Beethoven Was Deaf

Beethoven (1770-1827, 56 yo) was deaf. One of the greatest composer was deaf. He started to become deaf in his mid 20s and lost his entire hearing by the age of 45.

He was already a music composer before he started deafening. Moonlight Sonata, composed by him by the age of 31, when his hearing was lost by 60%.

After his hearing was completely gone or almost gone, he composed Ninth Symphony, Missa Solemnis. He relied completely on his memory, imagination, and vibrations.

It was very impressive!

Random facts

• He started playing piano at 4, his father gave him piano lessons.
• Studied from a famous composer like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
• He hide the fact that he was deaf because the fear of losing his career.
• Never married.
• Only wrote until the ninth symphony. And this became the curse for composers (max 9 symphonies)