Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-02-26

keys of the organ With remarkable
| precision he accompanies soloists,
learning his part after once hearing
the melody, and frequently playing
readily as the notes of the hymn are
read to him by some member of bis
/ family or a friend. His ear is sensi-
tive to music, and any error in read
ing notes to him is detected instantly,
even before he has played 1t has
been said by some of those who have
sung With him that be not only plays
| the notes literally, but that at times
| be improved upon the printed score
/ by introducing improvisations which
| help the singers
I Prob IDLY this man, who is doing so
mu ! to entertain and hello the CON
4 greg tion of Centenary church, will
never know fully tbs extent to which
he is annreciated Whether faces iD
the audieuce frown or smile must to
some degree be matter of indiffer-
ence to him, for the frown will not
hurt nor the smile help; but there is
something in the environment of liv-
! ing creatures which, after all, responds
to conditions which are not even seen
| Deepest waters of the ocean, miles be-
! low the surface, contain fish and she'll
creatures which have no eyes, no plac-
! es for eyes and no use for eyes; yet
they are as important to the great
plan of the universe as are fishes tbat
| live nearer the sulface and possess
| sight, The life of the blind organist
must be deep life. What he thinks
and hears and knows must find ex-
preston, and the world is blessed in
tine fact that be dispenses harmony,
not ciscord; that he interprets to best
advantage the words of songs he plays,
and that he is happy all the way along
the high way of life, which he might
not be if he could see.
Mr.. Coleman, who has recently
been sppointed organist at Centenary
church, is native OF Winchester, and
is the third of family of four blind
children At the age of years he en-
tered the Tennessee School for the
Blind in Nashville, and soon after en-
tering this institution he began the
study of music He graduated in 1890
both in the literary and music depart
ments.
To graduate from the musical de-
partnent of the institution means that
one must master thoroughly the rudi-
ments of music together with thor
ough course in theory, harmony and
counterpoint, as well as thorough
knowledge of Instrumentation and or
chestration, together with some prac-
tice in composition, though to no great
extent All this was required of Mr..
Coleman before he was allowed to
leave the school for active life. In
the fall of 1890 be began teaching mu-
sic as an assists in the Arkansas
School Of the Blind, which position he
held for three consecutive terms of the
school
When by reason of the panic of 1898
and drop in the states appropriation
his position was abolished and he re-
turned to Winchester and began teach
ing music. This was a very hard
struggle for the young musician, as be
was compelled to overcome the belief
which was so common at that time
that a blind musician was necessarily
more or less of a prodigy, and even
many of his closest friends did net be-
lieve that he was capable of imparting
music to seeing people. Despite this
fact. however, he did fairly we'll and
was able to contribute large part to