The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-03-31

Starting with the Star Spangled
Banner and concluding with mes
sage Of hope and encouragement
with q musical background Of
America the Beautiful" Alec Tenn
pleton, astounding pianist, gave q
program lsst night at Buckingham
hall, which was filled to capacity
for the notable event. The Malta
tuck Musical Arts Society'S Fine
Arts Series sponsored the concert
and were assisted In arrangements
by members Of the Bundles for
America committee. Proceeds from
the concert will go to Bundles for
America.
Mr.. Templeton, we'll known
through his records and radio
broadcasts, played program that
delighted all; from his beautiful in
depreciation of Bach, Beethoven.
Schumann and Brahms TO his we'll
known original adaptations Of the
classics In modern style and i'm
provisations. It was program dis
tinguiShed by careful presentation
of the classics as we'll as the ro-
mantle and modern composers and
q pleasing and playful fooling with
the old masters and the present day
composers of "hot stuff" His sharp
caricatures. Ia Templeton, took
down the house In the last portion
of the program which was devoted
TO these ordinations.
The program opened with Bach,
the Prelude Arioso (Templeton
arr, and the Chorale Prelude
"Mortify Us by Thy Grace" then
two lovely Sch umann pieces
"Warum," and "Aufschwrlng." con-
Guiding that group with Beethoo-
ven's Senate + Sharp Major,
Opus rs.
In the next portion Of the pro-
gram Mr.. Templeton had two
Brahms numbers. Intermez2o In E
Flat and IntermeZzo In G.; then
Liadoy's Prelude B Minor and
Cashins Prelude E Flat Major con-
with his arrangement OF
Ravel's Introduction and Allegro.
His playing In this assortment OF
piano works was distinguished by fine
a beautiful tone quail
lty In the singing passages and
prodigious technique. His delicate
playing and rounding out IN the
passages was always
careful and artistic and In hts
and Schumann, also the
Sonata, he was at his
best.
The light portion of the program
which kept him pretty active until
the concert concluded began with
his own adaptation Of Reharmon-
lied Harmonious Blacksmith with
something OF Handel TO identify 1t.
From this he went into the lively |
Mozart a Ia Mode" "Gnats TO
You" identified as o bit OF jazzology |
from an orchestral work called the
insect Suite" written for and
dedicated TO Paul Whiteman, was
typical bit Of Ja2zing It.
Those offerings known as "Impro-
were the wonder OF the
evening. Here Mr.. Templeton dis
played his uncanny skill IN picking
up note or harmony and hav-
ing q lot OF fun with II. First OIL
Ave notes were called of from the
audience. b fiat. A sharp. y sharp
and ID and he developed them into
q fiorid piece OF pianf composition.
then In the style OF 0ershwin. Next
he was given three songs and one
piano piece which he scrambled to-
gether making one harmonious
whole out OF "Aull Lang Syne", "As
Time Goes By. Beethoven's "Moon-
light Sonata" and poly Wolly
Doodle. He followed this with q
similar treatment of civilian Tell"
"Lieberstraum," kiss Me Again.
"Nola," and yankee Doodle
Several other good caricatures IN
music were played and which have
had recordings or radio presentation.
They we're the broken down planola
with q few keys missing version OF
Mendelssohn's Spring Song. Rudy
vallees (suuuosedlyl grooming u