John Templeton
John Templeton
Based on an image reproduced in the book The Passing of the Precentor by Duncan Fraser, F.E.I.S. Published at John Knox House, by W. J. Hay, Edinburgh, 1905. (Book in the collection of the University of Toronto.) Copyright expired.
The following texts are drawn from this book.
'John Templeton. . . , began his musical
career as precentor in a Secession church
in Edinburgh. Templeton's connection with the Seceders
began in 1822, when he was just
twenty years of age; but in spite of
his youth his voice was well set, and
its beautiful tenor quality drew large
numbers of strangers to the church to
hear such precenting.
The psalm tunes of those days were
not like those of the present, syllabic
chorales, but were florid and melodic,
and, as the older precentors used to say :
" They gied your voice a chance."
Templeton made the most of his
"chance," and soon was advised to
make solo-singing his profession. There
was much head-shaking amongst the
worthy Seceders when their young precentor resolved to go to London and
study music with a view to operatic
singing; but study he did, making his
first appearance on the stage in 1828.
His career as the leading tenor in opera
was brilliant, and his association with
Malabran and other great artistes
brought him fame and fortune.
But opera alone did not absorb his
talent; he also gave splendid ballad concerts and musical lectures. His beautiful singing of Scottish songs was one of
the most memorable features of his concerts; and it is as a brilliant exponent
of the songs of his native land that he
doubtless owes his medallion memorial
at the south-west side of the Calton
Hill, Edinburgh, beside those of Wilson
and Kennedy.'
'Once when Templeton and Malabran
and several other eminent artistes were
touring in Scotland the stage-coach
broke down just as they neared Aberdeen. There being no help at hand,
and as the night was stormy, they were
glad to avail themselves of the shelter of
their disposal. Treated most hospitably
by the farmer and his family, the storm-stayed singers found the evening pass
pleasantly away.
When the hour for retiring to rest
drew near, the farmer said they " wad
tak the Book." The foreign artistes
did not at once understand, but Templeton did.
"What psalm? "he asked.
"Oh, we'd better tak the lord."
So, having handed round books, the
farmer began the psalm to the tune of
" Coleshill." The family had most of
the singing to themselves in the first
verse, when suddenly the walls seemed
to open, and such a burst of harmony
filled the room as farmhouse never
heard before nor since.