Bbc beethoven biography deafness

Beethoven (1770-1827) Buzzing noises started at around 1796, according to Doctor Marage, who has studied his letters. Deafness broke out in 1798 and Beethoven had lost 60% of his hearing by 1801. In 1816 he was completely deaf. Beethoven was appalled that he was losing what he relied on most, for his profession as a musical composer.

He determined to continue and wrote some of the world’s most notable music as a deaf person. From 1803 to 1812, during his “middle” or “heroic” period, he composed an opera, 6 symphonies, 4 solo concerti, 5 string quartets, 6 string sonatas, 7 piano sonatas, 5 sets of piano variations, 4 overtures, 4 trios,2 sextets and 72 songs.

Beethoven's deafness: why did it happen, and how did he cope?

The most famous were Symphonies No. 3-8, the Moonlight Sonata, the Kreutzer Violin Sonata and Fidelio, his only opera. With his output of superlatively complex, original and beautiful music, this period in Beethoven’s life is unrivalled by any other composer in history.

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