Albert Schweitzer

Albert Schweitzer

Albert Schweitzer was born in Kaysersberg (Alsace), on 14 January 1875. He lived in the village of Gunsbach, where his father was a local pastor. His father taught him how to play music. In 1893, Schweitzer passed his Baccalaureat.

After this, Schweitzer went to Paris to learn philosophy and music, before returning to his birthplace to study theology. He spent nine years studying medicine and surgery. He would dedicate his life to helping people and curing diseases.

Schweitzer was a famous organist and was extremely interested in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. He developed a simple style of performance, which he thought to be closer to what Bach had meant. In 1908, he completed the final version of his book ''Johann Sebastian Bach''. In the book, he argued for the new style, which has had a great influence on the way Bach's music is now treated.

When Schweitzer was in Lambarena, his main recreation was to play Bach's music. He also gave musical performances to raise money for medical supplies in Gabon.

Recordings of Schweitzer playing the music of Bach are available on CD. Between 1934 and 1935, he had a trial recording for HMV on the organ of the old Queen's Hall in London. In mid-December 1935, he began to record for Columbia Records on the organ of ALL-HAllows-by-the-Tower, Barking, London.

Schweitzer became well-known for his books on Jesus and Christianity. He was not so much interested in the historical study of Jesus, as in the Christian idea of the and of the world, which can be found in the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. Schweitzer also served as a minister for Saint Nicholas Church in Strassburg.

In the philosophy of Albert Schweitzer, the most important idea is respect for life. In his book ''The Philosophy of Civilization'', he wrote that ''true philosophy'' begins with the idea that:

''I am a life that wants to live, in the midst of life that wants to live''

Albert Schweitzer's ethical principles meant that he tried to have a personal and spiritual relationship with the universe. It also meant that he was vegetarian.

Albert Schweitzer spent most of his life in Lambarene, Africa. In 1904, he was inspired to help sick people in the world, so he studied mecine.After his medical studies in 1913, he went to Lambarene with his wife to establish a hospital that would serve thousands of Africans.

During World War I, the French made Schweitzer and his wife, both Germans, leave Africa. In 1924, he returned to Lambarene and maneged to rebuild the dstroyed hospital, where he served as a phiysician.