CLEVER BLIND MUSICIANS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 215, 16 October 1909, Page 3

CLEVER BLIND MUSICIANS.

Long before Sir Edward Kl»ar became famous he helped another man to fame, and that man was blind and is to-dav one of the most gifien organists in the world-Mr. William Wolstcnlinlmc. Sir Kdward taught \\'n|stenli<ilme tile violin a I Worcester, a strong friendship springing up between master and pupil, ami when the latter decided to work for his mnsienl degree at Oxford K] fflr oll'erjd :o be his amanuensis. To-day Wolstcnholine greatly cherishes the rough sketches, reminiscent nf -tobacco reek," which the Worcester violin leather made of his exercise,*. Nor was this al'. for when the blind musician went up to Oxford for the examination Elgar went with him, and was as pleased as tbe candidate himself when Ins pupil became Ihe lirst blind pcivm (~ take the Oxford degivc. Wolslcnholinc alwavs .spent Saturday afternoons with Elgar. and the latter would often say, "Willie, I have a tune to play to you.'' and he would immediately play over one of the beautiful melodies which have since made his fame and have entered into such immortal works as "The Dream of <. , eioiilius" and ''The Disciples." for hi.s degree Wolsteiilioime was rcqufrcd to «lio\v an in' iniatc knowledge of Hecllioveu's "i'idelio," and he .transcribed the full score into Braille and committed the opera to memory! Jlr. Wolstenholme is a composer himself of very great mlenl. am | j s not 0ll i„ a niagnilicent solo-organist but gives recitals all over the world, beiii" also a fine violinist and pianist, lie has a marvellous memory, and his improvisations on the organ are little shore of miraculous.

Another wonderful blind musician is [Alfred Hollins, who played before Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle when lie was I but sixteen. He has also played before | the King of the Belgians at Brussels land the Empress Frederick at Berlin. Three performances were upon the pianoforte;' but it is as an organist that Alfred Hollins is known to ifll lovers 01 music. lie was trained at the Ko-y.il Normal {School for the Blind at Norwood, the Principal of which, Dr. Camp, bell, lias lately been knighted by the King. Mr. Hollins goes all over the world giving organ recitals, and it is truly marvellous how he manages, al-1 most instantly, to find his w ay about an entirely strange organ, mastering all the mechanical accessories as though his eyesight were perfect, whereas he is stoneWind. In playing, however high he lifts his hands they always come down on the right p ace, and he gives his audience the feeling that he could not make a mistake, lie a!«o has a marvellous „H ot extemporisation, and. as lie is obliged lo memorise everything and plays The most dillicnlt .music in existence his memory must needs he prodigiousHomo paper.