Origins & Early Life

Wilhelm Walter Friedrich Kempff (25 November 1895 – 23 May 1991) was a German pianist, teacher and composer. Although his repertoire included Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt and Brahms, Kempff was particularly well known for his interpretations of the music of Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert, recording the complete sonatas of both composers. He is considered to have been one of the chief exponents of the Germanic tradition during the 20th century. Kempff was born in Jüterbog, Brandenburg, in 1895.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He grew up in nearby Potsdam where his father was a royal music director and organist at St. Nicolai Church. His grandfather was also an organist and his brother Georg became director of church music at the University of Erlangen. Kempff studied music at first at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik at the age of nine after receiving lessons from his father at a younger age. Whilst there he studied composition with Robert Kahn and piano with Karl Heinrich Barth (with whom Arthur Rubinstein also studied).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1914 Kempff moved on to study at the Viktoria gymnasium in Potsdam before returning to Berlin to finish his training. In 1917, Kempff gave his...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aleksandr Vasilevsky — Contemporary (Born in 1895) (1895): A pivotal Soviet general who commanded forces during WWII and served as Minister of Defense.
• Anna Freud — Contemporary (Born in 1895) (1895): Pioneering psychoanalyst known for child psychology and ego theory.
• Arthur Cayley — Contemporary (Died in 1895) (1895): Pioneering English mathematician, instrumental in founding modern algebra and group theory.
• Abby Stein — Contemporary (Born in 1991) (1991): Israeli-American author, rabbi, and activist who speaks on faith and gender identity.
• Almaz Ayana — Contemporary (Born in 1991) (1991): Ethiopian long-distance runner known for Olympic and World Championship success.
• Amadou Hampâté Bâ — Contemporary (Died in 1991) (1991): Malian writer, historian, and ethnologist championing Africa's oral traditions.
• Abbé Prévost — Shared historical date (11-25 · Died) (1763): French novelist, best known for the highly popular romance, Manon Lescaut.
• Andrea Doria — Shared historical date (11-25 · Died) (1560): Prominent Genoese statesman, condottiero, and admiral who dominated Mediterranean naval power.
• ʻAbdu'l-Bahá — Shared historical date (05-23 · Born) (1844): Successor to Baháʼu'lláh and guiding light of the Baháʼí Faith.
• Alfred P. Sloan — Shared historical date (05-23 · Born) (1875): Pioneered modern corporate structure and the annual model cycle at General Motors.
• 1895 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1895
• November 25 (11-25) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 25
• 1991 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1991
• May 23 (05-23) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 23