The Washington times., 1908-12-09
Mrs. Roosevelt and Mrs.
Taft Among the Applaud
ing ASSemblage.
HER PROGRAM
WELL ARRANGED
Played Many of Her Own Com
positions, Which Thrilled
Music Lovers.

Nine. Ceclle Chaminade, the greatest
Of all women composers, appeared in
Washington for the first time in a reci-
tai in the National Theater under the
direction OF Miss Cryder. Mrs. Roose-
welt. wife Of the President. occupied a
box to the right Of the stage, and Just
opposite was Mrs. William II. Taft, wife
Of the President-elect. who was a guest
OF MIS- Charles A Williams and Miss
Williams. Throughout the theater one
Of the smartest audiences OF the year ap-
pIAuded the work Of the fascinating
French woman and listened with intense
interest TO each succeeding number.
II has often been said that had not
Nine. Chaminade given her greatest Ell
ergies to composition, sh8 would have
been one Of worlds greatest pianisIs.
She could well bear the double disIi.lc-
tion even now, 20 Judge by her de!i6EJ-
ful performance yesterday afternoon.
for why should not a woman who plays
her own compositions and absorbs en-
audience for two hours be accorded
such a right?
Program Bewitching-
Revelation after revelation followed
in the bewitching program which Nine
Chaminade had prepared When she
appeared the audience saw q woman Of
medium height, manifegtly retiring in
her attitude. gowned simply In white.
and plainly at her greatest ease when
she slipped into the chair at The piano
American students have seen few pic
lures OF Nine. Chaminade. but the one
she presented yesterday is undoubtedly
the one which those same students have
always carried in their minds eye
The simplicity Of Nine Chaminade
seemed almost 20 cOntrovert her splen-
did achievements. She r.ppled on the
most aIlUriug numbers, end with the
finish which her own compositions have
always implied, she would unfold new
thoughts. new Inspirations as each sue
ceedtng number was given 20 her audi
enCe The soft, pleading strains OF
Consolation her opening num- Der,
were followed by the delightfully."- pioy-
fuI "Pastorale," which Nine Chamindde
made one OF the gems OF her program
Then came the flowing. ripping
'LOndine" and the Caprice Humor-
istique," an exacting number, but the
finishing touch 70 a group OF WraUnGS
which proved at once the versatlllty or
moods from which this wondertul
woman composer has drawn her inspira-
tons.
Valse Romantiqge.
In her second group Nine Chaminade's
most QEtAEAAAAA AfSa ANA+A------1 49,
reading Of the ''Valse Romanuque,
with its swaying movement. each lit
tie phrase being 50 delightfully."- shown
bv its maker. and each movement a
music picture IN itself The figure-lilie
movement Of the Theme Varie" offered
another mood while the Contes bleus
No. and No. were beautiful con-
trastS-
Throughout the entire program the
charm 9f Chaminade as composer
and illustrator Of her own conceptions
Increased. She was compelled 10 give
a fsries Of sncores. among when were
the Scarf Dance" 'PlerretIe, Inc
q .atterer," and ''Danse Creole
{ One OF the greatest OF all OF Nine
Chan1inade's attributes, however, must
be conceded TO be her compartments
Her delightful conception Of the ac-
companiments TO her sapgs has set a
new standard IN the cou$rt world In
snite OF the excellent work Of the two
SINGERS assisting Chaminade one in
stinctiveIv caught ones self listening
for the accompaniments and following
them ratF er than the song itself II was
p delightful feature Of the program,
and fn spite Of the fact that II kept
her on the stage throughout the en-
tire recital II showed yet another light
ln the achievements and personality OF
this Uond erfuily clever woman
Mile. Yvoune de St Andre, mezzo
soprano and Ernest Groom. baritone,
were the assisting solOisIs. Their song
were presented exceptionally we'll