The sacred choral works of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

African British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) was affectionately referred to in his time as the African “Mahler.” His most popular work, Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, op. 30, no. 1 for soli, chorus and orchestra, is a shining example of his command of musical form, texture, harmony, and orchestration, which resulted in overnight fame and respect among colleagues that few men of color could have hoped to enjoy in the early twentieth century. Because of his incredible success in a field dominated by white males at a time when racism in America was peaking, Coleridge-Taylor’s influence on African American artists and intellectuals was powerful and far-reaching. After Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, Coleridge-Taylor is most known for his 24 Negro Melodies, his violin concerto, a host of chamber music and several art songs—his compositional output is substantial and varied. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the construction, style, character, historic value, and contemporary relevance of the choral music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, a body of repertoire that has heretofore been virtually neglected. ❧ With an opus of at least twenty known works for chorus, including two sets of part songs, five choral ballades, two major cantatas, seven smaller cantatas, eight anthems, and a Morning and Evening Service, Coleridge-Taylor’s contribution to the choral genre is significant but seriously underexplored. Recordings of this highly regarded composer’s choral works are scarce, and few scholarly sources offer much insight into his choral music beyond merely acknowledging its existence in lists and catalogues. Research and analysis is necessary so that knowledge of this music might increase and performances and recordings of these works might resume after a century of neglect. Coleridge-Taylor was one of the earliest composers of African descent whose music was revered, not for any Afro-centric novelty, but for being well crafted and wholly original. With this research on Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, the compositional voices of past and contemporary composers of African descent might also be more distinctly heard and appreciated, not just for the novelty of spirituals and crossover works, but for their genuinely fine craftsmanship and distinctly refined sound. To that end, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor can still lead and inspire the American musical community, just as he did a century ago. ❧ Data from available scholarly, media, and primary sources have been gathered, examined, and discussed in order to present a concise, comprehensive picture of the life and influences of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. An original theoretical analysis of selected works is included from a performance preparation perspective. Study scores have either been purchased from the publisher or accessed through public domain resources, when available.