Jack Gaffney, Peak to Peak. Imagine being a musical genius then losing your ability to hear everything - birds, speech, music. Instead of giving up, you push through this disability to write some of the greatest compositions in the history of music, all while completely deaf. This is the inspiring and heart-wrenching story of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827).

Born in Bonn, Germany, to a family of musicians, he was a childhood prodigy and became one of the finest pianists in Europe as a young adult. By the age of 30, having already completed a symphony and multiple piano concertos/string quartets, he was widely considered the most important composer since Mozart.

But fate was knocking on his door. “For the last three years my hearing has grown steadily weaker,” he wrote to a friend. Afraid the news of his deafness would tarnish his reputation, he stopped attending social gatherings. He could no longer hear the high notes of an orchestra. Music began to morph into a dull rumble. Desperately, he pressed his head to the piano lid and played as loud as he could, destroying multiple pianos in the process. It was futile. By the age of 45, Beethoven was completely deaf. And yet, the depressed genius was determined to share more art with the world.

It’s unclear what caused his deafness. DNA analysis has shown significant amounts of lead in his body (likely from lead plates). But other theories point towards typhus or syphilis. 

He went on to compose three symphonies, six string quartets, five piano sonatas and dozens of other compositions - all without the ability to hear. How? With a combination of perfect pitch (the rare ability to identify/re-create musical notes without reference) and exceptional musical intellect. This meant he could still imagine all the sounds of an orchestra, playing back complex compositions in his head.

Widely considered one of the greatest compositions in the history of music, his 9th and final symphony (Ode to Joy) was premiered in 1824. Although he could not hear the performance, he imagined it with clarity. A lifetime of musical study and extreme determination allowed him to create musical masterpieces after his ears turned off.

Please, go listen to the last movement of Beethoven 9th, or the whole symphony! It’s a blessing to have it in our ears.

Jack Gaffney is a local musician and piano teacher. He can be reached at JackGaffney.com.

(Originally published in the May 27, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)