The Temple to Music at Roger Williams Park, in Providence. (Photos by David Brussat)
We attended a pops concert of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra on Friday evening, a free event sponsored by the Rhode Island Foundation and held at the Temple to Music, on the grounds of Roger Williams Park. … Ah! Rhode Island!
Anyhow, the program included, as a finale, Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” a favorite of mine, which has been absent for a couple of years, alas, from the program of the Fourth of July celebration hosted by the city of Providence at India Point Park. A second of two Sousa marches served, by way of encore, to reward the crowd for its fine taste.
The park was mobbed, and we ended up after the intermission down in the children’s dancing semicircle just before the stage within the temple. It was a great place to sit on a blanket, joined by our friends Dan, Shoko and Caroline (who is Billy’s age). The kids did not dance but paid close attention to Billy’s computer games, undeterred by beautiful music or beautiful scenery. Dad lay back, closing his eyes, listening to the music through a gentle din. Ah, such bliss! I sat up every few moments to gaze upon, and photograph, the Temple to Music, which changed colors with every new item on the program, which was conducted by Francisco Noya.
The Temple to Music was erected in 1924 to the design of architect William T. Aldrich, who also designed the RISD Museum of Art in 1926 – the real one, on Benefit Street – and, of recent note, the Bodell House on Balton Road, upon whose land five new houses are arising. The Bodell survives in spite of the subdivision of its grounds.
So last night the temple was lit in a succession of hues, which follow in order. The shots show the temple under the influence of bold or subtle coloration and falling darkness. The cloudy backdrop seen through the temple provided a mildly brooding ambiance on this fine evening. This may best be seen in the concluding video of the Philharmonic playing (I think) a bit from the Batman movie overture, or something like that. It was delicious, as was the entire evening, in spite of massive traffic jams, parking strategy dilemmas and the unaccountably successful trek back to the car (I found it and returned to retrieve Billy and Victoria.
Architecture Here and There 
Two comments:
1) “ We attended a pops concert of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra… Ah! Rhode Island!”
PROVIDENCE – It’s really a PROVIDENCE orchestra and it’s a Providence Park and a Providence Temple.
2) I see that temple as a great structure, great venue, in a great park of a great city…for all my over half century
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I have the original paper from Sept. 14th 1924 Sunday Journal. A bit disappointed that William Benedict no longer is mentioned much, as he donated this in his will when he died in 1915. Originally called the Benedict’s Monument to Music, it changed to Temple to Music. But I’m a bit bias as he was my great great grandfather’s brother. The suppose the purest gift if one where no credit is needed! Kevin M. Benedict
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Missed the proof edit, apologies!
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I grew up not too far away and spent many happy afternoons chasing my sister up and down the steps of the Temple to Music, picnicking in its shadow, sledding past it on cold winter afternoons. I am convinced, it is one of the pivotal Classical genes of my architectural DNA. I love that building. I think better than the backdrop for an orchestra, it is best experienced in a lonely Romantic idyll.
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I agree, Eric, which does not mean it isn’t great as a backdrop for an orchestra. I have no doubt that anyone growing up near the temple would have felt a similar effect, as I did growing up in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial and sundry other American classics.
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Actually, both the US Air Force and US Navy bands played Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” the last two years at the Providence Independence Day Celebration.
Nicely done. Another sign of the city’s great cultural character. Ahh, PROVIDENCE!!!
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Did they, Steve? That is so wonderful! I wish I had known. It would drain away some of the sour feelings I’ve had. Was it impossible to advertise that as they had always advertised the presence of the Rhode Island Philharmonic?
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Great question. I do not know the answer, but I will connect with PVD Culture & Tourism to see what there plans are for 2018 and go from there.
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Just wonderful! Thanks for sharing, David!
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How utterly wonderful! I especially enjoyed the video…and I will kick myself until next year’s performance so I will be sure to get there! 😉
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It was a delight, and let’s hope the city will ask the RIPO to play on July 4 next year.
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Beautiful. Thanks for sharing this, David. Wish we were there. When I was a kid, my father took me many a Sunday morning to our great park, and The Temple was a regular stop.
I recall, though never appreciated, many a concert there and at the other band shell near the carousel.
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Thanks, Ed! I have never seen a concert in the gazebo behind the Casino – that’s the one you’re talking about, right? More should be done to use the park as a venue for events, as perhaps was the case in the past – even if I’m not sure I’d want to avail myself of each one! Certainly this concert yesterday evening serves as a template for what should be happening at RWP.
Ed, I terribly miss your excellent reminiscences in the Journal!
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Thank you, David, but I am still in. I have had a monthly column in the Sunday Projo for about eight months. Here is a link to the last one. http://www.providencejournal.com/entertainmentlife/20170713/ed-iannuccilli-childhood-joys-of-day-at-beach
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I’m so pleased, Ed. I guess I don’t snarf the whole paper anymore as I used to. The beach piece is a delight – brings back memories of my summer days in Rehobeth Beach, Del., which was a big D.C. spot for beach vacations.
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Snarf. Love it.
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You’re lucky, Ed; all I remember of the Park is being taken to see Alice the Elephant in a dreary, dirty and very, very smelly enclosure – and she looked as though she were in a prison cell. Those must’ve been in the days when idiots were running things there – 1954/1955.
Many decades later, I returned to the Park for the first time since being a toddler and was astounded, not only by its overall beauty, but also by the excellence of the Zoo. I’d lived in San Diego by then and I knew a good zoo when I saw one.
Thanks, Dave.
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My Dad loved the park and was sure that we got a good dose of… pony rides, cars, carousel, feeding the ducks at Polo Lake, skating on the ponds in winter, etc. Yes, I was lucky.
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