Organist/harpsichordist Helmut Walcha (1907-1991) achieved great fame as one of the most respected interpreters in history of the keyboard works of J S Bach. Walcha recorded the complete organ works of Bach for DG-Archiv twice (the first time in mono and later in stereo) and all the major harpsichord works for EMI Electrola. He recorded the Well Tempered Clavier for both labels.

He became blind at age 16 as a result of a smallpox vaccination. But the young Walcha excelled as a student at the Leipzig conservatory. He accepted teaching positions in Frankfurt, becoming a professor of organ at the Frankfurt’s Musikhochschule in 1938 and attracting organ students from many countries.

One of Walcha’s admirable distinctions is that he committed to memory Bach’s entire solo keyboard compositions - and the sonatas with other solo instruments (e.g. the violin & harpsichord sonatas). The blind Walcha learned these works by listening to other musicians play them for him.

Walcha was also a noted composer - C F Peters published his Choral Preludes for the organ as well as many arrangements, including his editing of Handel’s organ concertos.

Recorded 1957-60