Avril Coleridge-Taylor
Encyclopedia
Gwendolyn Avril Coleridge-Taylor (8 March 190321 December 1998) was an English
pianist
, conductor, and composer
.
, London
, the daughter of composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
. She wrote her first composition, Goodbye Butterfly, at the age of twelve. Later, she won a scholarship for composition and piano at Trinity College of Music
in 1915, where she was taught by Gordon Jacob
and Alec Rowley.
In 1933 she made her debut as a conductor at the Royal Albert Hall
. She was then the first female conductor of H.M.S. Royal Marines
and a frequent guest conductor of the BBC Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra
. She was the founder and conductor of both the Coleridge-Taylor Symphony Orchestra and its accompanying musical society in the 1940s as well as the Malcolm Sargent Symphony Orchestra. Her compositions include large-scale orchestral works, as well as songs, keyboard, and chamber music
.
In 1957, she wrote the Ceremonial March to celebrate Ghana
's independence. Her other well-regarded works include a Piano Concerto in F minor (Sussex Landscape, The Hills, To April, In Memoriam R.A.F.), Wyndore (Windover) for choir and orchestra, and Golden Wedding Ballet Suite for orchestra.
She dropped her first name after a divorce, thereafter going by Avril professionally. She spent her latter life in South Africa
, where she lived under apartheid and could not work as a composer or conductor because of her one-fourth black African ancestry.
She also wrote under the pseudonym Peter Riley.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, conductor, and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Biography
She was born in South NorwoodSouth Norwood
South Norwood is an urban town and in south London, England, in the London Borough of Croydon. It is a suburban development 7.8 miles south-east of Charing Cross. South Norwood is an electoral with a resident population in 2001 of just over 14,000...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the daughter of composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was an English composer who achieved such success that he was once called the "African Mahler".-Early life and education:...
. She wrote her first composition, Goodbye Butterfly, at the age of twelve. Later, she won a scholarship for composition and piano at Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
in 1915, where she was taught by Gordon Jacob
Gordon Jacob
Gordon Percival Septimus Jacob was an English composer. He is known for his wind instrument composition and his instructional writings.-Life:...
and Alec Rowley.
In 1933 she made her debut as a conductor at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
. She was then the first female conductor of H.M.S. Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
and a frequent guest conductor of the BBC Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
. She was the founder and conductor of both the Coleridge-Taylor Symphony Orchestra and its accompanying musical society in the 1940s as well as the Malcolm Sargent Symphony Orchestra. Her compositions include large-scale orchestral works, as well as songs, keyboard, and chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
.
In 1957, she wrote the Ceremonial March to celebrate Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
's independence. Her other well-regarded works include a Piano Concerto in F minor (Sussex Landscape, The Hills, To April, In Memoriam R.A.F.), Wyndore (Windover) for choir and orchestra, and Golden Wedding Ballet Suite for orchestra.
She dropped her first name after a divorce, thereafter going by Avril professionally. She spent her latter life in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where she lived under apartheid and could not work as a composer or conductor because of her one-fourth black African ancestry.
She also wrote under the pseudonym Peter Riley.
Chamber music
- Idylle for flute and piano, Op. 21
- Impromptu for flute and piano, Op. 33
- A Lament for flute and piano, Op. 31
Songs
- Goodbye Butterfly, Op. 1
- Mister Sun, Op. 2
- Silver Stars, Op. 3
- Who Knows?, Op. 4
- April, Op. 5
- The Dreaming Water Lily, Op. 6
- The Rustling Grass, Op. 7
- The Entranced Hour, Op. 8
- Nightfall, Op. 43
- Apple Blossom, Op. 44
- Sleeping and Waking, Op. 45
Further reading
- Coleridge-Taylor, Avril. (1979) The Heritage of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor . London: Dobson P.
External links
- www.blackmahler.com for Coleridge-Taylor and the most recent book about him. His daughter Avril is also heavily featured in the book:
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/vieilles_annonces/1388935783/Daughter of Famous Composer Gives OK to S.African Bias