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111 Years Of Deutsche Grammophon-Edition 1 CD53

Organist Helmut Walcha (1907-1991) was a native of Leipzig who was blinded at age 16 due to a botched vaccination against smallpox. Being blind, Helmut Walcha memorized all of the music he played, first with the help of his mother and later with his wife's assistance. He heard each individual line of music played in either hand, or from the foot pedals. Once he'd heard each part played four times through, he could re-assemble them in his head.
In 1929, Walcha accepted a position at the Friedenskirche at Frankfurt, where he was based the rest of his long life.