Known predominantly as a German philosopher, poet, and philologist, Nietzsche also played piano and composed solo music for the instrument.
As a young man, Nietzsche aspired not to be a great philosopher but rather a great musician. He played the piano and seems to have been at least an entertaining improvisationalist. From his teens, he attempted composition in various traditional forms, writing mostly for piano.
God has given us music so that above all it can lead us upwards. Music unites all qualities: it can exalt us, divert us, cheer us up, or break the hardest of hearts with the softest of its melancholy tones. But its principal task is to lead our thoughts to higher things, to elevate, even to make us tremble…
How little is required for pleasure! The sound of a bagpipe. Without music, life would be an error. The German imagines even God sings songs.
