The Wonder of Sound
How the Power of Music Healed Me
Format:Hardback
Publisher:The Franciscan Publishing Company
Published:3rd Jun '25
Should be back in stock very soon
This is the English translation of the German best-selling Klangwunder: wie die Kraft der Musik mich geheilt hat.
Albrecht Mayer has been principal oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra since 2002 and enjoys a prolific solo career, and is believed by many to be the greatest oboist in the world.
In his autobiography (co-authored with Heidi Friedrich) Albrecht Mayer describes his journey from an insecure child to the pinnacle of the music world. His life gains a new direction when his authoritarian father gives him an oboe at the age of ten with the edict that he learn to play it. He gives a very personal account of the obstacles he faced and the people who helped him along the way, and of performing with the most famous musicians in the world's greatest concert halls. But despite all his success, he has never forgotten the stigma of stuttering and the happiness of having found his true place in the world despite his impairment.
This is the deeply moving autobiography of a man who has experienced the healing power of music and today embodies it with great charisma. It is a testament to the healing power of music and the endurance of the human spirit.
Written in an eminently readable style this is an honest book about 'an ordinary human being' who has reached the pinnacle of musical success but is very grounded in reality and who cherishes his family above all else.
For us musicians there is nothing more important than sound and Albrecht's sound is simply sublime. As his colleague and friend I loved this 'backstage' look into his journey about the trials and tribulations of creating that perfect Albrecht Mayer sound.
Sarah Willis, French horn, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
I have admired Albrecht Mayer as a great oboist ever since I first heard him play. He has also been an important authority for me for many years. Already back in Meiningen, the location of my first leading position as a conductor, we performed two concerts together: my farewell concert as (General) Music Director and another program in which we played a work by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with the Meininger Hofkapelle. Since then, we have been connected in a wonderful artistic partnership. When the Berliner Philharmoniker bestowed their direction upon me, Albrecht Mayer was the one who first and foremost supported and challenged me with equal measure. He has always encouraged me to work hard with this extraordinary orchestra and to bring out the ensemble's skills in the best possible way. Having his placet to do everything to come close to my notion of an ideal interpretation was an invaluable help to me, as was his positive feedback after a successful concert. In this sense, he supported me like a mentor from the very first steps I was allowed to take with the Berliner Philharmoniker. For all my questions or doubts, he was and is always at my side with his advice.
I am delighted that his thoughts and experiences are now being made available to an English-speaking readership and wish this book the best of success.
Kirill Petrenko
ISBN: 9781915198150
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
259 pages