Albert Schweitzer as organist
Even 50 years after Albert Schweitzer's death, his name is still present in many countries and in many different ways: hospitals, schools and streets are named after him all over the world - but especially in Germany and France; the hospital in Lambaréné, which he founded in 1927, is still of great importance for the health care system in Gabon today. Most people associate the name Albert Schweitzer with the 'jungle doctor' and founder of a hospital in Africa; many remember him as the Nobel Peace Prize winner who received the same attention around the world with his thesis of respect for life as Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi with the non-violent resistance they practiced, or Mother Teresa, who was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her selfless service to the poor, sick and homeless in India. The name Albert Schweitzer is still known today among theologians as the author of standard theological works, and musicians remember his name as a concert organist and Bach biographer...
If one looks at Albert Schweitzer's musical career and his later career as a concert organist against this background, the first thing that strikes one is that, in contrast to his brilliant academic career, he never studied music at a conservatory....
On Charles Marie Widor's recommendation, Albert Schweitzer took piano lessons from two well-known pianists in Paris (Isidor Philipp and Marie Jaëll-Trautmann), which enabled him to train as a pianist. All of this resulted in a 'private music study' that was more intensive than would have been possible at a public conservatory in Strasbourg. It remains astonishing that he later managed to have an international career as a concert organist despite his time-consuming and exhausting work as a doctor in Africa. This was only possible because he was able to maintain his musical skills in Lambaréné and continue to work on his organ repertoire. The Paris Bach Society gave him a piano with organ pedals that had been specially built for the tropics and sent it to him on his way to Africa. And it is even more astonishing that he also became internationally known and recognized as a music writer, editor and organ building expert...
(Dr. Rudolf Innig)