Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson facts for kids
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson (born June 14, 1932, died March 9, 2004) was an amazing American composer. He loved many kinds of music. He wrote for jazz, dance, pop, movies, TV, and classical concerts. People often called him Coleridge Perkinson.
He was an African American composer. He was named after a famous African-British composer, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Music was a big part of his family. His mother taught piano and played the organ at church. She also directed a theater group.
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Early Life and Learning Music
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson was born in New York City. From a young age, he showed a great talent for music. He went to the High School of Music and Art in New York City. This school helps young artists and musicians grow their skills.
He continued his studies at the Manhattan School of Music. There, he learned how to compose music. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from this school. He also studied at Princeton University. Perkinson even taught music at Brooklyn College for a few years.
Learning to Conduct Music
Perkinson also learned how to be a conductor. A conductor leads an orchestra or choir. He studied conducting in the Netherlands and in Salzburg, Austria. He learned from famous conductors like Franco Ferrara and Dean Dixon.
A Career in Music
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson was involved in many exciting musical projects. He helped start the Symphony of the New World in New York in 1965. This was an important orchestra. He later became its music director.
He also worked with famous dance companies. He was the music director for Jerome Robbins's American Theater Lab. He also worked with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. For Ailey, he composed a ballet called For Bird, With Love. This ballet was inspired by the music of jazz legend Charlie Parker.
Music for Everyone
Perkinson wrote a lot of classical music. But he was also very good at jazz and popular music. He played piano for the famous drummer Max Roach. He also wrote music arrangements for popular singers. These included Marvin Gaye and Harry Belafonte.
He composed music for many films. Some of his movie scores include The McMasters and A Warm December. He also wrote music for the documentary Montgomery to Memphis. This film was about the life of Martin Luther King Jr. He even wrote music for the TV show Room 222.
Perkinson's Unique Sound
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson's music had a special blend of styles. He mixed old Baroque music techniques with American Romanticism. He also added elements from the blues and spirituals. These are traditional African American folk songs. His music was known for its clever rhythms and unique sound.
Some of His Works
Perkinson wrote many different kinds of musical pieces.
Orchestra Music
He wrote several pieces for full orchestras.
- Grass: Poem for Piano, Strings and Percussion (1973)
- Sinfonietta No. 2 for Strings: Generations (1996)
Music for Voices
He also composed music for choirs.
- Fredome/ Freedom (1970)
- Psalm Twenty-Three (2003)
Music for Solo Instruments
Perkinson wrote many pieces for single instruments.
- Blue/s Forms for solo violin (1979)
- Lamentations Black/Folk Song Suite for solo cello (1973)
- Scherzo for solo piano (1973)
- String Quartet No. 1 "Calvary" (1956)
