...Read it and then listen to Coleridge-Taylor’s music.’ Black History 365 ‘Charles Elford has written a lucid and touching account of Coleridge-Taylor's life. A book that deals as much with the social history of Edwardian Britain as it does with music and the art of this unjustly neglected Composer.’ David McVicar (International opera director). ‘It’s an incredibly human story which, in my view, would translate extremely well to film.’ ‘It was wonderful reading and towards the end I just could not put it down. It was like being at home in that house again. I could picture it room by room. The imagination on Charles Elford’s part was incredible; because everything was so absolutely accurate in every detail. I wondered where he got his information from. It was more than just a pleasure it was like going back in time.’ Nigel Dashwood (Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s grandson, 3rd October ). For more information, visit www.blackmahler.com |
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