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Royal College of Music

COLERIDGE-TAYLOR, Samuel (1875-1912)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 1249 MS 6916, MS 6924

Held at: Royal College of Music

Title: COLERIDGE-TAYLOR, Samuel (1875-1912)

Date(s): c1897-1903

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 2 files

Name of creator(s): Taylor | Samuel Coleridge- | 1875-1912 | composer

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) studied composition at the Royal College of Music, 1890-1897. He enjoyed frequent public performances of his music, including concerts at the RCM and in Croydon, Surrey, during this period. He received his first commission, from the Three Choirs Festival, in 1898. This work, the Ballade in A minor for orchestra, was well received at its first performance. His best known work, the cantata 'Hiawatha's Wedding Feast' was given its first performance in the same year and became widely acclaimed in England and the USA. The period 1897-1903 saw prolific composition by Coleridge-Taylor, particularly for festival commissions and incidental music for plays. He was active as a conductor: he worked for the Handel Society, and became their permanent conductor in 1904 until his death. He was also conductor of the Westmorland Festival, 1901-1904, and of many choral and orchestral societies. He also undertook much teaching in and around Croydon, and was appointed professor of composition at Trinity College of Music, London, in 1903. Edith Carr was an amateur violinist in South Croydon and aged in her twenties around the time of the correspondence with Coleridge-Taylor. She appears to have played in musical ensembles under Coleridge-Taylor's conduction.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Letters (16) from Samuel Coleridge-Taylor to Edith Carr, (one dated 1897, remainder undated) mainly relating to his musical activities, publication of his recent works, repertoire for violin and orchestral parts for Carr's performance, the Handel Society; photocopy of photograph of Coleridge-Taylor, with dedication to Carr, 1902; printed letter (signed by Coleridge-Taylor) to a Mrs Prince inviting subscriptions for the Coleridge-Taylor Orchestral Concerts, Croydon, 1903-1904, with receipt for same, and photocopy of handbill for Central Croydon Choral Society concert featuring Coleridge-Taylor's cantata Meg Blane, 28 Mar 1903.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English.

System of arrangement:

In two files: MS 6916 contains the ephemeral material relating to the Croydon Concerts; MS 6924 comprises the letters to Edith Carr.

Conditions governing access:

Usual conditions of the Library of the Royal College of Music apply. See the RCM website or contact the RCM Library for details.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Photocopying is permitted at the discretion of the Archivist for research purposes only.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

The collection is catalogued in the 'Provisional catalogue of letters in the RCM library' by J Kersey, 1997, vol 1.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

MS 6916 was presented to the RCM by Miss Ann L'Espine via Mrs Jeanne Pingree, Oct 1982. MS 6924 was presented to the RCM by Miss E May Rowbotham (whose mother-in-law was cousin to Edith Carr), Feb 1984.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

RCM Portraits department holds the originals of the photograph of Coleridge-Taylor and the handbill of the Croydon Concert.

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

British Library, Music Collections, holds scores and manuscript music (Ref: Add MSS 50763-65, 54370-72, 62519-21, 63798-813); Black Cultural Archives holds music scores.

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Robert Baxter as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Source: Grove Dictionary of Music; National Register of Archives.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: Mar 2002


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Classical music | Musical styles
Composers | Musicians | Performers | Artists
Musical performances | Music | Performing arts
Orchestras | Music | Performing arts
Vocal music | Music | Performing arts
Musical performers

Personal names
Taylor | Samuel Coleridge- | 1875-1912 | composer x Coleridge-Taylor | Samuel

Corporate names
Central Croydon Choral Society
Handel Society

Places
Croydon | Surrey | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe
London