Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Howard Goodall chooses the pioneering 19th-century black composer, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

His oratorio Hiawatha's Wedding Feast outperformed Handel's Messiah at the turn of the 19th century.

As the first black musician to attend the Royal College of Music, he attracted attention on both sides of the Atlantic.

Presented by Francine Stock.

The expert witness is Professor Stephen Banfield who discusses Coleridge-Taylor's music and the essential role he played in inspiring other black artists.

Producer: Lucy Lunt

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2005.