to have been earlier than the other, as pieces of the kind by Adriano (1520–67) are quoted.
[ G. ]
RICH, John, son of Christopher Rich, patentee of Drury Lane Theatre, was born in 1692. His father, having been compelled to quit Drury Lane, had erected a new theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields, but died in 1714 when it was upon the eve of being opened. John Rich then assumed the management and opened the house about six weeks after his father's death. Finding himself unable to contend against the superior company engaged at Drury Lane, he had recourse to the introduction of a new species of entertainment—pantomime—in which music, scenery, machinery[1], and appropriate costumes formed the prominent features. In these pieces he himself, under the assumed name of Lun, performed the part of Harlequin with such ability as to extort the admiration of even the most determined opponents of that class of entertainment. [See Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre, ii. 140; Pantomime, ii. 645b.] Encouraged by success he at length decided upon the erection of a larger theatre, the stage of which should afford greater facilities for scenic and mechanical display, and accordingly built the first Covent Garden Theatre, which he opened Dec. 7, 1732. Hogarth produced a caricature on the occasion of the removal to the new house, entitled 'Rich's Glory, or his Triumphal Entry into Covent Garden,' a copy of which will be found in Wilkinson's 'Londina Illustrata.' He conducted the new theatre with great success until his death, relying much upon the attraction of his pantomimes and musical pieces, but by no means neglecting the regular drama. In his early days he had attempted acting, but failed. He died Nov. 26, 1761, and was buried Dec. 4 in Hillingdon churchyard, Middlesex.
[ W. H. H. ]
RICHARD CŒUR DE LION. An opéra-comique in 3 acts; words by Sedaine, music by Grétry. Produced at the Opéra Comique Oct. 21, 1784. The piece has a certain historical value. One of the airs, 'Une fièvre brulante,' was for long a favourite subject for variations. Beethoven wrote a set of 8 upon it (in C major), published in Nov. 1798, having probably heard the air at a concert of Weigl's in the preceding March. Another set of 7 (also in C) were for long attributed to Mozart, but are now decided not to be by him. The air 'Richard, o mon roi, l'univers t'abbandonne' was played on a memorable occasion in the early stage of the French Revolution at the banquet at Versailles on Oct. 1, 1789.
[ G. ]
RICHARDS, Brinley, son of Henry Richards, organist of St. Peter's, Carmarthen, was born in 1819, and intended for the medical profession, but preferred the study of music, and became a pupil of the Royal Academy of Music, where he obtained the King's scholarship in 1835, and again in 1837. He soon gained a high position in London as a pianist. As a composer he has been very successful, his song 'God bless the Prince of Wales' having reached a high pitch of popularity, even out of England, and his sacred songs, part songs, and pianoforte pieces having been most favourably received. He composed additional songs for the English version of Auber's 'Crown Diamonds,' when produced at Drury Lane in 1846. He has especially devoted himself to the study of Welsh music (upon which he has lectured), and many of his compositions have been inspired by his enthusiastic love for his native land. He exerted himself greatly in promoting the interests of the South Wales Choral Union on its visits to London in 1872 and 1873, when they successfully competed at the National Music Meetings at the Crystal Palace. As a teacher Mr. Richards is deservedly esteemed and has a very large clientele in London. [App. p.772 "date of death, May 1, 1885."]
[ W. H. H. ]
RICHARDSON, Joseph. An eminent flute-player, born in 1814, and died March 22, 1862. He was engaged in most of the London orchestras, was solo player at Jullien's concerts for many years, and afterwards became principal flute in the Queen's private band. His neatness and rapidity of execution were extraordinary, and were the great features of his playing. He composed numerous fantasias for his instrument, usually of an extremely brilliant and difficult character. Some of his variations are still popular among flute-players, such as 'There's nae luck about the house'—to which no one but Richardson himself has ever done justice, Auber's 'Les Montagnards,' the Russian National Hymn, etc.
[ G. ]
RICHARDSON, Vaughan, was in 1685 a chorister of the Chapel Royal, under Dr. Blow. He was possibly a nephew of Thomas Richardson (alto singer, gentleman of the Chapel Royal from 1664 to his death, July 23, 1712, and lay vicar of Westminster Abbey), and a brother of Thomas Richardson, who was his fellow chorister. About 1695 [App. p.772 "in June 1693"] he was appointed organist of Winchester Cathedral. In 1701 he published 'A collection of Songs for one, two and three voices,' accompany'd with instruments.' He was author of some church music: a fine anthem, 'O Lord God of my salvation,' and an Evening Service in C (composed in 1713), are in the Tudway Collection (Harl. MSS. 7341 and 7342), and another anthem, 'O how amiable,' also in Tudway, and printed in Page's 'Harmonia Sacra; others are in the books of different cathedrals. He was also composer of 'An Entertainment of new Musick, composed on the Peace' [of Ryswick], 1697; 'A Song in praise of St. Cecilia,' written for a celebration at Winchester about 1700, and a 'set of vocal and instrumental music,' written for a like occasion in 1703. He died in 1729, and not, as commonly stated, in 1715.
[ W. H. H. ]
RICHAULT, Charles Simon, head of a family of celebrated French music-publishers, born at Chartres, May 10, 1780, came early to Paris, and served his apprenticeship in the music-trade with J. J. Momigny. From him he acquired a taste for the literature of music and chamber compositions; and when he set up for himself at No. 7, Rue Grange Bateliere in 1805,
- ↑ Most of Rich's machinery was invented by John Hoole, the translator of Tasso's 'Gerusalemme Liberata' and other works, and his father, Samuel Hoole, an eminent watchmaker.
