Ludwig Van Beethoven
The Musical Genius Of Deaf Beethoven Could Still Not Be Denied
Ludwig Van Beethoven is widely regarded as the most original, intense and technical classical composers of all time. The strange fact that differentiates Beethoven from his contemporaries was that he was deaf for a longtime until his untimely demise.
Beethoven’s deafness was gradual as a result of a fever. It started showing major symptoms in his twenties and ultimately he lost all of his hearing in early thirties. This disability was directly related to his profession, passion and love of music as arts. It had dreadful effects on his life and once quoted in his letter to his brother. “But how humbled I feel when someone near me hears the distant sound of a flute, and I hear nothing; when someone hears a shepherd singing, and I hear nothing!” Devastated by this despair, The German Master even contemplated committing suicide but instead chose to continue composing.
He took some lessons from the great Mozart and Joseph Haydn and performed in his own concert in the beginning of 17th century. Later, due to his hearing disability he stopped performing on piano but his creativity and composing did not hamper and infact excelled eventually. He wrote nine symphonies during 1800-24 and widely acclaimed perfection status. His later works constitute five piano, violin, vocal music and opera including oratorios. His third symphony Erocia was written when he was completely deaf. Though widely regarded as a classicist, Eroica reflected the complexity of music’s romantic age.
His diversity and genius can be further envisioned when his imagination created masterpieces that labeled him as a true genius. He expanded the length of symphony and piano concerto, increasing the number of movements in the string and adding instruments like trombone contrabassoon, and the piccolo-to the orchestra; giving it an incredible depth and corresponding range. His daring piano compositions further elevated the status of the instrument which was then a considerably new instrument (invented in 1710). His most famous and performed masterpieces include Eroica (3rd), 5th, Pastrol (6th) and Choral (9th) symphonies, as well as 4th and 5th piano concertos.
It is astonishing that these invincible compositions were never ever heard by the master himself. When he used to give tempos to the conductor during the performances he would never ever hear the standing ovations from his audience. The choirs used to turn his chair to the crowd to let him know what a spectacular response his compositions used to draw from crowds.
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