My Life with the Great Pianists

by Franz Mohr, Edith Schaeffer, Henry Z. Steinway

Book Overview

Franz Mohr has been chief concert technician for piano maker Steinway and Sons for more than a quarter century. As the close colleague of legendary musicians such as Horowitz, Rubinstein, Gould, Serkin, and many others, Franz Mohr has attended to their instruments, making delicate adjustments that affect tone, balance, and other characteristics of sound. It is Mohr who enables virtuosos to fully realize their own individual interpretative styles and...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801057108
• ISBN13: 9780801057106
• Release Date: July 1996
• Publisher: Baker Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 15 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 10

Customer Reviews

My Friend-Franz Mohr

I am fortunate enough (or shall I say blessed) that I see Franz Mohr numerous times a year. He is a true friend of mine and is known in professional circles as the greatest piano technician ever. The man is a magician with Steinway pianos, bringing sounds alive in pianos as only he can. Any serious student of piano must read this book, to learn feeling in music and life. Franz has paid his dues, long ago. He enlightens us all with true tales of his many life journeys. Thank you Franz Mohr- Your true friend- Carl Accettola

Great book

A wonderful book detailing the life of concert piano technician, Franz Mohr. He speaks extensively about Horowitz, Rubinstein, Cliburn and others. While reading the book, you feel like you are personally there...backstage. Mohr speaks of growing up in Nazi Germany, losing both brothers to World War II and coming to America. He speaks of working in Russia during the cold war. The chapter on WWII is worth the price of the book alone. About the only downside to this book is his regular preaching about becoming a "Born-Again-Christian". While that in and of itself isn't too bad, it does tend to be a little bit too much at times. The reader gets tired of Franz sentencing great pianists to Hell, because they don't share his "born-again" beliefs. All in all, it's a great book and the unique stories of his life, and the insight into what a good man he is, more than compensate for the occasional "judgement casting" of the masters that he does.

A Delightful Book

This is book truly fascinating and well written. It is light and funny in the humerous stories and "inside" facts. But it also has a more serious side in the story of his early life in Germany and his unshakable faith in the Lord. It is easy and enjoyable reading for anyone and everyone interested in the performance of piano, great figures of piano, tuning of the piano, and the list goes on! I recommend it for the young and old.

Fascinating Horowtiz anecdotes

I've read the book three times; the portrait of Horowitz is unforgettable. Because I found the book in a Christian book store, published by a Christian publisher, and cowritten by the well-known wife of an famous clergyman, I was neither surprised not disappointed by the author's -- quite modest and understated -- references to his faith, and its role in relationship to his work and clients. The book is well and simply written.

Great book for everyone!

_My Life With the Great Pianists_ is an excellently written, humorous, and educational book. Franz Mohr worked with Horowitz, Rubenstein, and other great pianists, serving as their piano tuner. Here he reveals their idiosyncrysies and nervous moments. Mohr also writes about himself, telling of the ghastly destruction of his hometown in Germany during World War II, and gives his personal testimony of the hand of God in his life.