Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom & philosophy.
This was his belief then & remains deeply relevant two centuries later, although philosophers might argue to the contraire.
Despite being deaf for the last 25 years of his life, Beethoven’s music transcended conventional notes & rhythms. His increasing deafness did not hinder him – initially. Instead, it deepened his reliance on the internal sounds & silences within his mind. This personal struggle became his power & means to express himself in an era when men rarely showed their feelings openly.
He wasn’t deaf for the first 28 years of his life.
Born in 1770 in Bonn, Germany, Beethoven showed early musical promise. Tutored by a father who sought to mould him into a child prodigy like Mozart, his youth was marked by a strict, sometimes abusive upbringing. When his extraordinary talent began to shine, he was 21. He moved to Vienna, renowned as the music capital of the world and studied under Joseph Haydn.
But Ludwig’s personal life was as dramatic & tumultuous as the music he composed. His romantic life was a poignant symphony of unrequited love & societal constraints. His letters to an “Immortal Beloved” revealled a deep yearning for a connection that remained elusive, reflecting his intense & unfulfilled emotions. (Gary Oldman played in the movie of the same name).
Another significant relationship was with a noble pupil; their bond, though genuine, was thwarted by her family’s disapproval, highlighting the cruel social divisions of his time.
This pattern of unreciprocated love persisted, notably when his marriage proposal was rejected, adding to his emotional turmoil. His profound connection with a widowed woman further exemplified this theme, offering a glimpse of potential happiness that was ultimately stifled by her social obligations & his growing isolation.
Thus, Beethoven’s love life, intertwined with his music, was marked by deep passion & the melancholic beauty of what could be, but never was to be, leaving a legacy of heartrending compositions that echoed his personal quest for love & connection.
He had taken it on board to pursue a career as a pianist & composer.
Beethoven quickly established himself In Vienna. He was admired for his fiery, improvisational piano performances & bold, emotional compositions that pushed the boundaries of classical music.
Before his deafness, Beethoven had already begun to redefine the structure & scope of classical music. Works like his Moonlight Sonata and his first symphonies were characterised by their emotional depth & technical brilliance.
However, by his late 20s, he began to experience hearing loss. This was devastating for a man whose career relied so heavily on his auditory skills.
The condition worsened gradually over the next two decades till he was almost completely deaf by his mid-40’s. Early symptoms had included tinnitus & difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds, and as he grew acutely aware of his worsening condition, he sought various treatments ranging from almond oil to ear trumpets. None were effective. His deep distress slowly became social isolation and his fear of public embarrassment engolfed him .
In the Heiligenstadt Testament, written at the age of 32, Beethoven expressed despair & thoughts of suicide but ultimately resolved to continue his work, driven by his firm dedication to music.
Despite his deafness, Beethoven adapted & created some of his most profound compositions. He used conversation books to communicate. He relied on his internal sense of sound to “hear” his music. He pressed his ear to the piano; used a wooden rod to feel the vibrations through his jawbone.
His resilience allowed him to produce masterpieces (Ninth Symphony); he showcased creativity over adversity; his gradual adaptation to deafness exemplified his genius & determination.
His legacy is music that has transcended both time & limitations.
He used notebooks to communicate, to jot down musical ideas. He developed an acute internal sense of sound, “hearing” music in his mind. He used modified pianos to feel the vibrations of his compositions. And because of his ability to “hear” internally, he was able to create some of his greatest works during his later years in his state of deafness. He defied all odds!
The Ninth Symphony stands as a testament to human perseverance & his talent.
Beethoven’s later works are imbued with a profound emotional & spiritual depth. Even as his world became silent, his music spoke louder than ever. Yet he must have felt his life as a series of unimaginable challenges.
To many, his music touched the soul & unearthed feelings beyond words, much like good rock n roll does to us today. He demonstrated that music could tell a story, stir the soul & provoke thought – a legacy that musicians continue to explore today.
Frank Zappa, a genius in his own right, used music as his transcendental force, exploring every facet of his talent. Similarly, Taylor Swift, despite debates about her success being linked more to her cultivated role model than her musical prowess, has pushed boundaries, mixed genres & experimented with sounds – echoing Beethoven’s principles, whether intentionally or not.
But then John Lennon did things somewhat differently – when it came to Beethoven.
One night, Yoko Ono, who is a classically trained musician, was playing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata when John Lennon overheard it. Intrigued, he asked her to play it backward. That sound inspired him to write “Because,” around them. “The lyrics speak for themselves” he said, “They’re clear. No bullshit. No imagery, no obscure references.”. This hauntingly beautiful track features on The Beatles’ iconic 1969 album, Abbey Road.
Who knows if that “Beatles” song would have existed without Beethoven!
Even if our technologically-driven world brings up new, synthesised digitally & shared globally sounds, music’s role as a cultural & emotional bridge remains vital.
It’s linked to the past like a progression of human evolution. Being a universal language, it must evolve. The human race cannot stagnate, nor can its creations. But in its essence – music – as captured by Beethoven, remains at the heart of its enduring appeal, and is still appreciated today.
PS: The message behind “Ode to Joy” (one of his classics), particularly in the context of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, is one of universal brotherhood & unity among all people. The lyrics, written by Friedrich Schiller & adapted by Beethoven for the final movement of the symphony, celebrate the ideal of unity & fellowship among all humankind. This powerful message of connectivity & the celebration of shared humanity made “Ode to Joy” a musical symbol of hope & togetherness around the world.
Image Credit to Ashiri: @Ashiri_1
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