Robert Tempest (composer)

{{Short description|American composer}}

Robert Tempest (1868, Philadelphia – March 21, 1955, Carlisle, Pennsylvania){{cite news|title=Obituary: Robert Tempest|work=Carlisle Evening Sentinel|date=March 21, 1955}} was an American composer and concert pianist. He studied piano in his native city with Carl Von Amsburg and Edward Zerdebely. His papers are held in the collection of the Cumberland County Historical Society.{{cite journal|url=https://gardnerlibrary.org/sites/default/files/vol12n2.pdf|title=A Musical Romance: Correspondence of Robert Tempest and Nellie Cornman|first=Elizabeth|last= FlowerJames|journal= Cumberland County History|date=Winter 1995|volume=12|number=2}} He was known for his exceptional gift for memorization,{{cite news|title=Among the Musicians|work=Philadelphia Times|date=October 26, 1890|page=13}} with a July 1898 article in The Musician reporting he had more than 1800 works in his performance repertoire, all of which he could play from memory.{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LozgOOoUdZkC&dq=%22Robert+Tempest%22+composer&pg=RA2-PA212|volume=III|number=7|date=July 1898|journal=The Musician|publisher=Hatch Music Company|page=212|title=The Musical World}}

As early as October 1887 Tempest was giving concerts at Philadelphia's Assembly Hall.{{cite news|title=Amusements|work=Philadelphia Times|date=October 29, 1887|page=5}} He played in concerts at other Philadelphia venues, such as Musical Fund Hall,{{cite news|title=Concerts This Week|work=Philadelphia Times|date=April 22, 1888|page=5}}{{cite news|title=Music of the Week|work=Philadelphia Times|date=April 29, 1888|page= 9}} Hermann's Broad Street Theatre,{{cite news|title=Hermann's Third Invitation Concert|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|date= December 19, 1888|page=3}} and the Haseltine Galleries.{{cite news|title=The Week In Society|work=Philadelphia Times|date=March 1, 1891|page=12}} With the violinist Edwin Brill he gave a recital at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in December 1889.{{cite news|title=Theatre This Week|work=Philadelphia Times|date= December 1, 1889|page= 10}} In 1890 he performed in concerts with the soprano Marie Kunkel and pianist Max Weil.{{cite news|title=Academy of Fine Arts|work=Philadelphia Jewish Exponent|date= November 14, 1890|page= 3}} As part of the chamber group The Schumann Club, he performed in chamber music concerts at the New Century Club.{{cite news|title=Schumann Club Concert|work=Philadelphia Jewish Exponent|date= November 18, 1892|page= 6}} In 1895 he gave a public recital sponsored by the Philadelphia piano manufacturer CJ Heppe & Son.{{cite news|title=Mr. Tempest At Heppe's|work=Philadelphia Times|date=April 16, 1895|page= 6}}

In January 1896 Tempest was a soloist with the Germania Orchestra (precursor to the Philadelphia Orchestra), playing Franz Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1.{{cite news|title=Musical Matters|work=Philadelphia Times|date=January 19, 1896|page= 16}} In April 1896 he gave a recital at Natatorium Hall, Broad Street that consisted of only music by Frédéric Chopin.{{cite news|title=A Chopin Recital|work=Philadelphia Times|date=April 18, 1896|page= 2}} In November 1896 he performed Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Germania Orchestra at Musical Fund Hall.{{cite news|title=Musical Fund Hall|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|date= November 22, 1896|page= 23}} He was heard with that orchestra again February 1897, playing Karl Goldmark's piano concerto and works by Robert Schumann.{{cite news|title=In the Music World|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|date= February 28, 1897|page= 18}} He performed at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington, Delaware on July 1, 1897.{{cite news|title=Musical Notes|work=Wilmington Evening Journal|date=June 28, 1897|page= 11}}

In August 1899 Tempest donated several items to the museum at Independence Hall, among them a carved powder horn owned by Edward Braddock.{{cite news|title=More Historical Relics|work=Philadelphia Times|date= August 5, 1899|page= 3}} He frequently attended the salons hosted by baritone Giuseppe Del Puente.{{cite news|title=Del Puente As Philadelphia Knew Him|work=Philadelphia Times|date=June 3, 1900|page= 19}}

Tempest wrote his first compositions at the age of five. In his youth, he would go to Laurel Hill Cemetery to site and compose. A concerts of his art songs and instrumental music was given at the New Century Club in December 1895.{{cite news|title=Next Week's Plays|work=Philadelphia Times|date=December 19, 1895|page= 8}}