A glossy original black-and-white photograph of the fine German pianist and teacher. Although known as a pianist, he is shown here seated at an organ, to which he has added the musical quotation of the B-A-C-H motive and signed beneath.

Wilhelm Kempff was among the foremost pianists of the twentieth century, renowned for his interpretations of Beethoven and Schubert, in particular. He was the first to record the complete sonatas of Schubert, in fact, before those works had become standard in the repertoire. Kempff was also highly regarded by his fellow pianists. When Artur Schnabel undertook the very first complete recording of the Beethoven sonatas, he instructed EMI to call upon Kempff in the event he was unable to finish the project.