African Food and Art

This blog explores the wisdom of African proverbs, the depth of folklore, the beauty of art, the stories of history, and the flavors of timeless African food recipes.

Sierra Leone Classical Music Composer Samuel Coleridge Taylor

Classical Music of Africa

The Most Famous African Classical Music Composer is Sierra Leone Samuel Coleridge Taylor.

Sierra Leonean Coleridge Taylor African Classical Music Phenom

Little Known Facts About Sierra Leone Samuel Coleridge Taylor African Classical Music Phenom

Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture


Sierra Leone Samuel Coleridge Taylor Most  Famous Classical Music Composition is the Song of Hiawatha

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 1875-1912 was born in Croydon, the son of a white English mother and a father from Sierra Leone. As a violin scholar at the Royal College of Music, he was taught composition under Charles Villiers Stanford and soon developed a reputation as a composer, with Edward Elgar recommending him to the Three Choirs festival in 1896. By the time he died of pneumonia aged only 37 he had already toured America three times and performed for Theodore Roosevelt at the White House.

At the age of five Samuel began playing the violin and joined the choir of a Presbyterian church in Croydon, where H.A. Walters guided his progress and arranged his admittance to the Royal College of Music in 1890.

Compositions such as Coleridge-Taylor’s African Suite attempted to incorporate African influences in the same way that, say, Dvorák used Hungarian folk themes, but much more successful is Hiawatha’s Wedding, which is occasionally performed today. Even better are Coleridge-Taylor’s works for violin and orchestra, which are elegant pieces of fin de siècle romanticism.

In 1898, Coleridge-Taylor was fresh from his success with his orchestral Ballade in A minor, which was performed at the Three Choirs Festival of 1898 after Edward Elgar had recommended him as "far and away the cleverest fellow going amongst the younger men". Having been greatly inspired by his reading of Longfellow's epic poem The Song of Hiawatha (even later naming his own son Hiawatha), he decided to set the words to music in a choral work called Hiawatha's Wedding Feast.

List of works by Samuel Coleridge Taylor

Works With Opus Number

Op.1 - Piano Quintet (1893)

Sierra Leone Classical Music Composer Samuel Coleridge Taylor

Op.2 - Nonet (1893)

Op.3 - Suite for Violin and Piano

Op.4 - Ballade in D Minor for Violin and Orchestra (1895)

Op.5 - 5 Fantasiestücke for String Quartet (1895)

Op.6 - Little Songs for Little Folks (1898)

Op.7 - Zara's Earrings for Solo Voice (1895)

Op.8 - Symphony in A Minor (1896. Premiered(?) 6 March 1896)

Op.9 - 2 Romantic Pieces for Violin and Piano

Op.10 - Clarinet Quintet in F Sharp minor

Op.11 - [Not used]

Op.12 - 5 Love Songs (1896)

Op.13 - String Quartet in D Minor (1896) (lost)

Op.14 - Legende for Violin and Orchestra (1897)

Op.15 - Land of the Sun, Song (1897)

Op.16 - 3 Hiawathan Sketches for Violin and Piano (1896)

Op.17 - 7 African Romances, Songs (1897)

Op.18 - Morning and Evening Service (1899)

Op.19 - 2 Moorish Tone-pictures for Piano (1897)

Op.20 - Gipsy Suite for Violin and Piano (1897)

Op.21 - 2 Partsongs

Op.22 - 4 Characteristic Waltzes for Orchestra (1899)

Op.23 - Valse Caprice for Violin and Piano (1898)

Op.24 - In Memoriam, 3 Songs (1898)

Op.25 - Dream Lovers, Operatic Romance (1898)

Op.26 - The Gitanos, Cantata-Operetta (1898)

Op.27 - [Not used]

Op.28 - Violin Sonata in D Minor

Op.29 - 3 Songs

Op.30 - Scenes from The Song of Hiawatha (1898/99)

Op.31 - 3 Humoresques for Piano (1897)

Op.32 - [Not used]

Op.33 - Ballade in A Minor for Orchestra (1898)

Op.34 - [Not used?]

Op.35 - African Suite for Piano (1898)

Op.36 - [Not used]

Op.37 - 6 Songs (1899)

Op.38 - 3 Silhouettes for Piano (1897)

Op.39 - Romance in G Major for Violin and Orchestra (1899)

Op.40 - Solemn Prelude for Orchestra (1899)

Op.41 - 4 Scenes from an Everyday Romance, Suite for Orchestra (1900)

Op.42 - The Soul's Expression, 4 Sonnets (1900)

Op.43 - The Blind Girl of Castél-Cuillé (1901)

Op.44 - Idyll for Orchestra (1901)

Op.45 - 6 American Lyrics (1903)

Op.46 - Toussaint l'Ouverture (1901)

Op.47 - Herod, Incidental Music

Op.48 - Meg Blane, Rhapsody

Op.49 - Ulysses, Incidental Music (1901-02)

Op.50 - 3 Song-Poems (1905)

Op.51 - Ethiopia Saluting the Colours, March

Op.52 - 4 Noveletten for Strings, Tambourine and Triangle (1903)

Op.53 - The Atonement, Sacred Cantata (1903)

Op.54 - 5 Choral Ballads (1904)

Op.55 - Moorish Dance for Piano (1904)

Op.56 - 3 Cameos for Piano (1904)

Op.57 - 6 Sorrow Songs (1904)

Op.58 - 4 African Dances for Violin and Piano (1904)

Op.59 - 24 Negro Melodies for Piano (1905)

Op.59 - Romance for Violin and Piano (1904)

Op.60 - Unknown

Op.61 - Kubla Khan, Rhapsody (1906)

Op.62 - Nero, Incidental Music (1906)

Op.63 - Symphonic Variations on an African Air for Orchestra (1906)

Op.64 - 4 Scenes de Ballet for Piano (1906)

Op.65 - Endymion's Dream, Cantata (1910)

Op.66 - 5 Forest Scenes for Piano (1907)

Op.67 - 3 Partsongs (1905)

Op.68 - Bon-Bon Suite, Cantata (1908)

Op.69 - Sea Drift, Choral Rhapsody (1908)

Op.70 - Faust, Incidental Music (1908)

Op.71 - Three-Fours, Valse Suite for Piano (1909)

Op.72 - Thelma

Op.73 - Ballade for Violin and Piano (1907)

Op.74 - Scenes from an Imaginary Ballet (1910)

Op.75 - The Bamboula, Rhapsodic Dance (1910)

Op.76 - A Tale of Old Japan, Cantata (1911)

Op.77 - Petite Suite de Concert for Orchestra (1911)

Op.78 - 3 Impromptus for Organ (1913)

Op.79 - Othello, Incidental Music (1910-11)

Op.80 - Violin Concerto (1912)

Op.81 - 2 Songs

Op.82 - Hiawatha, Ballet

Op.82 - Minnehaha, Suite

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Works Without Opus Number

A lovely little Dream for Strings

8 Anthems

Sierra Leone Classical Music Composer Samuel Coleridge TaylorClarinet Sonata in F Minor (1893) (Lost)

Eulalie (1904)

Fantasiestück in A Major for Cello and Orchestra (1907)

5 Fairy Ballads, Songs (1909)

From the Prairie, Rhapsody for Orchestra

Interlude for Organ

Papillon for Piano (1908)

Piano Sonata in C Minor

Piano Trio in E Minor (1893)

3 Short Pieces for Organ (1898)

2 Songs (1909)

2 Songs (1916)

5 Songs of Sun and Shade

St. Agnes Eve, Incidental Music (1912)

Te Deum (1890)

The Clown and the Columbine, Melodrama

Viking Song

Variations on an Original Theme

Variations for Cello and Piano (1918)

Did you know? Florence B Price 1887-1953 was the first African American woman to have a work played by a major orchestra the Chicago Symphony premiered her Symphony in E minor in 1933, but despite success during her lifetime, her many compositions are rarely played today.


Together we build awareness that boost harmony, education, and success, below are more links to articles you will find thought provoking.

  1. Historical African Country Name
  2. Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa
  3. How many countries does Africa have?
  4. Roots of Africanized Christianity Spiritual Songs
  5. Paying Money To Tour Slums in Africa
  6. Awesome Kenyan Woman
  7. Land is Not For Women in Sierra Leone

  8. African Kente Cloth Facts
  9. Accra the Ghanaian Capital Ultimate Mall Experience


Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

Week’s Best African Culture Posts

Kru Tribe Fine Boy Tradition

Image
Dream-nightmare story from the Kru people of Liberia: the newly chosen Fine Boy is temporarily celebrated with fanfare and pleasure. Kru Tribe Fine Boy Tradition Fascinating stories emerged during the Pepper Coast's glory days. Beginning in the 15th century, European traders established outposts along the Liberian coastline, drawn by its wealth of humans, spices, and other commodities.  Centuries later, in the 19th century, the American Colonization Society (ACS) founded settlements in Liberia and began journalling native stories.  Among these tales is a dream-nightmare story from the Kru people of Liberia, a story so intriguing it almost seems too good to be true because, in some ways, it is.   The Kru women periodically held elections to select a young, handsome man as their “Fine Boy.” The announcement of his selection was celebrated with a vibrant procession featuring music, singing, and dancing.  The newly chosen Fine Boy was placed at the front of the para...
Read the full post here

What is the difference between ugali and fufu

Image
How to make the popular African recipes Ugali and Fufu and what is the difference.  Ugali is a starch dish in Kenya and Tanzania made of fine cornmeal cooked in boiling water into a soft dough. Fufu is a thick, dough-like West African food made by boiling then pounding a starchy vegetable such as yam, plantain, or cassava or a mixture of starchy vegetables. The main difference between fufu and ugali is fufu is boiled first then pounded while ugali is simply boiled. Ugali recipe. Easy Ugali Recipe Prep time 5 minutes Cook time 30 minutes Total time 30 minutes Ingredients 4 cups finely ground cornmeal 8 cups water Directions Heat water to boiling in a saucepan. Slowly pour cornmeal into boiling water stirring continuously. Add more cornmeal if necessary until it is thick as soft bread dough. Serve immediately with vegetables, stew, or any dish you would use a spoon with to soak up the sauce, ugali is purposely bland tasting on its own. What is the difference between ugali ...
Read the full post here

Berbere Spice Popcorn Topping Recipe

Image
Berbere Spice North African Popcorn Topping Recipe The best African spice for fresh popped popcorn is Berbere, a flavorful and aromatic bold spice blend from North Africa you buy at the local supermarket or online. Berbere is known for its bold mix of spices, often including chili peppers, garlic, ginger, fenugreek, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, and cloves.  Berbere brings a balance of heat, sweetness, and earthy depth to any dish including fresh popped popcorn. The spice mix symbolizes community and hospitality, often prepared at home with slight variations to suit family preferences. Its fiery yet balanced flavor profile mirrors the complex and vibrant food of North African culture . In cities across Africa, popcorn is a common street snack and is often sold in cinemas, at markets, and by roadside vendors.  Berbere Spice Popcorn Topping Recipe Ingredients ½ cup poped popcorn kernels  2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 teaspoon Berbere spice blend   1 teaspoon salt ...
Read the full post here

Keto Moroccan Dinner Cooked Slowly

Image
Slow Cooked Moroccan Kefta Lamb Meatballs   Keto Tagine Morocco is at the geographic and cultural crossroads between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.   In Morocco, the term tagine refers to a slow cooked stew as well as the pot the stew is made in. Kefta Tagine Kefta Tagine is a keto-friendly Moroccan lamb meatball food dish fitted for your low-carb lifestyle. The slow cooking of the meatballs allows the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a fragrant, hearty keto meal. The star of the Kefta Tagine dish is lamb, symbolizing the richness of Moroccan hospitality. Lamb meat has been a staple in North African cuisine for centuries, with lamb being central to celebrations and religious festivals.  Ground lamb meat is spiced and shaped into small balls, known as kefta, a preparation that dates back to ancient Berber traditions.  The kefta are seasoned with cumin, paprika, and coriander, spices that have shaped Morocco’s history in the global trading of spices whi...
Read the full post here