Beethoven's deafness

[Peter]

After a recent recommendation on this site I purchased the Beethovenhaus cd that attempts to portray Beethoven's deafness. Although a lot of time is taken up with information (in German - but the cd notes translate this), it gives a very vivid impression of how Beethoven must have heard. Track 16 in particular demonstrates with the repeated use of a short excerpt from the Pathetique how his hearing deteriorated every 3 years - quite startling. Perhaps most poignant was track 20 - the choral excerpt from the 9th symphony which sounds so muffled as though you had covered your ears with a pillow. Also of interest was the effect they mananged to reproduce of Beethoven's hearing aids for the piano - quite brilliant how they have achieved all this.

[Michael]

That seems to be a fascinating CD, Peter. There was a theory published recently that Beethoven - in his middle period - made greater use of the lower instruments, such as cellos and double-basses, because his high frequency hearing had almost disappeared.
The middle section of the 5th Symphony's third movement would seem to bear this out, to a certain extent.

[Peter]

No I don't buy that theory Michael - Beethoven never compromised his art because of his hearing - that same symphony also makes use of the piccolo and how do they explain the writing of a violin concerto instead of one for 'cello?!

[Enrique]

Plus Beethoven's constant use of the violin high register [high notes] and his writing too high for the choir (the famous A in the sopranos in the Ninth is an example). But people tend to rejoice in what they can perceive, anyways.

[AeolianHarp]

After a recent recommendation on this site I purchased the Beethovenhaus cd that attempts to portray Beethoven's deafness. Although a lot of time is taken up with information (in German - but the cd notes translate this), it gives a very vivid impression of how Beethoven must have heard. Track 16 in particular demonstrates with the repeated use of a short excerpt from the Pathetique how his hearing deteriorated every 3 years - quite startling. Perhaps most poignant was track 20 - the choral excerpt from the 9th symphony which sounds so muffled as though you had covered your ears with a pillow. Also of interest was the effect they mananged to reproduce of Beethoven's hearing aids for the piano - quite brilliant how they have achieved all this.

And the recommendation would be from......?
I find this CD very moving and poignant.

[Peter]

And the recommendation would be from......?
I find this CD very moving and poignant.

Of course Aeollian, but I couldn't recall which thread it was posted in, so I wasn't sure who it was! Thanks for drawing my attention to it and it does give a very clear idea of what Beethoven had to endure. I find the track of the 9th particularly poignant - the sheer frustration of the wonderful music conceived in your head sounding like a muffled drone.

[AeolianHarp]

Of course Aeollian, but I couldn't recall which thread it was posted in, so I wasn't sure who it was! Thanks for drawing my attention to it and it does give a very clear idea of what Beethoven had to endure.

Do you since I got mine I've only listened to it about twice! That's not because I don't want to (although it is sad to listen to..)- I am using oil for the eczema and don't want to damage the CD.

I find the track of the 9th particularly poignant - the sheer frustration of the wonderful music conceived in your head sounding like a muffled drone.

Well, you know I think this is to show his ears would have percieved it- but in his head he must have heard it perfectly ( in his mind) to be able to write it.

[Peter]

Well, you know I think this is to show his ears would have percieved it- but in his head he must have heard it perfectly ( in his mind) to be able to write it.

Of course - in his head he would have 'heard' the best performance imaginable!

[AeolianHarp]

Of course - in his head he would have 'heard' the best performance imaginable!

Because he wrote the best music imaginable...

[Michael]

I partially experienced some of Beethoven's suffering when I had a badly blocked ear last year.
Fortunately, the condition was temporary.
Unfortunately, I didn't compose a single masterpiece.

[Harvey]

I read that Beethoven's deafness may well have been the hone that pushed his music to higher levels of excellence.

[Peter]

I read that Beethoven's deafness may well have been the hone that pushed his music to higher levels of excellence.

I think this is so without doubt - he was forced to go deeper into himself and the late works are the fruit of this. I'm certain they would not have existed but for Beethoven's deafness.