Hear Classical Music Composed by Friedrich Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche, better known as a philosopher, was also a composer. His musical output spans from 1854, when he was ten, to 1887, three years before his death. Nietzsche claimed in an 1887 letter that no philosopher had been as essentially a musician as he, though he admitted he might be unsuccessful. His compositions range from sprightly to mournful, reflecting Protestant hymnals from his childhood as a Lutheran minister's son. Recordings and sheet music are available via The Nietzsche Channel and Albany Records. The article also notes the historical manipulation of Nietzsche's work by his sister after his death, which led to misappropriation by the Nazi Party, and his break with composer Richard Wagner over ideological differences.