The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-28
LITTLE BLIND PIANIST.
Frank Richter's Astonishing Per-
Torrance ON the Piano.

With sightless eyes wandering above
the heads of his hearers, the little boy
perched on high stool let his fingers
draw melody from the grand plano
with precision and sweetness that were
astonishing. Nine years old, without
instruction, he played selections from
well known operas, fragments of orig
1nal compositions, repeated correctly
strains that others played for him and
which he had never before heard-all
indicating high order Of musical ge-
MUS. "Tannhauser" dropped from his
finger tips with the readiness Of a me-
lodious cachuca; a fragment of Bee
thoven was played with the ease of the
little waltz that followed. And the
most marvellous part of the perform
ance was that the little fellow did not
suffer from stage fright.
Little Frank Richter was afflicted
from birth with blindness, but heaven
gave to him another talent which his
father and his friends are determined
shall be cultivated. Since he was q
tiny tot just out of arms, he has been
q lover of music. Before he could
reach UP to the keyboard Of the in
strument he had favorite melodies that
he cried for. When he was five years
old the time other children spent in
play he devoted to seeking for the mu-
sic In the family piano. When he was
six he could play melodies that would
tax the dexterity Of many older per-
sons. Now, at eight. he Is familiar
with most Of the operas, the classics
OF the masters, and executes with won
derful facility the difficulties of some
of the most brilliant piano composers.
Little Frank Richter was born in
Minneapolis and is the son of mu-
stefan and orchestra leader Of that
city. Herr. Richter does not, however,
play piano. But his son does, and
it is for the boy a concert is to be
given In ConOyer hall, Saturday night.
The proceeds will be used to assist
him in securing musical education.
The boy Is not prodigy. He is sim
ply bright happy little fellow, whose
aff1iction has directed his talent in the
direction of music. He has wonder
full ear, his idea Of time is perfect, his
expression astonishing in one so young.
The chief defect in his work now lies
In the execution. His hands are too
small to master the difficulties of the
work he essays. He needs a master
that will direct his efforts along the
channels in which he is capable of do
ing good work.
H. had a rehearsal yesterday at Con-
over hall. Some of the best work he
did during the afternoon was the rem
d1t1on of several little songs that re-
quire more than mere execution to
bring out their beauties. Then he sang,
with sweet, if somewhat Wavering
voice, other songs, in German, in
French and in the Bohemian tongue.
AS indicating the happiness of his dis
position, despite his great affection,
he played several humoresques of his
own composition. No morbid mind
could have conceived such musical
ideas, Another popularity Of his work
is that whatever he plays he can trans
pose readily into any key. His idea
of pitch and tone is absolutely correct
He-ca tell the pitch of any note that
may be sounded for him. AS his father
says, he does not need tuning fork
when his little son is about, for the
boy will invariably give him the "A''
pitch without hesitation
The concert of Saturday night will
be given under the auspices of the ST.
Paul Woman's chorus, and will in
c1ude a violin solo by Prof Richter
and numbers by several other local
artists.