Was the bang deaf? Brief biography of Beethoven. Biography of Beethoven for children. Testament for doctors

Albert Einstein once expressed a completely unique thought, the depth of which, like the depth of his theory of relativity, is not immediately perceived. It is included in the epigraph before the chapter, but I love it so much that I will not miss the opportunity to repeat this thought again. Here it is: “God is sophisticated, but not malicious”

Studying the history of art, you think about the cruel injustice of Fate (let's say) in relation to the greatest creators of the planet.

Was it necessary for Fate to arrange it so that Johann Sebastian Bach (or, as he would later be called, the Fifth Apostle of Jesus Christ) spent his entire life rushing around the musty provincial towns of Germany, constantly proving to all sorts of secular and church bureaucrats that he was a good musician and a very diligent worker? .

And when Bach finally received a relatively decent position as cantor of the Church of St. Thomas in the big city of Leipzig, it was not for his creative merits, but only because Georg Philipp Telemann “himself” refused this position.

Was it necessary for the great romantic composer Robert Schumann to suffer from a severe mental illness, aggravated by suicidal syndrome and persecution mania?

Is it necessary that the composer who most influenced the subsequent development of music, Modest Mussorgsky, fell ill with a severe form of alcoholism?

Is it necessary for Wolfgang Amadeus (amas deus - the one whom God loves) ... however, about Mozart - the next chapter.

Finally, is it necessary for the brilliant composer Ludwig van Beethoven to be deaf? Not an artist, not an architect, not a poet, but a composer. That is, the One who has the finest musical EARNING - the second most necessary quality after the SPARK OF GOD. And if this spark is as bright and as hot as Beethoven’s, then what is it for if there is no HEARING.

What tragic sophistication!

But why does the brilliant thinker A. Einstein claim that despite all his sophistication, God has no malicious intent? Isn't the greatest composer without hearing a subtle evil of intent? And if so, then what is the meaning of this intentionality?

So listen to Beethoven’s Twenty-Ninth Piano Sonata – “Hammarklavir”.

The author composed this sonata while being completely deaf! Music that cannot even be compared with everything that exists on the planet under the heading “sonata”. When it comes to the Twenty-Ninth, it is no longer necessary to compare with music in its guild understanding.

No, the thought here turns to such pinnacle creations of the human spirit as Dante’s “Divine Comedy” or Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Vatican.

But if we still talk about music, then about all forty-eight preludes and fugues of Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier” combined.

And this sonata was written by a deaf person???

Talk to medical specialists, and they will tell you WHAT happens to a person even with the very idea of sound after several years of deafness. Listen to Beethoven's late quartets, his Great Fugue, and finally, Arietta - the last movement of Beethoven's last Thirty-Second Piano Sonata.

And you will feel that THIS MUSIC could only be written by a person with EXTREMELY SHARP HEARING.

So maybe Beethoven wasn't deaf?

Yes, of course it wasn't.

And yet... it was.

It just all depends on the starting point.

In the earthly understanding from the point of view of purely material

Ludwig van Beethoven actually became deaf.

Beethoven became deaf to earthly chatter, to earthly trifles.

But sound worlds of a different scale opened up to him - the Universal ones.

We can say that Beethoven's deafness is a kind of experiment that was carried out at a truly scientific level (Divinely sophisticated!)

Often, in order to understand the depth and uniqueness in one area of the Spirit, it is necessary to turn to another area of spiritual culture.

Here is a fragment of one of the greatest creations of Russian poetry - a poem by A.S. Pushkin’s “Prophet”:
We are tormented by spiritual thirst,
I dragged myself in the dark desert,
And the six-winged seraph
He appeared to me at a crossroads;
With fingers as light as a dream
He touched my eyes:
The prophetic eyes have opened,
Like a frightened eagle.
my ears
he touched
And they were filled with noise and ringing:
And I heard the sky tremble,
And the heavenly flight of angels,
And the reptile of the sea underwater,
And the vegetation of the distant vine...

Isn't this what happened to Beethoven? Remember?

He, Beethoven, complained of continuous noise and ringing in his ears. But pay attention: when the angel touched the Prophet’s ears, the Prophet heard visible images with sounds, that is, shuddering, flying, underwater movements, the process of growth - all this became music.

Listening to Beethoven's later music, one can conclude that the worse Beethoven heard, the deeper and more significant the music he created.

But perhaps the most important conclusion is ahead, which will help pull a person out of depression. Let it sound a little banal at first:

THERE IS NO LIMIT TO HUMAN POSSIBILITY.

From a historical perspective, Beethoven's tragedy of deafness turned out to be a great creative stimulus. And this means that if a person is a genius, then troubles and hardships can only be a catalyst creative activity. After all, it seems that there could be nothing worse for a composer than deafness. Now let's reason.

What would have happened if Beethoven had not gone deaf?

I can safely provide you with a list of names of composers, among which would be the name of the non-deaf Beethoven (based on the level of music he wrote before the first signs of deafness appeared): Cherubini, Clementi, Kuhnau, Salieri, Megul, Gosseck, Dittersdorf, etc.

I am convinced that even professional musicians have, at best, only heard the names of these composers. However, those who played can say that their music is very decent. By the way, Beethoven was a student of Salieri and dedicated his first three violin sonatas to him. Beethoven trusted Salieri so much that he studied with him for eight (!) years. Sonatas dedicated to Salieri demonstrate

That Salieri was a wonderful teacher, and Beethoven was an equally brilliant student.

These sonatas are very good music, but Clementi’s sonatas are also wonderfully good!

Well, thinking like this...

Let's go back to the conference and...

Now it’s quite easy for us to answer the question why the fourth and fifth days of the conference were productive.

Firstly,

Because the side party (our third day) turned out to be dominant, as expected.

Secondly,

Because our conversation concerned a seemingly insoluble problem (deafness is not a plus for the ability to compose music), but which is resolved in the most incredible way:

If a person is talented (and the heads of the largest enterprises different countries cannot help but be talented), then problems and difficulties are nothing more than a powerful catalyst for the activity of talent. I call it the Beethoven effect. Applying it to the participants of our conference, we can say that the problems of bad market conditions can only inflame talent.

And thirdly,

We listened to music.

And they didn’t just listen, but were tuned in to the most interested listening, the deepest perception.

The interest of the conference participants was not at all of an entertaining nature (as, say, just to learn something about cute, pleasant music, to be distracted, to have fun).

That wasn't the goal.

The goal was to penetrate into the very essence of music, into the musical aortas and capillaries. After all, the essence of genuine music, in contrast to everyday music, is its hematopoiesis, its desire to communicate on the highest universal level with those who are spiritually capable of rising to this level.

Therefore, the fourth day of the conference is the day of overcoming the weak market situation.

Like Beethoven overcoming deafness.

Now it's clear what it is:

Dominant side party

Or, as the musicians say,

Side party in the dominant?

"Secrets of geniuses" Mikhail Kazinik

Johann Sebastian Bach. The tragedy of the blind musician

During his life, Bach wrote more than 1000 works. His work represented all the significant genres of that time, except opera... However, the composer was prolific not only in musical works. Over the years of his family life, he had twenty children.

Unfortunately, of this number of offspring of the great dynasty, exactly half remained alive...

Dynasty

He was the sixth child in the family of violinist Johann Ambrose Bach, and his future was predetermined. All the Bachs who lived in the Thuringian mountains from the beginning of the 16th century were flutists, trumpeters, organists, and violinists. Their musical talent was passed down from generation to generation. When Johann Sebastian was five years old, his father gave him a violin. The boy quickly learned to play it, and music filled his entire future life.

But the happy childhood ended early, when the future composer turned 9 years old. First his mother died, and a year later his father died. The boy was taken in by his older brother, who served as an organist in a neighboring town. Johann Sebastian entered the gymnasium - his brother taught him to play the organ and clavier. But performance alone was not enough for the boy - he was drawn to creativity. One day he managed to extract from a always locked closet a treasured music notebook, where his brother had written down the works of famous composers of that time. At night he secretly rewrote it. When the six-month work was already nearing its end, his brother caught him doing this and took away everything that had already been done... It was these sleepless hours during moonlight in the future will have a detrimental effect on J. S. Bach’s vision.

By the will of fate

At the age of 15, Bach moved to Lüneberg, where he continued his schooling at a church choir school. In 1707, Bach entered the service in Mühlhausen as an organist in the church of St. Vlasiya. Here he began to write his first cantatas. In 1708, Johann Sebastian married his cousin, also an orphan, Maria Barbara. She bore him seven children, four of whom survived.

Many researchers attribute this circumstance to their close relationship. However, after the sudden death of his first wife in 1720 and his new marriage to the daughter of a court musician, Anna Magdalene Wilken, hard rock continued to haunt the musician’s family. This marriage produced 13 children, but only six survived.

Perhaps this was a kind of payment for success in professional activity. Back in 1708, when Bach moved to Weimar with his first wife, luck smiled on him, and he became a court organist and composer. This time is considered to be the beginning creative path Bach as a composer of music and the time of his intense creativity.

In Weimar, Bach had sons, the future famous composers Wilhelm Friedemann and Carl Philipp Emmanuel.

Wandering Grave

In 1723, the first performance of his “Passion according to John” took place in the Church of St. Thomas in Leipzig, and soon Bach received the position of cantor of this church while simultaneously fulfilling the duties of a teacher at the church school.

In Leipzig, Bach becomes the “musical director” of all the churches in the city, overseeing the personnel of musicians and singers and overseeing their training.

IN last years During his life, Bach was seriously ill - due to eye strain suffered in his youth. Shortly before his death, he decided to undergo cataract surgery, but after it he became completely blind. However, this did not stop the composer - he continued to compose, dictating works to his son-in-law Altnikkol.

After the second operation on July 18, 1750, he regained his sight for a short time, but in the evening he suffered a stroke. Ten days later Bach died. The composer was buried near the Church of St. Thomas, where he served for 27 years.

However, later a road was built through the territory of the cemetery, and the grave of the genius was lost. But in 1984, a miracle happened: Bach’s remains were accidentally found during construction work, and then their ceremonial burial took place.

Text by Denis Protasov.

Secrets of geniuses Kazinik Mikhail Semenovich

Chapter 2. Was Beethoven deaf?

Chapter 2. Was Beethoven deaf?

God is subtle, but not malicious.

A. Einstein

“God is subtle, but not malicious.”

This idea is very necessary for philosophers, psychologists, and very important for art critics.

But it is even more necessary for people who are depressed or simply do not believe in their own strength. For, studying the history of art, you think about the cruel injustice of Fate (let's say) in relation to the greatest creators of the planet.

Was it necessary for the great romantic composer Robert Schumann to suffer from a severe mental illness, aggravated by suicidal syndrome and persecution mania?

Is it necessary that the composer who most influenced the subsequent development of music, Modest Mussorgsky, fell ill with a severe form of alcoholism?

Is it necessary for Wolfgang Amadeus (amas deus - the one whom God loves) ... however, about Mozart - the next chapter.

What tragic sophistication!

So listen to Beethoven’s Twenty-Ninth Piano Sonata – “Hammarklavir”.

No, the thought here turns to such pinnacle creations of the human spirit as Dante’s “Divine Comedy” or Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Vatican.

But if we still talk about music, then about all forty-eight preludes and fugues of Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier” combined.

And this sonata was written by a deaf person???

And you will feel that THIS MUSIC could only be written by a person with EXTREMELY SHARP HEARING.

So maybe Beethoven wasn't deaf?

Yes, of course it wasn't.

And yet... it was.

It just all depends on the starting point.

In the earthly understanding from the point of view of purely material

Ludwig van Beethoven actually became deaf.

Beethoven became deaf to earthly chatter, to earthly trifles.

But sound worlds of a different scale opened up to him - the Universal ones.

We can say that Beethoven's deafness is a kind of experiment that was carried out at a truly scientific level (Divinely sophisticated!)

Often, in order to understand the depth and uniqueness in one area of the Spirit, it is necessary to turn to another area of spiritual culture.

Here is a fragment of one of the greatest creations of Russian poetry - a poem by A.S. Pushkin’s “Prophet”:

We are tormented by spiritual thirst,

I dragged myself in the dark desert,

And the six-winged seraph

He appeared to me at a crossroads;

With fingers as light as a dream

He touched my eyes:

The prophetic eyes have opened,

Like a frightened eagle.

my ears

he touched

And filled them noise and ringing:

And I heard the sky tremble,

And the heavenly flight of angels,

And the reptile of the sea underwater,

And the vegetation of the distant vine...

Isn't this what happened to Beethoven? Remember?

He, Beethoven, complained about the continuous noise and ringing in the ears. But notice: when the angel touched ears Prophet, then Prophet heard visible images with sounds, that is trembling, flying, underwater movements, the process of growth - all this became music.

Listening to Beethoven's later music, one can conclude that The worse Beethoven heard, the deeper and more significant the music he created.

But perhaps the most important conclusion is ahead, which will help pull a person out of depression. Let it sound a little banal at first:

THERE IS NO LIMIT TO HUMAN POSSIBILITY.

From a historical perspective, Beethoven's tragedy of deafness turned out to be a great creative stimulus. And this means that if a person is a genius, then it is precisely troubles and hardships that can only be a catalyst for creative activity. After all, it seems that there could be nothing worse for a composer than deafness. Now let's reason.

What would have happened if Beethoven had not gone deaf?

that Salieri was a wonderful teacher, and Beethoven an equally brilliant student.

These sonatas are very good music, but Clementi’s sonatas are also wonderfully good!

Well, thinking like this...

Let's go back to the conference and...

Now it’s quite easy for us to answer the question why the fourth and fifth days of the conference were productive.

Firstly,

because the side party (our third day) turned out to be dominant, as expected.

Secondly,

because our conversation concerned a seemingly insoluble problem (deafness is not a plus for the ability to compose music), but which is resolved in the most incredible way:

if a person is talented (and the heads of the largest enterprises in different countries cannot help but be talented), then problems and difficulties are nothing more than a powerful catalyst for the activity of talent. I call it Beethoven effect. Applying it to the participants of our conference, we can say that the problems of bad market conditions can only inflame talent.

And thirdly,

we listened to music.

And they didn’t just listen, but were tuned in to the most interested listening, the deepest perception.

The interest of the conference participants was not at all of an entertaining nature (as, say, just to learn something about cute, pleasant music, to be distracted, to have fun).

That wasn't the goal.

Therefore, the fourth day of the conference is the day of overcoming the weak market situation.

Like Beethoven overcoming deafness.

Now it's clear what it is:

Dominant side party

or, as the musicians say,

side party in the dominant?

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From the book All sorts of wonders about Bach and Beethoven author Isserlis Stephen

Chapter 13 Intermediate Form - Film and Novel Similar Features The tendency to depict life in its entirety. Such great novels as Madame Bovary, War and Peace and In Search of Lost Time cover wide areas of reality. Their authors strive

From the book 111 symphonies author Mikheeva Lyudmila Vikentievna

Ludwig van Beethoven 1770-1827 If in 1820 you had come face to face with Beethoven on the streets of Vienna, which, admittedly, is unlikely, since you most likely were not yet alive, you would have thought that he was a strange guy. Disheveled clothes, disheveled hair, hat

From book Everyday life greek gods by Siss Julia

Beethoven

From the book Guns, Germs and Steel [The Fates of Human Societies] by Diamond Jared

From the book Secrets of Geniuses author Kazinik Mikhail Semenovich

Chapter XI Connections with the Gods Once upon a time, in the times before the appearance of the citizen gods, the gods often left Olympus. They gave themselves a break from current affairs and everyday worries at their meetings. They went to the ends of the world, to the Ocean, towards the country of the Ethiopians, then to

From the book The Daily Life of Leo Tolstoy in Yasnaya Polyana author Nikitina Nina Alekseevna

Chapter XIV The power of women. Hera, Athena and their loved ones Poseidon rushed about in search of a city and region that would recognize his supreme power. The god of the seas found himself in an unenviable position: he was refused everywhere, while, judging by some features of his divine character, he is better,

Having lost his hearing in the prime of his life, precious for any person and priceless for a musician, he was able to overcome despair and achieve true greatness.

There were many trials in Beethoven's life: a difficult childhood, early orphanhood, years of painful struggle with illness, disappointment in love and betrayal of loved ones. But the pure joy of creativity and confidence in his own high destiny helped the brilliant composer survive the fight against fate.

Ludwig van Beethoven moved to Vienna from his native Bonn in 1792. The music capital of the world indifferently greeted the strange short man, strong, with huge strong hands, and the appearance of a mason. But Beethoven looked boldly into the future, because by the age of 22 he was already an accomplished musician. His father taught him music from the age of 4. And although the methods of the elder Beethoven, an alcoholic and a domestic tyrant, were very cruel, Ludwig, thanks to talented teachers, went through excellent school. At the age of 12, he published his first sonatas, and from the age of 13 he served as a court organist, earning money for himself and for his two younger brothers, who remained in his care after the death of their mother.

But Vienna did not know about this, just as she did not remember that when Beethoven first came here five years ago, he was blessed by the great Mozart. And now Ludwig will take composition lessons from maestro Haydn himself. And in a few years, the young musician will become the most fashionable pianist in the capital, publishers will be hunting for his works, and aristocrats will begin to sign up for the maestro’s lessons a month in advance. The students will obediently endure the teacher’s bad character, the habit of throwing notes on the floor in a rage, and then arrogantly watch as the ladies, crawling on their knees, obsequiously pick up the scattered sheets of paper. Patrons deign to favor the musician and condescendingly forgive his sympathy for the French Revolution. And Vienna will submit to the composer, award him the title of “general of music” and declare him Mozart’s heir.

UNFULFILLED DREAMS

But it was at this moment, at the height of his fame, that Beethoven felt the first signs of illness. His excellent, subtle hearing, allowing him to distinguish many sound shades that are inaccessible ordinary people, began to gradually weaken. Beethoven was tormented by a painful ringing in his ears, from which there is no escape... The musician rushes to the doctors, but they cannot explain the strange symptoms, but they diligently treat him, promising a speedy healing. Salt baths, miracle pills, lotions with almond oil, painful treatment with electricity, which was then called galvanism, take energy, time, money, but Beethoven goes to great lengths to restore his hearing. This silent, lonely struggle continued for more than two years, into which the musician did not initiate anyone. But everything was useless; there was only hope for a miracle.

And one day it seemed that it was possible! In the house of his friends, the young Hungarian counts of Brunswick, the musician meets Juliet Guicciardi, the one who should become his angel, his salvation, his second self. This turned out to be not a passing hobby, not an affair with a fan, like Beethoven, who was very partial to female beauty, there was a multitude, but a great and deep feeling. Ludwig makes plans to get married, believing that family life and the need to take care of loved ones will make him truly happy. At this moment, he forgets both about his illness and the fact that there is an almost insurmountable barrier between him and his chosen one: his beloved is an aristocrat. And even though her family has long since fallen into decline, she is still disproportionately superior to the commoner Beethoven. But the composer is full of hope and confidence that he will be able to overcome this barrier: he is popular and may well make a large fortune with his music...

The dreams, alas, were not destined to come true: the young Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, who came to Vienna from a provincial city, was an extremely unsuitable candidate for a wife for a brilliant musician. Although at first the flirtatious young lady was attracted by both Ludwig’s popularity and his oddities. Arriving at the first lesson and seeing the deplorable state of the young bachelor’s apartment, she gave the servants a good thrashing, forced them to do a thorough cleaning, and herself wiped the dust from the musician’s piano. Beethoven did not take money from the girl for lessons, but Juliet gave him hand-embroidered scarves and shirts. And your love. She could not resist the charm of the great musician and responded to his feelings. Their relationship was by no means platonic, and there is strong evidence of this - passionate letters from lovers to each other.

Beethoven spent the summer of 1801 in Hungary, on the picturesque Brunswick estate, next to Juliet. It became the happiest in the musician’s life. The estate has preserved a gazebo where, according to legend, the famous “Moonlight Sonata” was written, dedicated to the Countess and immortalizing her name. But Beethoven soon had a rival, the young Count Gallenberg, who imagined himself to be a great composer. Juliet grows cold towards Beethoven not only as a contender for her hand and heart, but also as a musician. She marries a more worthy candidate, in her opinion.

Then, a few years later, Juliet will return to Vienna and meet with Ludwig to... ask him for money! The count turned out to be bankrupt, the marital relationship did not work out, and the frivolous coquette sincerely regretted the missed opportunity to become the muse of a genius. Beethoven helped ex-lover, but avoided romantic meetings: the ability to forgive betrayal was not one of his virtues.

“I WILL TAKE DESTINY BY THE THROAT!”

Juliet's refusal deprived the composer of his last hope for healing, and in the fall of 1802 the composer makes a fatal decision... Completely alone, without saying a word to anyone, he leaves for the Vienna suburb of Heiligenstadt to die. “For three years now, my hearing has been weakening more and more,” the musician says goodbye to his friends forever. - In the theater, in order to understand the artists, I have to sit next to the orchestra. If I move further away, I don’t hear high notes and voices... When they speak quietly, I can barely make it out; Yes, I hear sounds, but not words, but when they scream, it’s unbearable for me. Oh, how you are mistaken about me, you who think or say that I am a misanthrope. You don't know the secret reason. Be lenient, seeing my isolation, while I would love to talk with you...”

Preparing for death, Beethoven writes his will. It contains not only property orders, but also the painful confession of a person tormented by hopeless grief. “High courage left me. Oh, Providence, let me see at least once a day, just one day of unclouded joy! When, oh God, will I be able to feel it again?.. Never? No; that would be too cruel!”

But in a moment of deepest despair, inspiration comes to Beethoven. The love of music, the ability to create, the desire to serve art give him strength and give him the joy for which he so prayed to fate. The crisis was overcome, the moment of weakness passed, and now in a letter to a friend Beethoven writes the words that became famous: “I will take fate by the throat!” And as if to confirm his words, right in Heiligenstadt Beethoven creates the Second Symphony - luminous music, full of energy and dynamics. And the will remained waiting in the wings, which came only after twenty-five years, full of inspiration, struggle and suffering.

LONELY GENIUS

Having decided to continue living, Beethoven became intolerant of those who pitied him and became furious at any reminder of his illness. Concealing his deafness, he tries to conduct, but the orchestra members only confuse his instructions, and they have to abandon the performances. So are piano concertos. Not hearing himself, Beethoven played either too loudly, so much so that the strings burst, or he barely touched the keys with his hands, without making a sound. The students no longer wanted to take lessons from the deaf man. He also had to give up female company, which had always been nice to the temperamental musician.

However, there was a woman in Beethoven’s life who was able to appreciate the boundless personality and power of a genius. Teresa Brunswik, cousin of that same fatal countess, knew Ludwig back in his heyday. A talented musician, she devoted herself to educational activities and organized a network of children's schools in her native Hungary, guided by the teachings of the famous teacher Pestalozzi. Teresa lived a long, colorful life, filled with service to her beloved work, and she had many years of friendship and mutual affection with Beethoven. Some researchers claim that the famous “Letter to the Immortal Beloved,” found after Beethoven’s death along with his will, was addressed to Teresa. This letter is full of sadness and longing about the impossibility of happiness: “My angel, my life, my second self... Why this deep sadness in front of the inevitable? Can love exist without sacrifice, without self-sacrifice: can you make it so that I belong entirely to you, and you belong to me?..” However, the composer took the name of his beloved to the grave, and this secret has not yet been revealed. But whoever this woman was, she did not want to devote her life to a deaf, hot-tempered man who suffered from constant intestinal disorders, was untidy in his everyday life and, moreover, partial to alcohol.

Since the autumn of 1815, Beethoven ceases to hear anything at all, and his friends communicate with him using conversation notebooks, which the composer always carries with him. Needless to say, how incomplete this communication was! Beethoven withdraws into himself, drinks more and more, communicates less and less with people. Sorrows and worries affected not only his soul, but also his appearance: by the age of 50 he looked like a very old man and evoked a feeling of pity. But not in moments of creativity!

This lonely, completely deaf man gave the world many beautiful melodies.

(portrait by Karl Stieler)

Having lost hope for personal happiness, Beethoven ascends in spirit to new heights. Deafness turned out to be not only a tragedy, but also a priceless gift: cut off from outside world, the composer develops an incredible inner ear, and more and more masterpieces emerge from his pen. Only the public is not ready to appreciate them: this music is too new, bold, difficult.

“I’m ready to pay so that this tediousness ends as soon as possible,” one of the “experts” exclaimed loudly to the whole hall during the first performance of the “Heroic Symphony.” The crowd supported these words with approving laughter...

In the last years of his life, Beethoven's works were criticized not only by amateurs, but also by professionals. “Only a deaf person could write this,” said cynics and envious people. Fortunately, the composer did not hear the whispers and ridicule behind him...

ACQUISITION OF IMMORTALITY

And yet the public remembered their former idol: when the premiere of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, which became the composer’s last, was announced in 1824, this event attracted the attention of many people. However, some were brought to the concert only by idle curiosity. “I wonder if a deaf person will conduct himself today? - the listeners whispered, bored while waiting for the start. - They say that the day before he quarreled with the musicians, they were barely persuaded to perform... And why does he need a choir in the symphony? This is unheard of! However, what can you take from a cripple...” But after the first bars, all conversations fell silent. Majestic music captured people and led them to heights inaccessible to simple souls. The grand finale - "Ode to Joy" based on Schiller's poems, performed by the choir and orchestra - gave a feeling of happiness and all-encompassing love. But only he, a completely deaf person, heard a simple melody, as if familiar to everyone from childhood. And not only heard it, but also shared it with the whole world! The listeners and musicians were filled with jubilation, and the brilliant author stood next to the conductor, with his back to the audience, unable to turn around. One of the singers approached the composer, took him by the hand and turned him to face the audience. Beethoven saw enlightened faces, hundreds of hands that moved in a single impulse of delight, and he himself was overcome by a feeling of joy, cleansing his soul from despondency and dark thoughts. And the soul was filled with divine music.

Three years later, on March 26, 1827, Beethoven passed away. They say that on that day a snowstorm raged over Vienna and lightning flashed. The dying man suddenly straightened up and in a frenzy shook his fist at the heavens, as if not agreeing to accept his inexorable fate. And fate finally retreated, recognizing him as the winner. People also recognized it: on the day of the funeral, more than 20 thousand people followed the coffin of the great genius. Thus began his immortality.

ANNA ORLOVA
"Names", March 2011

A list of various musicians who have hearing problems, the article confirms the information that the problem of hearing loss among musicians is very acute.

HEARING DETERIORATION IN FAMOUS MUSICIANS AND SINGERS

1. Neil Young

He released 30 of his albums and participated in the creation of more more in collaboration with other musicians, each time demonstrating the highest professionalism. Plays such as “Ohio”, “Heart of Gold”, “Cowgirl in the Sand” brought Neil Young resounding success, making him extremely popular. But almost all this time, Neil suffered from tinnitus - a disease that is characterized by a feeling of ringing, noise in the ears, and which rock music stars often suffer from.

2. Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy, as the vocalist and founder of one of the most famous heavy metal bands, Black Sabbath, had a brilliant career in the history of rock music. In addition, he became the main organizer of the Ozzfest festival, which hosts the most amazing concerts on a global scale. However, due to many years of concert activity, especially considering the fact that we are talking about such a genre as heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne has been faced with serious hearing problems in recent years.

3. Phil Collins

Even before the formation of the Genesis troupe, participation in which brought him worldwide success, Phil Collins had already managed to make an impressive career as a soloist. But last year he announced his retirement from the stage, and cited several reasons for this decision, among which he named serious hearing impairment - a consequence of concert activity.

4. Will.i.am

Will.i.am made a big splash in the world of music - both as the founder and member of the famous group “Black Eyed Peas”, and as a music producer. He released a large number of successful albums such as "Monkey Business" and "Elephunk". However, according to his own statements, he has developed hearing problems - sometimes he experiences painful noise sensations, which are interspersed with moments of complete deafness.

5. Brian Wilson

Unlike the aforementioned musicians, whose hearing was damaged mainly due to concert activities, Brian Wilson suffered from this defect from birth - he practically did not hear in his right ear. Despite this drawback, he managed to record one of his most successful albums, “Pet Sounds” (The Beach Boys), which became a real highlight in his musical career.

6. Jeff Beck

His musical activity is very diverse, he has excelled in such genres as heavy metal, electronic music and progressive rock. Jeff Beck ranks 14th on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists in music history, but he also suffers from tinnitus.

7. Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton is the only musician to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times. His talent became the key to the success of such groups as “The Yardbirds”, “Cream” and “Derek & The Dominoes” (in “The Yardbirds” he played with Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page - the same one who later founded the legendary troupe “Led” Zeppelin"). But few people know that while the famed rocker composed tunes, most of which will forever remain in the history of music, he suffered from persistent tinnitus, as well as drug and alcohol addiction.

8. Pete Townshend
The Who guitarist Pete Townshend is the author of the songs "My Generation", "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Pinball Wizard". But the desire to earn fame as the noisiest rock band in the world was the reason that all its members began to suffer from partial hearing loss, and Pete had this problem to a greater extent than the rest of the musicians. Despite all these difficulties, the band continues to tour successfully, gathering tens of thousands of fans during their concerts.

9. Ludwig Van Beethoven
One of the greatest composers of all time was born in 1770 and already at the age of 30 he began to lose his hearing. By 1814, he was completely deaf, which, however, did not stop him from continuing to compose music: for example, Beethoven wrote his 9th symphony while already completely deaf. Scientists still cannot establish the cause of his deafness, but they hypothesize that too much lead has accumulated in the great composer’s body. Some researchers believe that the cause of the illness was Beethoven’s habit of dousing himself with ice water at night in order to stay alert.

10. Paul Gilbert
Guitarist Paul Gilbert gives useful tips to all musicians and music lovers so that they do not follow his example. Paul Gilbert's involvement with bands such as Racer X and Mr. Big" and a solo career as a guitarist meant he spent hours playing guitar every day. He gave hundreds of concerts and recorded more than 30 albums. And during all of this, Paul Gilbert took no safety precautions to protect his hearing. On the contrary, he loved music so much that he always played it at full volume. Today, Paul Gilbert suffers from high-frequency hearing loss and persistent tinnitus. Therefore, he has difficulty understanding when people talk around him.

11. Dima Bilan
Dima Bilan, feeling that he had problems with his hearing, turned to doctors, who told him that many musicians face this problem. And in order not to go completely deaf, Dima needs to take certain measures, for example, change musical equipment. Now the singer is preparing to perform with a symphony orchestra, and he had to order unique speakers and monitors that are suitable specifically for his hearing and will not negatively affect his health.

12. Grigory Leps
At Leps's Lately hearing problems appeared. And, of course, we all understand perfectly well that we are doing him a disservice. The singer had previously received it on his eardrums at every concert. high blood pressure- almost 100 decibels, and now even 110 - 120. It’s like standing a meter away from a working jackhammer. For medical reasons, it is not recommended to endure such noise for more than 10 minutes. And Gregory sings for almost three hours and all this time exposes himself to serious danger.

13. Paul Stanley
Paul Stanley, the 59-year-old KISS frontman, is a member of dozens of charities dedicated to the disabled, deaf and deaf. He knows these troubles firsthand: the musician suffers from deformation of the ears and has been deaf in one ear since childhood. And the “bandwidth” of the second was successfully spoiled by many years of love for loud extreme sound production. Addressing visitors to metal and rock concerts, he, like the Ministry of Health, warns: you are also at risk.

14. Chris Martin
It turns out that the musician has been suffering from tinnitus for 10 years. Martin believes that the reason for this was his passion for music as a child. In particular, he was listening to music through headphones at high volume. Now the Colplay frontman has to sing louder, and also use special ear monitors in order to hear the instruments, but at the same time not exceed the permissible volume, so as not to completely damage his hearing.
“There seems to be no deterioration. But it’s a shame that I didn’t take care of my ears earlier,” Martin commented.
The musician even joined the new “Action On Hearing Loss” campaign, which also features hard-of-hearing and tinnitus sufferers Gary Numan and rapper Plan B.

15. Pete Townsed
Many famous musicians, such as The Who's Pete Townshend, suffer from partial deafness and tinnitus, which doctors believe is caused by too much exposure to excessively loud sounds.

16. John Illsley
Bassist John Illsley has significant hearing loss as a result of exposure to damaging decibel levels. Dire Straits bassist John Illsley admitted that his more than 30% hearing loss was an inevitable consequence of constant touring from 1976-1992.
Illsley is concerned about the damaging effects of loud music on the younger generation and he would like to see sound levels, especially in clubs, reduced, which Illsley says is desperately needed as his eldest son James, 27, already suffers from tinnitus.

17. Bari Alibasov
The famous Russian producer Bari Karimovich Alibasov, who became famous throughout the CIS thanks to the founding of the musical group “Na-Na,” told reporters about his tragedy. As it turned out, he was almost completely deaf and now, according to him, he cannot enjoy the new works of his charges.
“I have other disadvantages, but now I am also practically deaf. I'm actually very hard of hearing. Only one ear can distinguish sounds, and even then it hears 30%. This is the result of my labor activity, since I was a drummer, and the guitarist always stood to my left - this was during my performance in the Integral group. Left ear – zero audibility, right ear – 30%,” Bari spoke about his tragedy.

18. Bedřich Smetana (1824 – 1884)
Bedřich Smetana's career and creativity flourished. But at one point it all ended - Smetana became seriously ill. Due to almost complete hearing loss, he was forced to leave his post as conductor at the National Theater, where many of his works were first staged, and leave Prague, but he continued to write music.

Links:
http://www.blf.ru/blog/post_1372401102.html
http://www.radugazvukov.ru/information/blog.php?page=..
http://www.7d.org.ua/?news=showbiz&id=12525
http://womendraiv.ru/3470-grigoriy-leps-teryaet-sluh…
http://www.hitkiller.com/vokalist-kiss-o-potere-sluxa..
http://coldplayfan.ru/kris-martin-ispytyvaet-problemy..
http://www.medikforum.ru/news/health/treatment/9993-z..
http://www.ssluha.ru/index.php?type=special&p=art..
http://telegraf.com.ua/zhizn/zhurnal/1296063-bari-ali..
http://www.intoprague.ru/bedrich-smetana-composer-r..