On 7th April 2004 an article by Norman Lebrecht marking the release of Coleridge-Taylor’s
Violin Concerto appeared in the London Evening Standard. It likened the success of
‘Hiawatha’ in the late 1890s/early 1900s to the success of Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s
musicals today. But on reading the article, Charles Elford was surprised that he
knew nothing of Coleridge-Taylor despite the name’s familiarity. His interest piqued,
he started to dig and a fascinating journey began. Never managing to trace the two
‘definitive’ biographies, the principal sources for Black Mahler were the books by
Coleridge-Taylor’s wife and daughter.
During the course of his research and writing,
Mr Elford developed a huge affection for his gentle, clever, modest and funny protagonist
and does not believe that Coleridge deserves to be or to remain forgotten. He felt
duty-bound to remain loyal to the truth and sincerely hopes that Black Mahler will
in some small way, revive an interest in this influential man who only ever saw himself
as the English musician who lent his race a voice.
Charles Elford trained originally as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music
& Drama. He lives in Whitstable, Kent and works for a charity that provides supported
housing and associated services to single homeless people across Kent. He is currently
working on a screenplay adaptation of Black Mahler.
