If you missed the first programme in Clarke Peters’ series on the hidden history of Black music in Europe you can still listen to it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09jd32b (not sure how long this link will work, so catch it while you can). This programme covered the years 1900 to 1910 and the next episode (on Radio 4, Boxing Day at 9.00) will continue the story into the years of the First World War.
Peters visited Bonn in Germany where he met Rainer Lotz, a collector with the most amazing collection of early Black music. At its peak his basement contained maybe 60,000 discs. He has slimmed it down to about 25,000 ‘to save my marriage’! Recordings include one fragile disc that is the only surviving copy as well as a song recorded by Fela Kuti’s grandfather.
Truly fascinating stuff, even before it touched on our favourite classical composer, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.
Well worth a listen.