Was Beethoven Really Deaf When He Wrote Much of His Music?

If there is one Ludvig van Beethoven fact everyone knows it’s that he was deaf. But just saying “he was deaf” leaves a lot of pertinent questions unanswered, such as how deaf was he? How did he communicate with people? Of course, the biggest question is how did he compose what is considered some of his greatest music while he was deaf?

[themarquess]

He should be remembered not just as a composer, but also as an entrepreneur. He basically broke with the old model of artists being supported by a wealthy benefactor, like a king and invented the idea of marketing his own celebrity and commercialized music.

[john-peterhundt]

When Beethoven was told that he would never make it in the music industry beacause he was deaf, did he listen? No.

[TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

Everybody gangsta until Beethoven says "I heard that"

[TrevorduBuisson]

I don't think people fully realise the immensity of Beethoven's capability and how astonishing his achievements. To write something so lucid and magnanimous as the 9th Symphony, not to forget his late piano sonatas and string quartets.

It wasn't that he could just write good music, but rather the level of genius with which he did; and being deprived of the very sense for he was writing taboot.

Beethoven's story and achievements to my mind are, quite possibly, not only the greatest in the musical history book, but one of the very greatest in the human history book.

[digapygmy]

I've sung the 9th with a choir, it's absolutely transcendent at parts, more so than just listening to it

[missingallmymarbles]

I used to be deaf when I was younger (it took several years and multiple surgeries to fix). Music was one of the few things that I *could* hear...through vibrations-either from holding a music box against my cheekbone or basically doing the same thing to a stereo speaker.

[franklinisthecat]

I was in Vienna and told the guide I loved Beethoven so we went through some narrow streets to an old wooden gate. He said, “Touch this.” So I did. He said it was the gate that Beethoven used to get to his apartment. I geeked out.

[gacharose]

Beethovan cut legs off his piano. Could hear through vibrations. My aunt was deaf, she e joyed when I played piano. She held her hand on Iano, felt vibration, was very happy.

[mechasentai]

Beethoven: deaf and is known as one of the greatest composers of all time.
Meanwhile society can't do shit without toilet paper.

[beaubeaukitty]

Beethoven was talented enough to write masterpieces of classical music whilst deaf. No Question about it

[marcscordato]

It’s hard to believe one of the greatest compositions of all time was composed by a deaf person . I give him credit for pressing on in the face of great adversity

[justabill]

As an avid classical music fan, Beethoven has always been my favorite composer. And the 9th is my favorite composition of all time. It saddens me that it could only be brought about by the suffering of such a genius.

[HerrFrankenstein]

Any musician can tell you... a recital recalled... note for note... is an awesome gift... I expect we all possess...

[adde]

It's amazing to think that Beethoven genuinely couldn't keep time. I think it's even likely that he never could and was playing or conducting by ear. The conductor is the timepiece of the music, and if keeping time was a skill he possessed his deafness would not have mattered. It makes everything he did more impressive, not less.

[tonyzed]

Imagine losing hearing when your life was music.

[skn]

Beethoven is by far my favorite composer, followed closely by Rachnaninoff. Both composers have written monumental pieces that could not possibly have come from mere mortals...

[jimmyshrimbe]

I bet he had the greatest time despite his hearing in that last performance. It sounds like it would have been absolutely amazing to witness.

[dougjohnson]

Thank you for still uploading content during these times. I've always loved watching your videos and right now you're really helping the time go by.
Stay safe, everyone.

[TheXev]

11:54 FINALLY! Proof that the word sluice EXIST. I had been made fun of since I was young for using the word, a word my Grandfather often used to to describe sewage pipes or drainage pipes that seems to have gone the way of the dodo! This is the first time I have ever seen it spelt and used in context!

It is silly that this is the most exciting part of the video for me.

[MendTheWorld]

Excellent episode. very insightful, and i appreciated the excerpts from Beethoven’s writing.