Coleridge-Taylor - Danse Negre from the African Suite, Op. 34, No. 4, transcribed for Concert Band by Michael Shaw
Coleridge-Taylor - Danse Negre from the African Suite, Op. 34, No. 4, transcribed for Concert Band by Michael Shaw
Coleridge-Taylor’s Danse Negre — Transcribed for Concert Band by Michael Shaw
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875–1912) was one of the most gifted and celebrated British composers of his generation — the son of a Sierra Leonean father and an English mother, he rose to international fame with his choral trilogy Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast and became a beloved figure on both sides of the Atlantic. Danse Nègre ("Negro Dance"), the fourth piece from his African Suite, Op. 34 (1898), is one of his most vivid and immediately appealing works — a rhythmically infectious, colorful character piece that draws on African-inspired melodic and rhythmic idioms with characteristic warmth and craft. It is a work of genuine originality and charm, and a fitting showcase for Coleridge-Taylor’s distinctive voice.
This edition presents Danse Nègre in a concert band transcription by Michael Shaw, bringing this neglected gem of the British repertoire to wind ensemble audiences. A distinctive and rewarding addition to any concert program.
Performance Highlights
- Vivid, rhythmically infectious character piece by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
- From the African Suite, Op. 34 (1898) — a neglected gem of the British repertoire
- Transcribed for concert band by Michael Shaw
- Distinctive and rewarding — ideal for programs seeking original and diverse repertoire
- Digital PDF download — print-ready score and parts included
About the Transcriber
Michael Shaw (1959–2025) served for twenty-five years as Director of the Wind Ensemble at Frontier High School in West Seneca, New York, where he grew the program from 26 students to over 200. Under his direction, Frontier ensembles earned numerous Gold with Distinction and Superior ratings at State and National Festival evaluations, and he led the Wind Ensemble at the NYSSMA Winter Conference and the MENC Eastern Division In-service Conference. In 2009 he became Musical Director and Conductor of the American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, leading the band to four American Legion Senior Band Championships. Mr. Shaw held a B.M.E. from SUNY Fredonia and an M.M. in Woodwind Performance from SUNY Buffalo, and studied saxophone with Lawrence Wyman, Edward Yadzinski, and the legendary Sigurd Rascher. He pursued postgraduate conducting studies with Donald Schleicher, Russell Mikkelson, Ray Cramer, and others, and performed with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tonawanda Legion Band, and the Erie County Wind Ensemble.