BLIND MUSICAL STUDENTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2670, 9 June 1894, Page 3

BLIND MUSICAL STUDENTS.

The most unique performance ever given iu Temuka was that of the Blind Musical Students on Thursday evening in the Volunteer Hall. There was a good attendance, in spite of the bitterly cold weather and»counter attractions, and those present have every reason not only to congratulate themselves upon having " assisted," as the French say, at a remarkable performance, but also upon having helped a good causo. The Students do not belong to any institution, although they have been trained at the Ormond Hall of Music in Melbourne, but are simply endeavoring to earn a livelihood, and they are certainly worthy of all support. The perforanu"on Thursday consisted of u **»•" '. vU gramme iu two par*" ... -' asica l profor an exhibit;,,, . ~> * lth »» interval u> Y -.on ol roading, arithmetic, wnang etc. Tho musicafportion commenced with a,n ovorturo, "ANichtwi' Burns," by Miss Wotton (Ist violin), T\}\V U n < 2nd violiu >> and Master Bartlett (flute), with a pianoforte accompaniment. This was marvellously well the variations, and chaugos of

airs being picked up very accurately and played with expression. Miss Mulvogue followed with " Comin' thro' the Rye/' which she sang very crisply. The audience up to now were apparently oppressed with a feeling of sadness, but as they realised that the Students themselves seemed to really enjoy the music, and appreciate the meaning of the words, they applauded heartily. Miss Mulvogue in the second part gave another number, for which she was encored, but did not respond. Mr Bland's song," Comrades," was given with appropriate expression, after which Misse's Wotton and Mulvogue sang a duet, " Hark, the Goat Bells," in a really finished manner. Miss Wotton possesses a contralto voice of good register, and that she has a remarkably keen appreciation of poetry was evinced in her singing, later on, of " The Lady of the Lea," which was certainly the gem of the evening. Master Bartlett is entrusted with the humorous portion of the entertainment. He sang " Miss Hoolighan'B Christmas Cake" as though he had been present at the party himself, and in response to an encore sang "Old Simon the Cellarer," with much humour. In the second part he played a piccolo solo, and also took part, with Messrs Irwin and Bland, in the " Gipsies' Laughing Chorus," and Mr Irwin played a horn solo, "The Lost Chord," and sang " My Sweetheart, when a Boy," and " The Gallants of England." Each item was duly appreciated, and the trio was encored. « The Tickling Trio," by Miss Mulvogue and Messrs Irwin and Bartlett, was also a very pleasing item. Miss Wotlon also played a violin solo," Home, Sweet Home," and a piano solo," Golden Bella," in a manner that shows she h»B little to learn to make her wonderfully proficient. The quartettes, "Here in Cool Grot," " Annie Laurie," and "Dickory, Dickory, Dock," by Misses Wotton and Mulvogue and Messrs Bartlett and Irwin, were sung with careful attention to time. The first-named was perhaps the best, though the last was very amusing. The accompaniments were played by Mr J. Kearsley. The exhibition of reading, etc., was very interesting. Miss Wotton read the 20th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, not only with accuracy, but with a clearness of intonation and a perfection of articulation that might be copied with advantage by many of the clergy. She also read various messages written by the other Students at the dictation of persons in the body of the Hall, and worked out a lengthy multiplication sum. Mr Bartlett was able to call out the values of a pack of ordinary playing cards with accuracy, holding them part of the time behind his back. The manager gave a brief explanation of the means of reading and writing, which is by means of raised "dots" arranged in various positions—and ako of the method of calculating figures. Altogether, the visit of the Students will be long remembered, especially by those to whom it revealed, not only "what a blessed thing is sight," but who could appreciate the amount of benevolent thought and skill that haß been devoted to compensating those to whom the blessing has been denied.