暗晦.素淡. Sad News: One of the world's great master pianists Earl Wild has died.

"As reported by his long-time companion of 38 years Michael Rolland Davis, he passed comfortably in his home in Palm Springs California after a long illness. Cause of death was congestive heart disease. He was 94.

He had a wonderfully full life and was still coaching pianists up until the last week of his life. He will be greatly missed. His memoirs are scheduled to be published in a few months by Carnegie Mellon Press."

Wild gave a concert of transcriptions at Carnegie Hall on the same day in 1982 that Vladimir Horowitz was giving a "comeback" concert. Horowitz who was rarely known to be concerned about competition reportedly told his manager that he was worried about getting a good audience because "Wild is a very good pianist you know".

Although we never saw him perform it was a great pleasure to grow up listening to records of his amazing musicmaking and his fascination with the widest, riskiest repertoire. Our condolences to his longtime partner, Michael Rolland Davis.