Concerts in Cambridge: musical masterpieces by blind composers in support of World Sight Day

The concerts will take place on:  

Sunday 6th October, 3pm, at Downing Place United Reformed Church, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EL (Click here to read more)

Saturday 12th October, 7.30pm, at St Catharine’s College Chapel, St. Catharine’s College, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RL (Click here to read more)

The musical duo will play a rich and varied repertoire by blind composers:  

Frederick Delius, Sonata in One Movement  

Fritz Delius was born in Bradford in 1862 to German parents. Growing up in a musically cultured home, Fritz learned to play violin and piano proficiently before he reached his teens. His lifelong passion for composition and performance was tempered by increasing disability in later years, including the loss of his eyesight, but he was able to complete his outstanding compositional work by dictation ahead of his death in 1934. 

Maria Theresia von Paradis, Sicilienne  

Maria Theresia von Paradis was born in Austria in 1759, and lost her eyesight between the ages of two and five. Receiving a broad education in music, and with an excellent memory and hearing, she is reported to have learned over 60 concertos by heart, as well as a large repertoire of solo and religious works. A close friend of Mozart, Maria Theresia lived a fruitful musical life, composing and performing throughout Europe until she died in 1824.  

Louis Vierne, Sonata in B minor 

Born in France in 1870 with congenital cataracts, Louis Vierne’s gift for music was discovered when he was 2 years old and heard the piano for the first time. His neighbour played him a Schubert lullaby; later Louis picked out the notes on the piano himself. And so began a lifetime of composition and performance, culminating in becoming the organist at Notre-Dame de Paris until he died in 1937.  

The concerts will finish with a performance of German composer and pianist Johannes Brahms’ Sonata No.1 in E minor. 

James Williams, who will be playing the piano, said:

“Supporting CBM UK’s work of disability inclusion around the world is particularly important to me. This is not only because it is a tangible way to put Jesus’ command to “love your neighbour as yourself” into practice, but also because I have been learning about visual impairment in recent years through the joys and challenges of parenting someone who is blind — and very musical! I have accompanied more than 100 musicians over the last 30 years, and it’s a rare privilege to be able to work with someone as gifted as Joe. Once I realised that there were some cello masterpieces by blind composers and that World Sight Day was coming up it all fell into place.”

Cellist Joseph Reynolds said:

“CBM UK’s work is important to me because, having briefly experienced the impact of undiagnosed myopia at school, I am moved by their mission to prevent blindness and restore sight to people who are living needlessly blind, and to build a more inclusive world for everyone, everywhere.”

World Sight Day is celebrated on 10 October 2024, helping to focus the world’s attention on the importance of eyecare. Read more about World Sight Day here.