BEETHOVEN & HEARING LOSS
The following sound samples where created through the Auditory Processing Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh. These samples provide insight into how Beethoven may have been hearing at different periods in his life. The exact type or degree of hearing loss Beethoven experienced is not known because there was no standardized hearing testing at the time. These estimations were created after reviewing contemporary accounts and his own written comments about his hearing. In addition to hearing loss, Beethoven often mentioned tinnitus (ringing) in his ears, which worsened over the years. In fact, this was sometimes more bothersome than the hearing loss itself. A simulation of tinnitus has been included in the recordings to give you a sense of how disturbing it would be to hear this sound along with what you were listening for.
Hear What Beethoven Heard
Click the play button by each sample description to hear an estimate of how Beethoven’s own works would have sounded to the composer. The samples start with 10 seconds of the music as a person with normal hearing would hear it. Then you will hear 5 second samples alternating between hearing loss simulation and normal hearing for comparison.
Sample 1 -- Symphony No. 3, “Eroica” (1804)
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As early as 1801, Beethoven wrote to his friends describing his symptoms of hearing loss. In a letter to his friend Dr. Franz Wegeler, Beethoven indicates that “My hearing has grown steadily worse for three years…I was often in despair. To give you some ideas of my extraordinary deafness, I must tell you that in the theater I am obliged to lean up close against the orchestra in order to understand the actors and when a little way off I hear none of the high notes. Frequently I can hear the sounds of a low conversation but cannot make out the words.”
At this time, Beethoven most likely had a mild-to-moderate high frequency hearing loss and had started to report ringing in his ears.
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Sample 2 -- Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor” (1810)
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Another letter to Wegeler, dated May 2, 1810, bears testimony to Beethoven’s anguish and despair at his advancing deafness: “If I had not read somewhere that a man should not voluntarily quit his life so long as he could still perform a good deed, I would have left this earth long ago --- and what is more, by my own hand. This life is indeed beautiful, but for me it is poisoned forever.” Beethoven is most likely referring to his tinnitus when he remarks, “A demon has taken up his settled abode in my ears.”
At this time, Beethoven most likely had a moderate to severe hearing loss with increasing levels of ringing in his ears.
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Sample 3 -- Symphony No. 9, “Choral” (1824)
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During his final years, reports about Beethoven reveal that he was completely deaf in terms of social functioning and speech comprehension. As early as 1818, conversation books had become the primary means of communicating with the composer; though his replies were usually given orally.
At this time, Beethoven had a profound hearing loss and may have been aware of only very low frequency (pitch) sound (more like vibration than actual sound). He continued to hear sound within himself as the tinnitus (ringing) worsened.
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