Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-12
BY JAMES G. DEANE
star Record Critic


in m e m oriZing appealing
rhymes or a catchy tune.
No one should presume that
the music needs to be unso-
phisticated, either. A 4-year-
old niece of mine, not yet
known to have displayed any
special signs of musical gen.
ius. the other day was hum
ming verbatim a theme from
a Mozart concerto.
What a child is willing to
listen to, and even takes to
with enthusiasm, is not neces-
Sarily good, however. Youth
full taste needs helpful guid-
ance, or at least it needs to
be protected to some extent.
The young mind is to some
degree at the mercy of cir
cumStance, and the recorded
trash is all too available. A
helpful rule might be: II a
record repels an adult, it
probably shouldn't be foisted
on a child.
In that connection, it is q
good idea not to jump to con-
clusions too quickly. What
sounds cute on first hearing
may be unbearahle by the
flftieth, at least to the parent.
What a child plays on his
own personal phonograph--
a highly desirable item. of
course - is of more remote
parental interest, provided
the machinery is housed in a
relatively distant part of the
living quarters. But there are
advantages, including of
course more togetherness, in
making the listening a COM
munal venture, at least on
special occasions. Along this
line, recent experience in one
household has turned up sew
eral records which seem to
have considerable merit.
Burl Ives Record
One. a particular favorite
with a four-year-old, is a
Decca disc called capt. Burl
Ives Ark" Ives direct, un-
pretentious style of singing
has of course made him a
favorite with many adults,
probably the best-liked of all
present-day singers of his
type, and this collection of II
traditional and original an
imal songs is thoroughly en-
gaging.
A record Of sea chanties
has become another favorite.
This disc, issued by Capitol
and sung by male members
of the Roger Wagner Chorale,
includes such catchy Seafar-
ing classics as Sailing, SAIL
ing" Fifteen Men on a Dead
Mans Chest" and BLOW the
Man Down." with an accor-
dion and a mouth organ
adding to the salty atmos:
phere. To any age-group it
ought to be just about tr-
resistible.
The same choristers, aug
mented by women's voices,
are also heard in an excellent
Capitol Stephen Foster COL
lection. issued some while
ago. "Oh Susanna" and de
Camptown Races" already
popular family-wiSe in less
imposing disc surroundings,
lent an air of welcome ia
miliarity to this disc. The
Wagner group sings so that
the words can be followed
without difficulty, an impor-
tant recommendation.
Templeton's Songs
With the family's 2-year-
old a disc by Alec Templeton
currently holds first affec-
ton. o nthis record, bearing
the Judson label, are AZ
Mother Goose songs. In some
cases Templeton has substi-
tuted his own tunes for tradi-
tional ones. but the whole
collection reflects good taste
and is charming.
A discful of Leroy Ander-
sons tunes, which have es-
tablished their popularity
with adults at numerous
pop" concerts, has proved
that the adults are not alone.
The record in question, per-
formed for Mercury by Fred
erick Fennell and the East
man Rochester Orchestra,
was lin" with the junior jury
as soon as it had reached
THE Waiting Cat" a per-
former amuSingly character
lied musically and recognized
readily. Horse and Buggy"
was another immediate ia
vorite. All that had to be
announced was the title.
There are lots of more
complicated-and contrived-
recorded attempts to enter
tain the small fry. but they
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