New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-14
RICHARD MANSFIELD As A COMPOSER.
HIS MUSICAL WORKS HEARD WITH ENTHUSIASM
BY BRILLIANT AUDIENCE IN
WASHINGTON.

waeh,nr+on Feb 10 CSpecian.-Richard Mansfield
Jared an audience this afternoon at Albaugs Theatre
in the new charactcr-new, at least, to Washington
of musician and composer 1t was an audiehoe Ill
size almost equal TO those which have eleeleu nun
nightly this week and no less enthusiastic II IN
cuded nearly everybody of note in the social oclu
and Dol,ical world of the Capital. 1t was thoroughly
commemorative Mr.. Mansfield did not face THIS ais
tingshed audience in person, but he found able ana
competent Interpreters Of his work In Miss Margaret
Elliott and Miss Alice J. Mcpherson, and j. H. NC
Kinley John Dolze. W. WASHER ana faul Mlelscn'
The programme OF the concert was made up ehtrcN
of Mr. MansGeId's compositons-in itself bohl anu
original conception. But Mr.. Mansfield j. no'mhs II
not original As far rs his audience Is concerned ID
had nothing to complain OF. on the score, certainty
of variety the programme left little to be desired y
uer1lsal OF it would puzzle most people 10 determine
which of the two was the more versatile, MahsncIu 'o
author and actor, or Mansfield the composer.
II is practicable to refer here to few only OF the
numbers performed. The most AMBITIOUS thouen per
haps not the most complete, composluoh iOH
musical point OF view, National Anthem lof
choir and orchestra with words by Mr.. Mansfield
This Is a noble chorus, full Of life, vigor ana hre
d,sn,avtnr in the orchestral parts knOwlHge u
scoring and facility OF musical expression WMch h'o
remarkable ., a, a
Mr. Mansfield however is most SUCCESSFUL Is
composer of songs. OF these there was great
triumphant love, and from the opera pou"o
fanfaronde TO the simple and unpretehtlOus arloso
The success OF the afternoon was song SET 10 the
words of a poem by William Winter, entitled Asieep'
| The audience showed It's appreciation OF the com
nosition and the manner in which II wts interpreter
Nv Mr. Mckinley in repeated bursts of enthusiasm
IN This song Mr. Mansfield reflects more successfully
! than in anv other Of his compositions the poets
moaning He seems in greater sympathy with his SUD
ect There is less extravaganza OF phrsng ana greater
d,scn,ne of his powers Everything is more simple ana
.b acoomnanment is a model almost OF unpretentous
| na.s AZ indeed il should be- Another sohH iho
| nroken Harp" words also by William winter was
o,uost az we'll received as Asleep" or the hghter
Govt n, music Good Little Grip furnished an eN
oaIlent example Of Mr.. Mansfeld's powers IT tla'
direction There was also Children's Waltz f''
orchestra. n most charming Composition In "ihch
very Enthusiastically all the BASES were silent ana
where the simple little melody. woven through inc
dance seems 10 echo the ciidren's happy chatter ana
o,ueless laughter Miss Beatrice Cameron. who IS II
yreat fayorte in Washington. varied the programme
Hy rccitug two little rhymes written by UT Nas.
6ed-"The Premature Fly" and 1.-THE MaruoSc'
Monkey" ,,-. IL,
Al the close OF the concert the audience hnserch
several minutes in tie house hoping tiaI Mt Mans
Ned would resi- pond 70 the loud calls for speech.
INF the modest compose: had already left the building
long before the performance half ended ii was
reported that the composer had succunb<d 10 what
the actor overcame years ago-stage fright