Compiled by Darold Treffert, MD

Savant Syndrome

Uncommon Genius:
A Savant Documentary

The Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) has recently released a documentary video on Savant Syndrome which was filmed in the United States in April, 2000. In 1993 Robyn Young visited a number of savants in the U.S. as part of a group of 52 savants world-wide she eventually was able to study using a uniform psychological history and test protocol. This film captures her trip cross-country in the U.S revisiting these savants seven years later, along with interviewing various experts on savant syndrome familiar with these particular persons. The savants Dr. Young visited included George, Tony, Leslie, Alonzo, Kim (who are described in greater detail on this site) and several others. Experts interviewed included Drs. Treffert, Rimland and Bruce Miller.

The video is exceptionally well done artistically showing beautiful glimpses of United States scenery from coast to coast along with glimpses at savant abilities in these remarkable persons. Uncommon Genius was shown in a 30 minute abbreviated version on the Learning Channel in the United States in March, 2001. It was shown on Australian Public Television in May, 2001. It is available for purchase from the Australian Broadcasting Company through inquiry at this e mail address: progsales@your.abc.net.au or by inquiry at this link: http://www.abc.net.au/programsales.

Island of Genius

Stephen Smith of Minnesota Public Radio was producer of a National Sciences Foundation audio tape on Savant Syndrome called Islands of Genius which describes, and interviews, several new savants and some of the other researchers in the United States and other countries interested in this condition. It can be accessed at http://soundprint.org/documentaries/1995/island_of_genius/savants.phtml. At this site there are on-line science projects under those the Science and Technology projects lists Islands of Genius on live audio tape. It can also be accessed as one of the listings via www.goto.com under savant syndrome.

Musical Savants

Leslie Lemke

1. Islands of Genius

A 28 minute broadcast quality VHS videotape produced by the Weyerhaeuser Corporation featuring Leslie Lemke in a 1986 concert is available. It contains the story and pictures of Leslie's early life with his foster mother, May Lemke, as related by May's daughter, Mary Parker, with whom Leslie now resides. Included also is a portion of the memorable 1983 60 Minutes program which featured Leslie, the pianist, along with Alonzo, the sculptor, and George, the Calendar Calculator. It is an excellent portrait of Leslie's piano playing and vocal abilities along with his remarkable imitative and improvisory vocal and instrumental skills.

The tape is available for $ 24, postpaid, from:
Darold A. Treffert, MD
Behavioral Health Services
St. Agnes Hospital
430 East Division Street
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 54935

or

Miracle of Love Ministries
8099 Grant Road
Arpin, Wisconsin 54410

(if ordered from Dr. Treffert the check should be made out to "Miracle of Love Ministries" and it will be forwarded there.)

2. The Woman Who Willed a Miracle

A feature length televison movie starring Cloris Leachman as May Lemke, and Lief Green as Leslie. This program won four Emmy Awards.

Tony DeBlois

1. Thank God for Life!
Four Thousand Years of Music

These are two 1999 CD's, one instrumental and one vocal, described and available through Tony's Web site at www.ccmw.org/deblois/. Tony's inspirational story, including his graduation summa cum laude in 1996 from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. is summarized elsewhere on this site and is described in detail as well on his own Web site. These CD's document Tony's versitile musical genius with instrument and voice, and represent only a small, but impressive sample of his vast and varied repertoire.

Hikari Oe

1. The Music of Hikari Oe
The Music of Hikari Oe 2

The story of Hikari Oe is described elsewhere on this web site. He is a phenomenal composer. He has two CD',s which I listen to regularly in my car as I travel, not because they contain music composed by a savant, but simply because they contain beautiful classic music by any standards, pleasant to listen to and intrinsically relaxing. They contain music for piano, flute and violin and provide ample evidence into Hikari's creativity, and some insights into his emotions, observations and feelings. The CD's are entitled Music of Hikari Oe, recorded in 1992 (CO-78952 Denon) and Music of Hikari Oe 2 recorded in 1994 CO-78953 Denon). The first CD was a smash success, breaking sales records in the classical category and the second CD was similarly successful.

2. The Music of Light

The written story of Hikari Oe is contained in a book by Lindsley Cameron entitled The Music of Light:The Extraordinary Story of Hikari and Kenzaburo Oe and published by The Free Press, New York, 1998. The title derives from the name Hikari which means "light." As the dedication states, it is a book written "with boundless admiration" for the entire family, and the pictures of Hikari and his family in earlier and now present years add texture to the words.

Tom Bethune — "Blind Tom"

1. A National Public Radio Performance Today program provides an hour long audio program on Blind Tom, including some of his compositions as played by John Davis. It can be accessed on the internet at:
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=4&prgDate=27-Aug-99

2. John Davis plays Blind Tom

Blind Tom Bethune was one of the most famous pianists in the U.S. and internationally between his local debut at age 8 in 1857 and his final concerts in 1904. His story of blindness, musical genius and mental handicap, woven in with his discovery and fame, is remarkably similar to Leslie Lemke's story, though a century apart. The rediscovery and reintroduction of Blind Tom's music, brought to life again now by John Davis on this 1999 CD on Newport Classics (NPD 85660), is an impressive reminder of the vastness of Blind Tom's performing and composing capability and creativity. In addition to the 14 original compositions by Blind Tom, including his most famous and complex piece, "The Battle of Manassas," along with a number of other gallops, polkas and marches and nocturnes, the CD jacket and insert provide an excellent account of Blind Tom's life, and genius.

Artistic Savants

Richard Wawro

1. With Eyes Wide Open

This is a videotape of a 1983 internationally acclaimed and award winning film which allows the viewer to meet Richard Wawro as a person and to experience the evolution of his work as a world-famous artist. His story is described in more detail elsewhere on this site. It is an excellent in-depth look at this remarkable person, his remarkable talent, and his remarkable life story.

2. A Real Rainman: Portrait of an Autistic Savant

This is a 35 minute videotape on Richard Wawro's remarkable life and works as told in part through the eyes of his brother Michael. It is filmed in Scotland and the United States. It is an excellent portrait of Richard, his incredible drawing abililty, his success and how the love of his family helped him overcome his obvious handicaps and emerge into a world-famous artist.

Both these videotapes are available from:

Laurence A. Becker, PhD
Creative Learning Environments
507 Park Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78751
e mail: rbecker64@aol.com



For more information, please contact:
Darold A. Treffert, MD
St. Agnes Hospital, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry
University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison
Personal Web site: http://www.daroldtreffert.com
e-mail: savants@charter.net