Orlando Mansfield, organist and Doctor of Music. |
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Orlando Augustine Mansfield was born on the 28th November 1863, the second child of James and Mary Ann Mansfield in Horningsham, Wiltshire where his father was now the minister of the oldest Free Church in England, now called Horningsham Congregational Church.
My Father Cedric, while down in Cheltenham visiting Orlando after he returned from the States, recalls travelling in a car with his father Purcell and Orlando stopping at the top of a lane. Orlando got out and walked up the drive to a large wooden gate. A small hatch was opened and he spoke to someone for a few minutes then returned to the car. The women he spoke to was his sister Theodosia. We now have more information on Theodosia. See her own page. In May 1912 (aged 48) after turning down many offers from abroad, he accepted the post as professor of music in Wilson College, Pennsylvania, USA at a salary of £700 per annum plus a pension, about £126,000 per annum in todays terms. He later moved to Brenau University in Atlanta, Georgia before retiring to Cheltenham in Gloustershire where he died on the 6th July 1936. In his life he composed and arranged many musical works, his best known being 'The Students Harmony' a teaching book which ran for several editions. |
Newspaper cuttings from Purcells Scrapbook In 1886, Dr Mansfield married Mdlle. Jutz, a bright and very attractive lady. She is a medalist in pianoforte playing at the Conservatoire of Geneva, her native city. She is also an experienced contralto vocalist and a solo violoncello player........ The organ at Belgrave Church is now one of the largest in the West of England. On it Dr Mansfield frequently gives recitals, which are much appreciated. 'He is a brilliant player'. A few years ago Dr Mansfield was invited to accept the principalship of a musical college in South Africa and recently the organistship at one of the principal churches in Toronto, at a salary of £250 per annum was offered him but he has preferred to remain in Torquay. Dr Mansfield was the first president, in 1908 of the Free Church Musicians Union. For fifteen years he has been an examiner for the London College of Music. Mr Mansfields contributions to musical literature are numerous. His 'Students Harmony' has reached its seventh edition and he has composed over 250 works for organ and other instruments and for voices. Many are prize compositions. Nearly 400 of his pupils have passed examinations. From Torquay Directory Dec 8th 1909 A word of congratulation here for an old and esteemed contributor, Dr Orlando A Mansfield, FRCO long a musical leader in Torquay and at present organist and choirmaster of Belgrave Church there. Dr Mansfield has been offered and has accepted the professorship of music in Wilson College , Pennsylvania USA .The post is worth about seven hundred pounds a year with a pension on retiring. That is better than plodding away at the organ and teaching in poor old England! Wilson College has about five hundred students, occupies about fifty acres of land and possesses fifteen extensive public buildings, including a concert hall with a very good organ. From Musical Opinion May 1912. |
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Little
is known of his early years but clearly he was a very talented
musician and was probably playing the church organ at a very early
age. His son Purcell followed in his footsteps and he kept a scrapbook
of newspaper cuttings which included many references to Orlando.
(see panel opposite). Before he was 21, Dr Mansfield passed examinations
for F.R.C.O. and L. Mus. T.C.L. In 1887 he graduated Mus.Bac of
Trinity University, Toronto. In 1900 he was the only successful
candidate for the degree of Mus. Doc and the same year he obtained
the L.Mus. L.C.M.
