The morning journal-courier., 1908-11-10
Sketch of Great organist Who Is to Appear in Recital at Woolsey Hall This
 Evening
BEGAN AT FOUR YEARS
This Blind Boy Took to Music from Earliest Infancy--Leadlng Cont poser for Organ of Mod
 ern Times.

Tonight at Woolsey hall William Wolstenholme, English organist and composer, the leading composer for the organ now living, makes his first ap- pearance before the New Haven mu- sical world He arrived In the city yesterday morning from Philadelhia where he had been the guest of tho principal musicians of that city. He has already played, on his American tour at Boston and New York city, and has met with marked success in both these critical centers, From New Haven he starts on a westward tour which will include cities on the Pacific coast.
 Considerable interest has been taken in the life of Mir Wostenholme at the various cities in which he has played He was born in the cotton manufac- turing town of Blackburn, England, in 1865, the son of an architect and descendant of an old English family which had lived for the most part fin that town. Music was a favorite pastime and profession in the Vol stenholme family for generations and the blind boy became used to musical sounds from his earliest infancy Al the age of four he was playing slmpie | pieces on the piano and at six he was amusing himself by paying In two keys on two different instruments which were one sharp apart in pitch His compositions for the organ began at the early age of fifteen his whole childhood foretold the brilliant musical career that awaited the leading com poser for the organ of modern times l He was in due course of time sent to College or the Blind Sons of Gentle men at Worcester, England, and there from his first year he became the or | ganist of the college and whied away | the hours which were not otherwise occupied by devoted playing on the old chamber organ. It was at this college that he formed the friendship which was frought with so much significance for his after life as a musician Here he met Edward Elgar, already recog, nized as q rising genius in the musical world. Elgar was Wolstenholmes tu- tor on the violin and the master form ed an attachment for his young pupil which lasted through the latter's course at oxford university and long afterward. Each gained from the other. though doubtless there was more for the younger man to learn from the kindly and inspiring teacher El- gar's help took the practical form of transcribing a deal of the work of his blind pupil and he served as amanuen- sis for Wolstenholme at his examina- tions at oxford. It wus at Elgars ad- vice that Wolstenholme relnquished his study of the violin and concentrated | himself upon the organ Those school days without Edgar Elgar," t has been said. "would have heen to Will liam Wolstenholmc like body without soul
 Returning from Oxford, with no In nuential friends to procure an advan- tagcous appointment for him, he went back to his home town and became organist of St. Pauls church, and il was during this quiet village life that he wrote most of those masterpieces for the organ which have made his name known wherever there are or gans to be played upon. His compost. tions soon brought him into public at. tention and he was called to the posi-. tion of organist at Kings Weigh House church, Grosvenor square, Lon. don, where he remained until he re. ceived his appointment at All Saints church, Hyde Park. London which position he now holds During re. cent years his organ recitas and mu. sical evenings have been particular at fractions in the crowded London mu sical program. His delightful extem
 porzations on both piano and organ but especially on the organ, have beer greatly appreciated in London ant many young musicians always form ed large proportion of his audiences
 Mir. Wolstenaom will play to-ngh Pach's "Fugue in A minor, selections [ from the works of Mendelssohn. Hol lns and Saint Saens characteristic se
 lections from his own best knowi , works and will cxtempori2e upon { theme selected by some one in th' audience.
 The advance sale of tickets has beer gratifying and insures a good repre- , sentative house at the concert to night. Tickets will be for sAle thi afternoon at the Woolsey hall box of flee from o'clock until the time o
 the concert.