I’ve previously on S & A have written about British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and the upcoming documentary about him Samuel Coleridge-Taylor in America who is little known now, but back during the early part of the 20th century was one of the most famous composers in the world (HERE and HERE)

Born of a English mother and a father from Sierra Leone, he wrote numerous works such as songs, chamber works, sonatas, orchestral works including a violin concerto and a symphony. 

But the work that made him internationally famous was his massive three part cantata for chorus, soloists and orchestra Hiawatha which in its time was one of the performed works in the word – even more performed than Handel’s Messiah

Though, in an old story that has been repeated too many times before and since, Coleridge-Taylor never saw much financial gain from the work having sold off the rights to the it for only 15 guineas not realizing what a world wide success it would become. He died at the young age of 37 of pneumonia after collapsing at a West Croydon railway station in 1912.

But in 1904 Coleridge-Taylor was bought to America by an African-American choral group which bore his name where he became a sensation and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his death, filmmaker Charles Kaufmann who is also the director of The Longfellow Chrous based in Portland Maine, has made the feature film documentary to chronicle Coleridge-Taylor’s life, his music and his experiences in America.

Now the film is set to make it’s premiere this month before it continues on a film festival circuit run.

The film will premiere on Weds March 13 at 1PM and Sat March 16th at 1:30PM at the Nickelodoen Theater in conjuction with the 2013 Longfellow Choral Festival in Portland on March 16 and 17.

Along the works to be featured at the festival will be Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto to be performed by internationally acclaimed violinist Tai Murray (pictured below) 

Go HERE for more info